Grady stared at the boy in front of him silently, he wanted to say some words of comfort to him but when he opened his mouth to speak, nothing came out. He sighed turning his head to look at his brother then his unconscious niece and finally his nephew who was looking at him with tearful eyes, waiting for an explanation he didn't have. He felt his heart ache.
He couldn't help but pull his nephew into his arms, hugging him as if his life depended on him. He remembered that before his own father passed away, he had asked them to take care of each other but thinking at the current situation, he felt helpless. What was he to do to help his brother? He wondered if their father would have a solution if he was still alive. Had their family accumulated so much sin in their previous lives ? Was their current predicament a result of karma which was finally catching up with them? A lone tear escaped his eyes but he immediately wiped it away.
No they couldn't give up like this, there must be a way out. Now that he thought of it, the doctor had called Val in his office and they had stayed in there for almost twenty minutes. The doctor might have told Val something, something that could help them save his brother. But thinking of Val's defeated expression when she came out of the office, he hesitated. Was his brother's situation irreversible? What if the doctor told Val that his brother was dying? But he immediately discarded those thoughts, maybe Val was just scared by her father's condition.
Slightly pulling away from their hug, Gary squatted so that he was eye to eye with his nephew.
"Adam, your father loves you so much and questioning his love for you and your sister is wrong. Look baby your dad is sick and I promise you that we'll do everything we can to save him, all you have to do is to be patient as we figure it out okay?" He will do all he can to save his brother, this was a promise he made to not only Adam but to himself as well.
Adam hearing his uncle's explanation and promise stopped blaming his father. His uncle was right, his daddy and mommy loved him so much so how could they abandon him? Besides his mother always said that he was too cute so how would she bear abandon him? His sister was right, his mother had become the star which shines the brightest at night and his daddy was just sick. Didn't he also get sick sometimes? He should probably not make things too difficult for his uncle and sister.
"I will listen to uncle," he promised his uncle.
Val who had woken up stared at the ceilings blankly. She had heard her uncle's promise to her brother and wondered how they would save her father. His situation was obviously worse than she thought. However, hearing Adam's obedient reply, she felt motivated. She gathered her thoughts and slowly sat up. Her brother was willing to believe that their father would be saved so why wouldn't she do the same? The doctor said that her father needed a surgery and then he would be back on his feet. So what if they didn't have enough money? Did that mean that she would watch their father's life slip away? Of course not, if the money was the problem then she would do everything within her power to get it.
Adam, seeing his sister awake walked to her side. "Father will be okay," she promised her brother giving him a small smile.
Adam being the small and cute lover of the family gently embraced his sister and then pulling away, he kissed her on her forehead. This time, a big smile lit up on Val's face. Since her baby brother was willing to be strong then she will be stronger for their sake.She kissed him back on the cheeks before standing up.
"Okay come tell father how mischievous you've become these days," she smiled pulling Adam towards their father. Sitting at the edge of the bed, she pulled Adam to stand between her legs.
Adam feeling wronged by his sister's comment pouted, "I just gave you a kiss." Kissing his sister is such a waste, now look she couldn't wait to tell on him to their father.
"Dad sister is lying, I have been a good boy. Dad I made a new friend today his name is Kelly. We met at the park. Dad we played a lot and I want to go to the park again. Dad you have to tell sister to take me out again next weekend," Adam defended his innocent self in front of his father and excitedly told him about his day at the park.
Val hearing her brother's excited voice, decided not to expose him. Seeing him happy made her happy and since taking him to the park makes him happy then she was willing to take him to the park for the rest of their lives.
"Don't worry father I will take good care of Adam," she said smoothing his furrowed eyebrows. Adam was now her responsibility and so she will ensure his happiness and wellbeing.
Gary too moved closer to his brother's bed. He stretched his hand and gently tapped his shoulder. Words needed not to be said. His promise to Adam was also his promise to all of them.
As dusk was approaching, they didn't stay long in the ICU ward and so after saying their goodbyes to Val's father and Dr Ken, they made their way out of the hospital.
"Uncle why don't you come stay with us tonight?" Gary and his family lived in the capital which was a three to four hours drive from M City. He had previously thought that they would just check on his brother and leave but because of the unexpected turn of events, they had to spend the night in M City. He was still considering which hotel they would spend the night in when Val spoke up. After some considerations, Gary accepted Val's offer. He still hadn't asked her what the doctor told her. They needed to figure out a way to save his brother and the sooner the better.
