The Ministry Child

A Visit From A Rat

A Visit From A Rat

Chapter 36!

February 1998 - The Los Angeles Ministry

Albany stirred in her sleep when she heard Terzo's voice, he was quietly ranting to himself while he walked across the room. She heard his footsteps and then the leather armchair squeaking. Her eyes fully opening she remained still on the couch, she heard him curse beneath his breath. She was unsure what had annoyed her Brother, his mood was normally pleasant first thing in the morning. She had been sleeping on the leather couch for the last few days, he had offered her his bed but she didn't want to take advantage of his hospitality. Her Brother worked hard on the fifth floor, he sometimes didn't get back until the late evening. She didn't want to take his comfortable bed away from him, he needed all the sleep he could get on the weekdays. Pulling herself up on the couch she managed to sit up straight, the couch squeaking beneath her soon caught her Brother's attention. Their gaze met, he was sitting on the armchair not far away from the couch. 

" I didn't mean to wake you." He said.

" It's fine, I should be getting up anyway." She said before she yawned. " But what's wrong? Did something happen?"

" Oh, it's nothing important." He said while he fastened his shoes in turn. " I can get it fixed, the tailor will sow my jacket."

" You ripped your jacket?" She asked.

" Yes, the inner lining has a tear." He replied.

" I can take it to the tailor for you, it's no trouble." She said.

" Absolutely not! You're meant to be resting." He said.

" The exercise will do me good, I'm getting bored staring at the television set all day long." She said with a sigh. " I have been advised to move around more by one of the nurses, it will do me good. I'm not in much pain, I'm feeling better. I could do with a change of scene, I would like some fresh air."

" If you want some fresh air I will open a window." He said.

" Come on, Terzo! Let me do this one thing for you." She said, she turned around to face him. " The tailor is only on the second floor, it's not that far. I will be using the elevator, it's not like I will be using the stairwell. I plan to never use the stairwell ever again..."

" Okay, okay! Just this once." He said before he got to his feet. " But you have to come straight back to my room when you've delivered it. No dawdling, do you understand?"

" I'll come straight back to your room, I promise." She replied.

" My jacket is hanging on the wardrobe door, it's easy to find." He said.

" Okay." She said.

" I will back at 12pm for lunch, enjoy your morning." He said.

" Enjoy your morning too." She said.

Albany slightly smiled at Brother when he gently patted the top of her head, he told her to behave herself while he was gone. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, he had been treating her like a child lately. He had even reminded her of some forgotten memories from her childhood, it was embarrassing. She had to remind him more than once that she was a grown woman, but he ignored her words. They were only nine years apart in age, it wasn't a big age gap like the fourteen years between her and Primo.

Terzo fixed his sleeves on his jacket, he made sure he looked presentable before he left his room. Albany remained on the couch, she was still tired. Looking over at a clock in the kitchen she read the time, it wasn't even 8am yet. Sighing deeply to herself she threw back the blankets and folded them up neatly, she always made sure the couch was returned to it's normal state when she wasn't sleeping on it. Next she made herself some coffee and tidied the kitchen, she put away some clean plates from last night. Her sprained wrist was still sore, but she managed to make the room look organised for her Brother's returned. She planned on making him some lunch, she had cooked for him last night. It gave her something to do while she was staying with him, there was only so much television she could watch throughout the day.