Toddling Along: Hurts 2
By
Gemsong

Jack is miserable. I mean really miserable. The downsizing was bad enough, but this is just plain awful. And as bratty as he normally is, he’s trying so hard to suck it up and endure. Pure Jack. Cut off his leg and he’d call it a flesh wound. Cut of his arm and he’d bitch about not being able to use a rifle properly.

“Da?” Jack said. He’s given up trying to say my full name.

I walk over to his bed and sit down on the side putting my hand to his forehead. The curls are a little damp with sweat so I brush them aside. He usually hates when I mess with his hair, particularly since I won’t let him cut it at short as he wants it. He’d look like Forrest Gump.

“What can I get you?” I asked.

He lay there, propped up on the pillow. “Talk wif me?” he asked. That meant I talk and he listened since his throat hurt too much for a lot of talking.

“How about I read to you instead?” I asked. Jack nodded and I picked up one of the books he was currently trying to read. His handwriting was impossible with the small hands, but his ability to read remained undiminished.

I picked up the second Harry Potter book off his night stand and began to read. I had been initially surprised thinking it was just a children’s story. Now I’m just as fascinated Jack is in the story. I’ve already picked up the following books that Jack didn’t have yet.

I read a couple chapters before he dozed off again. I brush his hair off his face again. The touch seems to settle him a little. I find myself gently rubbing his back as he curls into a ball.

I didn’t expect him to sleep long. Eventually the painkiller wears off and he’s awake again. This time Janet took a turn with him. She and Cassie came over for dinner as well as to see how Jack was holding up.

Janet was able to get him to eat some Jell-O, despite his lack of appetite. And it had to be green Jell-O. Not red. Not blue. Not orange. Only green Jell-O. I didn’t even think he liked Jell-O, but then considering how his throat and ears felt it was probably easy going down.

We sat on the couch. Cassie had just put in the DVD for the first Harry Potter movie. Then it struck me. This moment. Jack was sitting on Janet’s lap sucking his thumb. I was sitting beside her with my arms stretched out behind her on the back of the couch. Cassie was sitting on the floor using my legs as a back rest.

It was strange. But it was good. I glanced at Janet to see her looking at me. Apparently the same thought has crossed her mind at the same time. She smiled and I squeezed her shoulder.

I don’t know when I dozed off. Nor did I know that Cassie knew where Jack’s digital camera was. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who dozed off. Cassie saw her moment and went for the camera.

The picture has the three of us asleep. Janet had her head on my shoulder with my arm around her and Jack had managed to sprawl across both out laps in his sleep.

I’m still debating on whether or not to kill her.

Fini