Forget Me Not

Chapter Forty

Mew didn't understand why Korn had decided to deliver the gifts himself but he wasn't about to complain. It gave him a chance to see Korn and the visit home would give him a chance to see his parents. What he didn't expect was to bump into them before they had even reached their house.

"Mew, what are you doing here?" his mother asked excitedly

"I wanted to surprise you. I guess the surprise is mine," he said hugging her first and then turning to give his father the same treatment.

Korn stood a little behind but the minute Mew was done with his greetings he dragged him forward, "You remember Korn, don't you?"

"Yes, it's been an age," Mew's mother said. She was a little awkward at first but she seemed to make a mental decision and opted for the same effusive hug she'd given Mew instead of a more formal greeting.

Mew's father accepted Korn's wai and he's very formal, "Sawadee krub."

"Sawadee,"

"We were just heading to the market and now we have two very strong young men to help us carry back all the things we were going to buy."

"Is that all we are to you, pack animals?"

"You have your uses. Or you could go back and rest and we'll catch up with you later," she said looking from Mew to Korn and then back again.

"That's okay. I can carry your heavy bags. I mean isn't this what you gave birth to me for? To be a helping your old, old age,"

"Now...don't go saying things like that. We are not that old." His mother admonished pointing an accusing finger at him.

"I can't win, can I?" Mew said to his father with a knowing nudge, "How do you manage?"

"You don't argue," His father said.

Mew's mother smacked her husband's arm but they all laughed together as they made their way towards the vegetable market. Walking with Korn they stopped to look around and familiarize themselves with all the things that were the same and all the ones that were different.

Mew occasionally stopped to watch his parents as they haggled over prices and argued over what to buy. Each time they purchased something, they added it to his bags. It was eventually so heavy that he and Korn had to carry it between them to keep up.

When his parents were far enough not to hear him, he asked Korn, "Do you think we'll ever get to the point where we are like them?"

"I hope so."

"Arguing in our old age?"

"No. Just so familiar with each other that, even though there are no surprises, everything is just right because the person you love is with you," Korn said rather poetically.

He'd been looking at Mew's parents but he turned to him and everything about his gaze confirmed his words. Mew would have reached for his hand but he didn't have a free one. He would have liked to do something to assure Korn he'd heard him loud and clear but the noisy market didn't give him much choice.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said leaning close to Korn, "You better be ready for forever."

"What are you two whispering about back there?" His mother asked with an unexpectedly soft expression in their direction.

"I was just telling Korn, I should buy you a wheeled trolley so that you don't have to carry things all the time."

"I've been doing it for such a long time, I don't mind. A wheeled trolley wouldn't even work on some of these planks." She said kicking up a spot where the paving had lifted to form a tripping hazard. "Don't waste your money on silly things. You can buy me a diamond necklace."