"Okay, I would also like to play a bit more with this little guy." He gave his reply squatting to pick Adam up.
Adam suddenly felt uncomfortable. How many times had been carried that day? He started counting his fingers, one... two... three. Three times and that was the fourth time. Had he gotten lighter? Had he become a small baby like their neighbors?
Gary noticing Adam's unusual silence lowered his head to look at the boy in his arms just to see him counting fingers with his eyebrows furrowed. Gary felt like laughing, the little guy looked like a depressed adult. "Hey," he poked Adam's cheek. However he didn't know that his actions made Adam's fears feel more real. Isn't it small babies' cheeks that are usually poked because they are fleshy and soft? He liked doing that to Layla, their neighbors' baby.
Gary seeing the little guy's expression changing from bad to worse made him a little worried. Was Adam depressed after seeing his father? He wondered.
"Don't worry about your father didn't I promise that we'll make sure that he will get better?" He comforted him. Adam though was confused, who was worried about his father? And why was his uncle rubbing his head? Did he look like a pet? He suddenly came to a scary conclusion. Perhaps he should take a closer look at himself at the mirror when they get home?
Seeing that his words made him feel worse made Gary confused. Wasn't his words supposed to make Adam feel better?
Val also noticed Adam's strange behavior and directly asked him, "what is wrong?" Adam decided to voice his concerns to his sister and so he explained his observations and the conclusion he had made.
When they heard him, they all burst into laughter. Val especially laughed until she could feel her ribs hurt. Jane and Maggie weren't left out as well after all it's not everyday you hear a child voicing out his fears of having to have grown smaller and looking like a pet.
Gary understood the boys' concerns and so he whispered something in his ears. Adam's eyes immediately lit up like two light bulbs in a dark night.
Val hailed a taxi to take them home. To be sincere, Val had her own reasons for inviting uncle to her home. She wanted to ask him to lend her some money. Uncle Gary owned a few stores in the capital and were doing rather well. She hoped that he could lend her even a small fraction of what she needed.
At around 7.30pm in the evening, the taxi slowly came to a stop in their front gate. Although it was still early, Val felt exhausted both mentally and emotionally. After they alighted, they all made their way towards the house.
"I'll cook, you all can go freshen up," Maggie volunteered to make them dinner. She could see that Val was tired and so she decided to help.
Val didn't even try declining the offer as she didn't think she was capable of making even the simplest meal. After briefing Maggie about where to find the ingredients and utensils and showing her uncle and aunt their room,she made her way upstairs to her room.
"Val...Val.. Valarie!" Val heard someone calling her name but it sounded so distant so she ignored it. However the shouts didn't stop and seemed to be accompanied by continuous disturbing sounds. "Leave me alone," she murmured not opening her eyes. The shouts though seemed to get louder frightening her. Her eyes snapped open as she jumped from her bed rushing to the door. Opening the door, a fist landed on her stomach.
"Ouch!" She cried, coiling clutching her stomach. The first owner stood rooted at the doorstep feeling confused. One second he was going to knock on the door but the next his fist landed on soft flesh.
It wasn't until when he heard his sister's cry that Adam came to his senses. He rushed to her side, "sorry sis it wasn't intentional, does it hurt?" Val glared at him. She understood the first part of his sentence but what did he mean by his question? He punched her on the stomach and still had the guts to ask if she was in pain?
Ignoring her pain, she decided to avenge herself.
Adam didn't know how it happened but his world suddenly turned upside down and something, hands to be exact, bounced on him.
He could hear alarm bells ringing in his head but before he could react, those hands had gotten to his most forbidden region, his armpits!
Val satisfyingly watched Adam laugh hysterically, flailing his hands as he tried to push her away as she tickled him.
"Hahaha.. let me go.. hahaha uncle help...help" he shouted while laughing, tears gushing out of his eyes.
"Sister sorry..soo..rry" he begged between pants. Feeling that her revenge had been exerted, she let him go.
When the attacks finally stopped, Adam laid on the ground panting. "I wanted.. to.. tell you..that dinner is ready," he passed his uncle's message between pants.
Val just rolled her eyes at him, did he have to scare her? She pulled his outstretched hand bringing him to his feet. "Sorry, I slept off," she explained dragging him out of her room, heading downstairs.