D&B5

57

"I think we should set up the tent now," Phai said slowly, seeing that his nephew had fallen asleep.

"It's good he didn't fuss," Day replied, before helping to unload the gear and set up the tent. Day's family tent was an inflatable one, large enough for six or seven adults.  Pom had brought air mattresses and even a portable air conditioner for the children.

"Is this a hotel or a campsite?" Phai joked, seeing Pom installing the air conditioner in Day's tent.

"It's not the same thing at all!" Pom replied with a smile.  Once Day's tent was ready, he had Pom help put Brick and his baby, Anda, on the 6-foot air mattress. Pom had even laid down thick, soft padding around the mattress.  Meanwhile, Ob and Ingfah were playing near the tent.

"How is it, Brick?" Pom asked Brick, who had put Anda in the tent.

"The air is perfectly cool. I never knew portable air conditioners like this existed," Brick said with a smile.

"Well, if you come to a campsite with electricity, it's this comfortable," Pom replied, before going to help set up the other tents. Pom would share a tent with Belle, Phai would share with Bank and Ingfah, but Brick was considering asking Ingfah to sleep in his tent to avoid the heat.  The other two tents also had portable fans. Pom was incredibly well-prepared. Brick arranged the tables and chairs for relaxing and a space for cooking. Belle took Ingfah and Ob to the small playground in the campsite, putting Brick somewhat at ease. After a while, both children ran towards Brick. He saw his eldest son's cheeks flushed, his face sweaty, running and laughing towards him before hugging Brick's legs.

"You're all sweaty! What were you playing?" Brick said with a smile, wiping his son's face with a tissue.

"We were playing at the playground," Ingfah replied with a smile. Brick poured drinks for his niece and son. Belle, trailing behind, sighed and smiled.

"Brick, your son is going to give me a heart attack," Belle said.

"Why?" Brick asked.

"He was climbing the climbing net all the way to the top. I was scared he'd fall. Even when I called him down, he kept shaking the net and wouldn't come down," Belle explained. Brick looked at the playground and saw the climbing net was probably about three meters high.

"I climbed all the way up!" Ob exclaimed with a smile.

"That's great," Brick replied, smiling at Belle.

"There's one at our village playground too, P'Belle. He loves climbing it. At first, I was worried he'd fall and didn't want him to climb, but Day said to let him climb and just be ready to catch him if he falls." Brick explained.

"No wonder he went straight for it," Belle said, smiling before helping to organize things. Brick gave the children some fruit to eat as Pom set up the awning.

"Where's Anda?" Ob asked about his younger brother.

"He's asleep. Are you tired too?" Brick asked, but Ob shook his head.

"Ingfah, come organize your own things," Bank called his daughter, who immediately ran over. Ob sat eating the apples Brick had cut and put into a container.

"Do you like it here, Ob?" Brick asked his son.

"I like the many, many trees!" Ob said, pointing at the trees.

"You like the trees?" Brick asked, continuing the conversation.

"Yes," Ob replied. Brick smiled.

"Seriously, P'Brick, has Ob ever cried?" Bank asked, walking over with a water bottle.