Finally, they grow up

Hazel took Eric to his house as Frankie was not at home, where they watched cartoons with Jack and also eat their dinner, then went to Hazel's room to play and while playing unknowingly slept there.

Henry entered the room with some night snacks, but when he entered the room, he saw them sleeping peacefully on the bed, he smiled, turned the lights off, and quietly closed the door.

Door knocks*

Henry opened the door and saw Frankie standing there,

"I'm here to pick up Eric," Frankie replied as he saw Henry.

"Sh, they are sleeping," Henry said while placing his finger on his lips.

"Ah, Sleeping already?" Frankie said.

"Why did you come so late?" Henry asked.

"There's an important case, I can't leave that," Frankie replied.

"You haven't had dinner, right?" Henry asked while giving him the shoes to get in.

"Honestly, no I haven't" Frankie replied while coming in.

He looked into Hazel's room and looked at them with a worried face.

They were having their dinner when Frankie spoke up,

"You have heard about our family, we lost our daughter when she was two years old we were out for a morning walk, leaving Eric and Lisa at home, alone and locked the door, Lisa ate walnuts when Eric was reading his comics. The walnut got stuck in her throat, Eric kept on beating the door from inside but no one was there to open it, when we come back, it was too late, and we lost our daughter"

"That's alright," Henry said While tapping his shoulder.

"Eric used to be an outgoing boy, he is not like this, before, but now, now look at him, at how introverted he became," Frankie said while looking down.

"You know Hazel, she isn't like me or her mom, I don't know why, and her temper... don't ask me about that, she's so optimist," Henry said.

"So lovely, let's cheer for the optimist," Frankie said while showing him the drink.

Henry looked at him with a serious expression and said, "and for those, who left.

Frankie smiled and nodded, they cheered and start eating their food,

"You should often come here," Henry said while smiling.

"Then, I must bother you," Frankie said while eating his food.

"Nah, we are neighbors and we should help each other," Henry replied.

"Then, we can raise our child together," Frankie asked.

"Of course, we can," they laugh and again start eating the food.

YEAR, 2010

Henry was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, and the fragrance of food can be smelled all over the house, today he is making a special breakfast because today was Hazel's first day of school as she already turned 16. He placed the food on the table and called Hazel.

"Hazel, hurry, get up, don't be late, it's your first day of school," Henry shouted from the kitchen.

A young girl, with short hair, lazily came out of the room while lowering her head and went to the bathroom.

"Hurry, don't dawdle, or you'll be late," Henry said while arranging the food on the table.

The front door behind him opened, revealing Jack, he hurriedly entered with a plastic bag in his hand,

"Dad, here Muachi, I've bought it," he said while handing over the bag to Henry.

"Okay, good, tell Eric to have breakfast," Henry said while going into the kitchen, Jack nodded, went towards the washroom, knocked on the door,

"Hazel, are you in?" he asked while standing in front of the door.

"Yes," She said from inside.

"Hurry, come out, I can't bear it," he said while moving to his spot.

"I will not come, I'm enjoying it," she said lazily.

He irritatedly knocked on the door harshly, getting no response, he took the keys and went upstairs, opened Eric's house with the keys, and went toward the washroom, Eric was already there, brushing his teeth.

"For how many times did I forbid you not to toilet when I am brushing my teeth," Eric said while looking at Jack, who has closed his eyes in enjoyment.

"I know, got it," I will not do it next time," Jack said while smiling.

Eric took the toilet paper from the stand and while showing it to Jack, said "Enjoy it," and took out the toilet paper with him.

" Hey, you can't do that," Jack shouted, but Eric has already left. "Luckily, I've prepared some," Jack said while taking out a piece of tissue from his pocket.

Eric and Jack were having their breakfast, and Henry came and sat with them, "Hazel, come out, or you will be late," Henry said.

"You guys are in grade three, and Hazel is now in grade one, don't act like kids in the school, and you both have to take care of her as brothers, get that?" Henry said.

Hazel came out of the washroom, she was wearing black shorts and a black top, with a lollypop in her mouth, they looked at her from head to toe.

"Why are you wearing this?" Henry asked.

"Today is my first day of school and this is going to be my look, am I looking cool?" she said while taking out the lollypop from her mouth.

"so cool," Jack replied while showing his thumb.

"This is what I want," she said while sitting down on the chair.

"Look, Hazel, if anyone bullied you in school, do let me know," Jack said.

"Done," she replied.

Eric lightly slapped Jack's head, "don't you hear what he said, not to mess up with Hazel,"

Hazel looked at her dad and then started eating her food, then stealthy looked at Jack, he felt her gaze and looked at her,

"Eat!!!!" Henry said while eating his food, and they both started eating the food.

"Are you going to school, or going to be a gang boss? change it!!" Henry asked while looking at her.

"No.." Hazel replied annoyingly.

"Go and change it!!!!" Henry angrily shouts.

She irritatedly got up and went towards her room.

They were going to the school when they met aunt Noah on the way

"New semester starts?" the aunt asked.

"Yes!!" Hazel said while showing her teeth.

"Study hard, learn something from Eric, he always got first in his exam," aunt Noah said.

"Who is Jack?" another lady with aunt Noah asked.

"Aunty, who are you?" Hazel asked.

"She is aunt Qing from our neighbors," aunt Noah replied.

"Hello aunty," Hazel and Jack said in a voice.

"Hello, so sweet," she replied while smiling.

"Don't you miss your mother?" aunt Qing asked.

"They looked at him with a blank expression, and Eric started walking away from them, Hazel looked at him, hold Jack's shoulder, and pulled him from there, and they both started walking toward the school.