D&B5

27

Brick let Cotton stay close to little Ob for a while, then it was time for Ob to have his milk. Day brought the milk bottle to Brick, who fed little Ob while Cotton remained nearby, showing an interest in the small creature in Brick's arms. It seemed Cotton was curious about what the little being was, but didn’t pounce on him; instead, it gently nudged Ob's legs with its chin and nose from time to time, while Day sat next to them, rubbing Cotton’s back.

"At first, I was worried that Cotton might be a nuisance, but seeing this, I feel better," Brick's father said.

"Then can we keep Cotton at home?" Brick asked back.

"You can have little Ob alone for a month first, but I’ll be taking him to see us regularly," Brick's father insisted. Brick nodded in agreement without objections. Once little Ob was done drinking his milk, Brick’s mother offered to hold him and help him burp before putting him to sleep. Brick went off to wash Ob's diapers and clean the milk bottle, with Cotton following him. Meanwhile, Day sat talking to Brick's father about the shop.

"Are you okay, Day?" Brick’s mother asked as she sat in the playpen with the now-sleeping Ob.

"About the baby?" Day replied, and Brick’s mother nodded.

"I'm fine. I was a bit tense at first, but I'm getting used to it now," Day answered.

"Hearing that puts me at ease. If Phim returns to America and needs help, just call me, okay?" Brick's mother told him emphatically, and Day acknowledged her.

"About shaving the baby’s head, that’s entirely up to you two. If you don’t want to do it, that’s fine. Your mom and I have talked about it, and everything is your decision," Brick's father said.

"Thank you," Day replied, grateful that no one opposed their thoughts. After chatting with Brick's father for a while, Day excused himself to check on Brick in the backyard.

"Do you need help?" Day asked when he saw Brick folding diapers and baby clothes. Since they used a dryer, it wasn't necessary to hang the clothes out to dry.

"No, I’m almost done folding here," Brick replied with a smile.

"Heh, I didn't think I’d see something like this," Day joked.

"People have to grow up sometimes, you know. I have a child now," Brick replied with a smile before looking at Cotton.

"Look at this little one. It follows me everywhere I go, like a shadow," Brick said, feeling good that Cotton was still sticking close and hadn’t forgotten him.

"Hang in there, Cotton. Just one more month," Day said to Cotton, who barked in response. Once Brick finished folding the clothes, Day took them to put away in Ob's drawer, then returned to sit with his own parents and have lunch together. With Brick’s mother around, it felt like Brick could take a break since she was handling everything, allowing him to play with Cotton until it was time to leave. Brick held Cotton's face and leaned down to give the pup a gentle kiss on the head.

"We’ll meet again, Cotton. Don’t be naughty," Brick said before his parents took Cotton back to their car and drove home.

........

Time passed, and soon, Ob was nearing one month old. Tomorrow, Day and Brick would have to take Ob for his second hepatitis B vaccine at the hospital. Phim's family had returned to America, and Phim had pumped a lot of breast milk. Salmon quietly cried because he wanted to stay with Ob but ultimately had to go back to school.

The welcome money from Ivan and Roman had been deposited into an account that Day had opened separately for their son's savings. Various uncles and aunts continued to visit them regularly, and Cotton was now back at home as well. Cotton liked to sleep beside the baby gate, and whenever Brick carried Ob out, Cotton would always come over to cuddle.