Party of Eight

Respect and Kindness

                                  (Contains: Chan spanking Felix.)

Late July 2021

It was the weekend, so Chan was off work. (Unfortunately for Felix.)
Felix was sitting on the chair in the living room, trying to play his game.

Chan had been nagging Felix all morning. Or at least that's what it felt like.

Chan was trying to get some stuff ready for their trip to Korea. It was just 3 weeks away, and he was filling out some paperwork for the kids passports. He didn't have any other time to do it, this year had just been so busy for him at work.

He was sitting in the living room, on the couch.
Laptop on his lap, and phone up to his ear.
He looked outside as he waited on hold to talk to a service person.

He noticed something out the window. He stood up and went to take a closer look.

Mrs. Nielson, their 82 year old neighbor across the street was out trying to mow her lawn.
By herself.
She looked like she was struggling.

"What on earth?" Chan whispered to himself.

He walked over to Felix.

"Felix. Can you go help Mrs. Nielson?" Chan asked.

"Help her what?" Felix asked

"She's trying to mow her lawn. I think." Chan said.

"I'm busy right now." Felix said quietly.

"You're hardly busy."

"I am!"

"Felix. She's like 80 years old. She needs help."

"Well then why don't you help her?"

"Because I'm actually busy right now." Chan said, pointing to his phone.

"I don't like her. She's a grumpy old lady." Felix whined.

"Get off your butt, and go help her mow her lawn, before I-"

[Hello, thank you for holding. How can I help you?] The customer service person cut in.

"Oh hi." Chan started, putting on his polite voice before explaining his issue.

As he talked on the phone, he made a few gestures to Felix. Felix pretended he didn't notice. Finally Chan had enough.

He tried to pluck the tablet with his free hand, from Felix's hands.
Felix tightened his grip.
Finally Chan yanked it from him.
He set it down on the coffee table, and turned it off.
Felix protested.

Chan grabbed Felix by the hand and shuffled to the front door, all while still talking politely on the phone.
He pointed at Felix's shoes and snapped his fingers.

Felix shook his head.

Chan covered the phone for a second so he could talk to Felix. "If you are seriously going to have this selfish attitude and refuse to help an old lady, that tablet is going straight in the trash, and you are never getting another one." He threatened in a barely audible voice, before turning his attention back to the phone call.
"Oh. Yes. I do have that document somewhere, just give me a second." He said as he went to search his files.

Felix turned to look out the window beside the door. He sighed and slipped his shoes on before he made his way outside.

He paused in the driveway, contemplating whether to go. He figured Chan was watching him, so he walked over.

"Are you having trouble?" He asked.

"Oh... I'm okay. I'm just trying to get this darn grass mown."

"Okay. Well, bye." Felix said, quickly walking away and going back into the house.

Chan wasn't in the living room anymore, instead Jisung was sitting in his chair, playing his game on the tablet.

"Hey!" Felix whined. "I was using that."

"You weren't here. What're you talking about?" Jisung argued.

Felix quickly went and snatched it from Jisung, just as Chan walked back in to the room...

He stopped and looked at Felix.

"She didn't need help." Felix said, honestly thinking that would make sense to Chan and he would be off the hook.

Chan was still on the phone, so he couldn't say much, but he immediately went to take the tablet.
Felix tried to hold onto it again, but Chan was stronger. He tucked the device under his arm, before pulling Jisung up from the chair.

"What did I do?" Jisung asked sadly.
"Go help Mrs. Nielson mow her lawn." Chan whispered, covering the phone again.
"Okay?" Jisung said, unsure of what was happening.
He quickly went to the porch, while listening to Chan lecture Felix.