TEAMWORK

Chapter 8: RECUR NIGHTMARE ii

Chapter
VIII
Let's Play
(If I Lose I'll do Whatever!)

***

Mop enter the living room to see the small family sitting together on the couch. He smiled brilliantly at the picture they made and stepped forward.

"San Ye, I am clean!"

Wen Jin forced a smile and then looked at Wu Sanxing, her eyebrows practically reaching her hairline in a silent communication that could only be interpreted as 'Are you sure?!'

Wu Sanxing kissed the small boy's dark brown head and stood, "Mop, may I talk to you in the kitchen?"

"Of course, San Ye!"

Wen Jin and Wu Xie watched them leave the room and Wu Xie crawled into Wen Jin's lap.

"Mama?" The little one whispered, "I don't think that man should be here."

"Now, Xiao Xie, Mop is a little... enthusiastic but he didn't mean to make you sick. You'll be fine, okay."

Wu Xie looked doubtful but nodded his head. He knew that school was important to his Papa and Mama and he knew that if they could, they would stay with him. He smiled even though he could feel the tears prickling behind his eyes. He rested his head against his Mama's warm chest and allowed himself to relax.

"It won't be that long, Xiao Xie."

Wu Xie nodded.

***

Mop found himself pressed rather violently against the refrigerator. Although he and Wu Sanxing were the same height, he felt as though the man was looming over him. The smile on his face eased up in its intensity.

"Mop," Wu Sanxing smirked rather menacingly, "I appreciate you coming over and helping us today but if you make that little boy cry or worry or just 'think' about doing either of those things, I will feed you to the dogs. This is not a game. This is my son."

Tears began to leak from round black eyes, "San Ye, my friend, I will treat the little boy as though he were my own. Your sincerity has showed me the error of my ways and seeing you like this, my friend, makes me think of opening a business in regards to..."

"I don't care, Mop." Wu Sanxing released the man, "Emergency numbers are on the table. He'll need to take his medicine in two hours, times and doses are also on the table. We will be home by dinnertime."

Turning Wu Sanxing walked away but stopped at the entry way. "Do not mess this up."

Mop nodded.

***

"Mr. Mop, Men You Pi... I mean, Zhang Qi Ling and I were just headed out toward the welcoming seminar." Wu Xie said in the hopes of getting away from Mop and Zhang Qi Ling and his stupid, stupid life.

"Mister? No, sunshine, I couldn't live with myself if you called me that. Just Mop... or uncle." Wu Xie shivered, "I, myself, was headed in that direction. Shall I take you?"

Wu Xie sighed and forced another blinding smile onto his face. He missed Zhang Qi Ling frown at the action. "That would be wonderful! Come on, Men You Ping!"

Zhang Qi Ling followed the two men out of their room, closing the door behind him. Mop lead them down the hall talking about things that Zhang Qi Ling immediately dismissed when he realize the man was no longer talking about 'sunshine'. Zhang Qi Ling picked up the pace so that he could walk beside Wu Xie. As he got closer, he heard Wu Xie mumbling to himself.

"... then I'll key his car... yeah... and I'll tell Aunt Wen Jin that he bought me that magazine when I was twelve... and then when that old man is sleeping on the couch I'll laugh and laugh."