Just us- SBI adoption story (Just me and him book 2)

Chapter 76: a better tomorrow

Phil's POV:

Kristin took the boys to school and ended up late for work. Tommy had a total meltdown over breakfast and not eating. I'd planned to get him in the car, even if he was just in his pajamas but that then wasn't an option. It left our other sons very stressed and overall we were just not in a good place. No one had slept and no one had really had a chance to eat breakfast either.

When I got a chance (Tommy sat on the floor pushing a single train on a loop of track, round and around and around) I called James. "Hey mate, I know I said he wasn't coming into school. Do you think you could come round to the house for an hour or two?"

"Uh yea, what time works for you? Maybe just after lunch and then I can stay with him whilst you pick the boys up after school."

"Oh that would be a lifesaver mate!"

"Okay, I'll be there around 1:30."

"See you then."

"Bye."

I put my phone down and took a sip of coffee, "did you hear that mate? James is going to come round later." He didn't acknowledge me again. I tried another approach and went to sit down next to him on the floor. He kept moving his train around and around. "What would you like to do this morning Tommy? We can play trains, watch doctor who, get your dinosaurs out or maybe go on a walk?"

"Tommy? What do you think mate?" I reached out and ruffled his fringe a bit. Wilbur had been teaching me how exactly to get the 'floof' as he called it and I was finally working it out. We didn't bother with his hair this morning and it was stuck up all over the place as a result. There was still no reply from my youngest but he didn't seem opposed to me ruffling his hair so I continued for a little bit.

Time skip:

He had finally pulled himself away from his train long enough for some lunch so I got him set up watching doctor who on the tv with a plate of turkey dinosaurs, chips and peas. He ate it and I could have stood in the kitchen and cried. If all he ate was chicken nuggets and turkey dinosaurs for the next few days then so be it, it meant he was eating and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I sat down on the sofa with my own lunch and watched doctor who with him. I'd do some washing in a bit and get the house cleared up, but for now it was nice just to sit and breath a bit deeper.

James's POV:

"Hey Tommy!" I tried to sound as excited as possible hoping to get some kind of reaction out of him. There was nothing. It was like talking to a brick wall in the most scary way possible. Seeing him so lifeless petrified me.

"Would you mind taking him for a walk?" Phil asked.

"Yep sounds good, I'll go and get him dressed."

"Okay, I've got to pick up Tubbo early. He's not feeling well. So here's the house key. I'll be back soon but you will probably still be on the walk when I do."

"Oh right okay, well I hope he's feeling better soon and don't worry about this one, we'll be fine won't we Tommy?" Tommy didn't answer and flicked his eyes back to the TV that was playing Doctor Who.

Eventually, I got through to him a little after offering to wear one of his dinosaur t-shirts. I picked up tracksuit bottoms and the rest of his clothes to match the shirt he chose and helped him into it. He was a little helpful but nowhere near as independent as he normally tries to be. He adamantly held onto Zog as we went back downstairs and whilst getting his trainers on was even more of a struggle, the quieter version of Tommy was much less nerve-racking to be with next to the roads. 

The public footpath opened up into the farmer's fields but Tommy didn't make any efforts to run off like normal. It sort of hurt my heart a little, it hurt more not knowing how to help. What to do or how to ask what he needed. I didn't even know what was wrong and from my understanding, no one in this situation really does.