My dad is a Musician

Chapter 6

This kid just got on my nerves again. It's surprising how I thought I won't be giving him a good talking to after the bathtub incident.

I brought in the food for the kid around 10 minutes ago. I put it in front of him on the drop down table which was attached to the wall and then went to attend a call.

I came back to see the plate was clear and I was quite happy. Leon went on to write something for me in that notebook which was beside him and accidentally dropped his pen while doing some trick with it. It fell in front of the drawer.

I went on to pick it up for him only to see all the breakfast in the dustbin that was between his bed and drawer.

I picked up his pen for him and gave it to him. He constantly avoided eye contact. So even you know that I know, huh? This is not going to end well.

"You better have a good reason for this." I said while I gave him the pen. He nodded, and I continued, "Write it down for me then."

He nodded and took the pen.

"I will step out for a moment. Better have that reason ready."

I need to leave so that I can understand him without judging or getting angry and making him cry. He is a soft kid, I need to think well before countering this thing.

I called Reid, the only saviour I could think of.

"Yo what's u-", he started but was cut off by me.

"Leon threw away his breakfast." I lived in a duplex and I was on the second floor so that Leon couldn't hear me.

"Maybe he has had a toxic relationship with food? Like ridiculed for eating or denied food for days or that he just couldn't digest it. Like, what did you serve him?"

"Pancakes… like come on. I wanted him to have a meal he could enjoy."

"He's just come out of the hospital. You should have served him porridge or something light. And just sit with him while he eats and just let him eat how much ever he wants. Such that he gets something in his stomach and the food is not thrown away."

"I guess I should."

"And check how he eats food. Like does he have problems with eating food or something like that so that we can contact a doctor."

"Yeah I got it. I am also  going to hire a therapist for him. He needs it considering his toxic relationship with food."

"Ok I thought you weren't really into it. But you are quite attached."

"He has attached himself to me. I am just taking care of a kid whom I brought in. I will send him to an orphanage after this whole abuse matter is solved. He will receive love from the people who actually care about him there."

"Geez… stop worrying about the future like this. Concentrate on helping him first and then check what he wants to do."

"Yeah yeah. I will check up on him now."

"Ok bye"

"Bye"

I went in the room. He looked at me and looked down again and anxiously held the notebook.

"I hope you would have written something." I went to him. "Show me, the reason."

He handed me over the notebook, but, "Y-You thought I… will poison you?"

This… is so ridiculous. Should I laugh or ok no. Calm down. Don't laugh. It would be ridiculous for me but for him, it's a big matter.

"Oh boy…", I inhaled and exhaled once before talking to him in order for me sound serious. Problem is not important. The solution is.

"If I were to poison you, I wouldn't have required for the poison to be put in food. Considering how malnourished you are, and how you have a cast on your leg, I could have easily just shoved it in your mouth and, I don't even know you or your name or anything except for your past. Why would I even want to poison you?"

He was just quiet for a while.

"Child," I started, "I know you don't believe me and it's completely fine, I don't blame you. But you need to understand you are safe here and that you will stay here for atleast the next two months until you start walking on your own, so you need to be able to rely on me more."

I have no clue whether it's the right or wrong thing to say but, "That's why you need to eat properly. We need you. We don't want you to die. You are comfortable here and I promise to make it as comfortable as you want. I will give you everything you ask for and I promise you won't have to worry about anything or anyone harming you. We will protect you and take care of you."

I don't know many things whether giving him so many luxuries would help or not or if repeatedly saying that he is comfortable would help him or not, I don't know many things but I will have to show it to him constantly that he is all good. I will also have to keep repeating it such that he starts to drop his defence around me.

"Will you promise me you will not do that again?"

He looked at me and gave a small smirk. Then took his notebook and wrote something on it. He gave it to me to read.

"I promise." I read that aloud, for him and for me.

"Great. I am so proud of you." I said looking at him and giving a little smile to him. He seemed to be taken by surprise but eventually accepted it considering how he was blushing a bit after I said that.

"You are really a wonderful kid." And I really meant that when I said it.