D&B5

59

"Wow, you're up early, Brick," Pom greeted, seeing Brick groggily emerge from the tent in the cool morning air.

"I'm preparing breakfast for Anda," Brick replied. "You're up early too, Pom, even though you probably went to bed later than me last night." Brick sat down on a chair looking dazed, while Pom started boiling water for coffee.

"I love the morning atmosphere when camping," Pom said with a smile.

"Want some coffee?" Pom asked.

"No, thanks," Brick replied, smiling, before going to check the ingredients for his youngest son's meal, with Pom helping him find the necessary utensils.

"What are you making for breakfast, Pom?" Brick asked while preparing the food.

"I'm making congee with various side dishes. I discussed it with P'Belle; we'll have pickled mustard green salad, stir-fried preserved radish with egg, salted egg yolk salad, stir-fried water spinach, and I’ll also make minced pork omelets for the kids. Is there anything else you'd like? If we have the ingredients," Pom asked after listing the menu. Brick stared, slightly dumbfounded.

"Are you here for a vacation or to open a food stall?" Brick asked. Pom chuckled softly.

"I told you, I like to be prepared. Better to have too much than not enough," Pom replied.

"Besides, what I'm making is really easy. It'll be done in a flash," Pom said, smiling, because the pickled mustard green salad and salted egg yolk salad use the same dressing.

"That's enough," Brick replied, since his older child, Ob, could eat that. It was only Anda that needed a separate meal. Once Brick finished preparing Anda's food, Pom started boiling the rice for the congee. Meanwhile, others started waking up from their tents, so Brick went to check on Day and their son.

"Hmm, have you guys been awake for a long time? Why are you lying on top of your Daddy like that?" Brick asked, smiling slightly.  He entered the tent and saw Ob lying on top of Day, his body across Day's stomach, while Anda had his face buried in Day's chest. Day was supporting both children. Day looked at Brick and smiled softly.

"Anda woke up first, so I brought him down to play.  Ob just woke up a minute ago," Day replied. Anda, hearing Brick's voice, lifted his head, looking at him before giving a shy smile.

"Come here, let Papa check. Are your diapers full?" Brick said, sitting down to check both sons' diapers. Anda crawled into Brick's lap, allowing Ob to lie fully on Day's strong chest. Day hugged his older son to keep him from falling. Brick told Day what Pom was preparing for breakfast, and Day chuckled softly before they both took their children out of the tent.

"Hey, you're awake," Phai greeted his two nephews. Ob still had his face buried in Day's strong shoulder, while Anda gave his uncles sweet smiles. Day sat in a chair with Ob clinging to him.

"Let him clear his head first," Day said about Ob. Anda giggled with Bank, who had come to play with him. Belle took Ingfah to the bathroom. When they returned, they helped Pom prepare breakfast. Ingfah played with Anda. After a while, Ob, having regained his composure, got down from Day's lap and went to play. Day followed him. Ob quietly looked around. Day watched his son. The little boy knelt down by a bush of flowers and stayed still.

"Daddy, no butterflies," Ob said.

"The butterflies haven't woken up yet," Day replied. Ob nodded seriously and walked further, stopping at a tall tree. The little boy looked up.

"Look,"

"Daddy, that what?" Ob pointed at a bird perched on a decorative wooden beam.

"It's a bird," Day replied.