What We Deserve

Part 10: A Monster

"Mom! Tey war saying...." Tse has been learning so fast the passed few days.

After yesterday's porn debacle, he really hunkered down and put in the work and now—now he just won't stop.

Reading everything.

Telling me everything he sees or hears or has thought of.

It's a chatterbox that has no off switch.

And though I am elated he is understanding the English language.

I have a massive headache the size of Big Ben in my head right now.

"Darling...my head...hurts. Can we draw? For a few moments? Please?" I ask from my desk and he nods before coming over and grabbing a stack of printer paper and some of the colorful pens a nurse brought him. "Thank you. Just draw me a book- of all you want to say today. I'll read it- I promise."

He sits quietly and walking passed my open door, I find Max and Stauton.

He doesn't look in or say anything- not until Tse rushes out of the room to see him.

"Dad!" Tse yells and I sigh heavily. Getting up, I go and lean against my doorframe.

"Hey...Tse. What's up, Buddy?" Max seems tired and nervous as he carries the yellow bag of chemo treatment in his hand.

"Mom hast head boo-boo. Me play waht you? Dad?"max weakly smiles at him and looks up to find me there.

"Sorry, pal...I have um...I have Earl- today." He shows him the yellow bag and Tse tilts his head sideways.

"Ea-ll?"

"Yeah...he's fighting a monster for me..."

"Me fight mon-sta for dad!"

"Huh...it's a monster only medicine can fight, buddy." He seems so sad when he says it and I wish Max would just reconsider.

"Tse...darling-Dad needs rest. Okay? Come draw him a picture- make him feel better." I say kindly and Tse sadly turns and looks at me with his big black eyes.

"But mom... me help dad..."

"I know- sweetheart- and I'm sure he would love you to do so...but..."

"Me help, Dad! Me help!"

I look at Max, who is too tired too do anything about it.

"If it's alright with Mom..." he says finally and I sigh- I should be the bad guy and say no- for Max at least.

He will be too drained to look after Tse- let alone take care of himself.

But how can I deny the poor boy time with a man who he has grown to admire.

"Tse, dad needs rest." Is all I say when Tse starts crying and comes trudging into the office- not saying anything to Max or myself as he does so.

"Thank you..." Max quietly says and I don't even issue him a response.

He wants silence.

Fine.

He has it.

Shutting the door, I look down at the poor boy laying under my coffee table, he in his arms and small shakes going through his body.

"Once Dad's done with his treatment- we can take him a treat- okay?" He doesn't respond to me.

At all.

For the rest of the morning, Tse is completely quiet and though that helps my headache- it breaks my heart.

..............