A Little Bit Of Joy | ✔

Chapter Twenty Seven : The Boy And The Chicken

Three years ago, Logan and my life changed drastically. I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and his family passed away in a horrifying car accident. He became the only surviving member of his family while I became the dying member. We had been enduring pain since then, fighting battles within ourselves. The conclusion is that we managed to survive for three years. Three entire years.

Six days to go and this would all end. Logan would turn eighteen and albeit there would be consequences, at least he wouldn't fall prey to his diabolical uncle. All our plans would come to fruition. Logan and I clawed our way to exist for three years and we had to continue doing it for merely six days. Six more days.

"See, this is how you solve." My dad showed me the newspaper, snapping me out of my thoughts. We both were sitting on the floor right next to each other. "You jumbled up these numbers."

"Oh cool, thanks dad," I mumbled and concentrated on the sudoku puzzle. I never got it right without the help of my dad. My dad stroked my hair as I tried to figure out the answer. I didn't realize that I was chewing my lip subconsciously until I could taste the metallic blood.

"Hot cocoa." Mum placed the two steaming mugs in front of us and smiled. "You got the puzzle?"

"No maa, puzzle's still left. I'm done with the sudoku." I grabbed the mug, the rich smell of warm chocolate tingling my sensations. Mum plopped down beside me "You can help me with this puzzle."

"Won't your smart dad help you in this?" she said mischievously and wore her glasses.

"Dad has solved the sudoku, let's see if the mum can solve the puzzle," my dad teased and then both of them continued to talk and laugh, always playfully asking for my opinions. This was the typical Sunday environment after breakfast ever since my dad was home. At one end, Shaun and Gemma were furiously playing video games. Gemma had difficulty keeping up with the speed, but she soon learned and became better at it than me. However, Shaun was the best. He always won.

"Shaun, Gemma, your hot drinks are on the table," mum announced and my siblings who were extremely engrossed in the game merely nodded. "Drink it before it gets cold! I won't heat it again!"

Shaun nodded again, but this time Gemma stopped playing abruptly. She turned around, disrupting the game and replied quietly, "Okay maa."

My mum had a look of satisfaction and approval. I wondered whether she knew that Gemma was scared of her? It was impossible to not notice Gemma's wide eyes, her stiff back whenever mum talked or the way she accepted each order from mum submissively. My mum brushed me away each time I approached to her about this. Maybe they both were used to this kind of relationship because Gemma never complained about mum either.

Shaun frowned because of the disturbance in the game, but resumed when Gemma started pressing the buttons again. When I would be gone, dad would probably go abroad- back to his old job and Shaun would be at France for his internship. My mum and Gemma would be alone at home and I prayed inwardly for peace and love between them. Mum did love Gemma equally, but her tough parenting specially directed to my sister would lead to big argument when she would finally burst. After all, Gemma's bottle of emotions would soon overflow.

My mum and dad carried on with their bantering and there was no love lost between them. They were still the same as they were twenty-five years ago, irrevocably in love. A pang of envy hit me as I quickly shook it away in disgust, how despicable I was to get envious of my own parents' love?

"Did grandpa say anything today?" my dad asked Shaun.

"I didn't check up on him today, I'll go to the station in the evening. Even when I go, he tells me to piss off," Shaun said casually while simultaneously trying to overtake Gemma in the racing game and we all laughed.