Chapter 33: Carl

Chapter 33: Carl

"Frank doesn't love me anymore. I don't attract him; he's lost interest in me. He doesn't even want to sleep with me now," Sheila said sadly.

You can often feel whether someone is still interested in you.

Lately, Sheila had sensed a change in Frank.

The 'Frank' of the past would cheer her up and share stories from outside.

But now, Sheila could clearly feel a distance between them. Frank wasn't as cheerful as before, and he even avoided intimacy. Whenever Sheila initiated, Frank seemed resistant.

"He's just acting strangely because of the cancer. He'll be back to his old self soon," Karen comforted her.

Meanwhile, at home, Frank lay in bed, reading a storybook to Debbie. Fiona leaned against the doorframe, watching the father-daughter moment with a mix of relief and complexity on her face.

But the next day, Karen skipped class and barged into Frank's house to find him.

"I'm calling the police right now and telling them you molested me," Karen threatened, pulling out her phone to make the call.

"I'm not saying I won't come back, but I also need to stay at my own home. How about this: I'll stay at my house on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and come to your place on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday," Frank eventually negotiated with Karen.

"Alright, but there's one thing you must do, whether you have cancer or not," Karen insisted.

"What is it?" Frank asked.

"Make love to my mom, like you used to make her happy," Karen said.

"Uh," Frank hesitated, his expression turning awkward.

Frank's face flushed with embarrassment, while Karen seemed unfazed. This highlighted the cultural differences between East and West.

In Frank's previous life in China, children never concerned themselves with their parents' sex lives. Such topics, even among consenting adults, were often avoided. The West, however, is more open about sex.

After much cajoling, Frank managed to persuade Karen to leave.

Over the next few days, Frank adhered to their agreement, splitting his time between his own home and Sheila's, keeping her company. However, he refused to indulge in Sheila's "big toys" and maintained his boundaries, unlike 'Frank.'

Frank no longer risked prison by resorting to deceitful methods to earn money. With his credit card debts cleared, he didn't have to work as hard to make ends meet.

He stopped scavenging and instead took on translation jobs from home, spending most of his time with the kids.

Without credit card debt, Frank wasn't short on money. As a 'disabled person,' he received monthly disability benefits and collected Ginger's pension.

As long as Frank didn't squander his money on alcohol and drugs like 'Frank' used to, he could comfortably cover household expenses and even save a little.

Though the family was poor, they wouldn't starve. They had never relied on Frank financially. Even when 'Frank' contributed nothing, Fiona and the kids managed to pool their resources and survive.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Debbie asked after school, finding Frank digging in the backyard with a shovel.

"Just getting some exercise," Frank said, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Oh, here's a gift for you," Frank said, handing Debbie a gift box.

Debbie opened it to find a Barbie doll set.

"Wow! Thanks, Dad!" Debbie exclaimed, thrilled, hugging Frank and giving him a kiss.

At her age, Debbie loved dolls. She secretly repaired Liam's broken stroller, using pillows and clothes to dress it up as a doll.

Debbie's fondness for dolls partly explained why she "kidnapped" the little boy, dressing him up as a girl during his brief disappearance.

"Gift? Is there one for me?" Carl asked, joining them.

"This is for you," Frank said, handing Carl a small gift box after a moment of hesitation.

"Cool!" Carl said, opening it to reveal a baton, which he swung with enthusiasm.

"Remember, don't hit people with it, especially not on the head. Otherwise, I'll take it back," Frank warned.

Frank had mixed feelings about Carl. Despite being only two or three years older than Debbie, their personalities were worlds apart.

Debbie was the family's little angel, while Carl seemed a bit dim and not very bright, yet he was a destructive force.

Carl had a severe penchant for violence, fascinated by weapons like knives and sticks, and enjoyed breaking toys creatively—melting and merging them, sawing them apart, and mismatching pieces.

He'd glue Captain America's upper body to Red Skull's lower half or swap their heads altogether.

Carl's curiosity led him to perform cruel acts, like burning ants with a magnifying glass or dissecting animals. He often brought home stray cats and dogs, claiming to "care" for them.

Additionally, Carl exhibited less severe violent behaviors, like making other kids cry and smiling at their tears.

Frank suspected Carl might have an antisocial personality disorder. Without proper guidance, he could end up in prison, perhaps becoming a notorious serial killer.

However, Frank might have been overthinking it. After all, Carl was only nine, and boys that age often displayed wild, destructive behavior. As they matured, their temperaments usually improved.

Given Carl's tendencies, Frank's choice of a baton as a gift was deliberate. Carl loved dangerous items and often took the kitchen knives and the family's sole baseball bat.

Compared to those, the baton was relatively safe. If Carl hit someone with it, they might get a bruise, but at his age, he lacked the strength to cause serious harm. A blow to the head might result in a bump or minor concussion, but it wouldn't be lethal.

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