Love of a Doll

Chapter 1

"Alex! Come help me carry these boxes over to Mr. Jones' shop."

"Yes, Mom!" Alex replied, pushing the box he was using to clean his room, aside.

He jogged over to his mother, who was already carrying a box. Hastily, he took it from her, frowning.

"Mom, just stay here, I'll bring this over to the shop. You aren't well these days," he chided.

His mother smiled. Although his mother was only in her 40s now, she looked like she had aged further. Years of working hard with no break had caused her to fall ill frequently. Furthermore, after the death of Alex's father when the child was only five, she had gone all out to make ends meet.

"Ahh, what a caring son I have," she cooed, patting her son's head. "You should go now, we can't have Mr. Jones waiting."

Alex nodded, picking up another box of apples as he exited their shabby house out in the forests.

"Good morning, Mr. Jones," he greeted, placing the boxes on the counter. "Here are the apples we've grown for the month."

"Oh, you're here, Alex?" Mr. Jones asked, coming out from the store room.

Mr. Jones was a kind, middle-aged man who owned a market in the central village with his wife and son. Alex's family had been supplying them fruits and vegetables even since before he was born. His late father used to be really good friends with the man, and his death had caused immense sadness to him as well.

However, after his father's death, the crops that were growing behind their house had strangely started dying, and the only plant that was still standing strong was the huge apple tree. Due to their personal connections, Mr. Jones had still accepted the supplies of apples, as he knew that Alex and his mom were poor and in need of more income.

"Yes, but I came alone, though. Mom isn't feeling well," Alex spoke.

"I see. Please take good care of her," the older man advised, picking up a box.

"Peter! Come here and place this box in the storage!" He called out to his son.

Peter appeared from the same store room. "Okay, Dad. Oh hi, Alex."

"Hey," Alex greeted back with a smile.

"So, still just apples, huh?" He asked, receiving a slap at the back of his head from his father.

"I'm sorry he's always rude," Mr. Jones apologised. "I don't know what I did to have such a disrespectful child."

Alex laughed heartily. "It's okay, Mr. Jones, he's just brutally honest is all."

Peter rubbed the back of his head, shooting his father a glare before carrying the box inside.

The older man shook his head before turning his attention back to Alex. He handed the teenager a sack full of coins as payment for the apples.

Alex took them gratefully before bowing. "Thank you!"

Before he could leave, however, he was stopped. "Hold on, Alex. Let me get some herbs for your mother. Don't worry, I'm giving them to you."

Once the man had packed all the herbs he had chosen into small pouches, he handed them over to Alex.

"I don't know what to say," Alex spoke. "You've always provided us with so much help. No words can describe how thankful my mom and I are towards you."

Mr. Jones gave a pat on his back. "Your father and I were great friends. This is the only thing I can do for your family right now." He smiled warmly.