D&B5

Special 5

"Papa! Eeeeek!" Anda's shriek echoed through the house, accompanied by the sound of the little boy running erratically to escape his older brother, who was pretending to chase him. Ob was three years and three months old, while Anda was one year and five months.

"What's going on?" Brick asked, walking out to see what the commotion was. Anda ran to Brick, grabbing onto his leg and trying to climb him. Brick picked him up. Anda giggled, happily hugging Brick's neck. Ob then ran up, clutching a wolf-shaped glove.

"Run, Papa!" Anda quickly said, though his speech wasn't perfectly clear. Brick understood perfectly, having experienced similar antics from his older son.

"P'Ob was chasing Nong Anda?" Brick asked. Anda vigorously nodded his head. Ob laughed heartily.

"Nong Anda wanted me to chase him," Ob replied. His speech was becoming clearer now.

"Yeah, he was just scared he wouldn't be able to outrun P'Ob. By the way, has Daddy come downstairs yet?" Brick asked, as they were planning to take their sons out for an activity that day.

"Yes, he has," Ob replied. Brick carried Anda to the living room, with Ob trailing closely behind.

"How far did you chase each other?" Day asked softly.

"He ran to Papa," Ob answered. Ob had grown taller since last seen, and his skin was a little darker from spending time outdoors playing sports.

"Have you packed all up?" Brick asked Day. Day nodded, glancing around to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything.

"What about the food?" Brick asked Day.

"It's ready too. But have you told P'Tip when we're picking up Nong Kirin?" Brick asked about Tip, a single mother whose son, Kirin, had moved into their neighborhood six months ago after securing a mortgage for a new house. Ob and Kirin were thrilled to live closer and play together often. In the evenings, Day and Brick would often take Ob to play with Kirin at the neighborhood park, or sometimes Kirin would come to their house. On days when Tip was busy and couldn't take Kirin, Brick offered to ensure Kirin made it back home, as he trusted that he could take good care of him. However, Tip didn't often take Brick up on this offer, as she was quite considerate. Today, they had arranged for Kirin to join them on the family outing, and Tip happily accepted as she had the day off.

"I already did. We'll call her again once we've loaded the car," Day replied.

"Will there be a lot of people where we're going?" Brick asked, concerned about managing the children.

"It shouldn't be too crowded. They limit the number of people per day," Day answered, reassuring Brick.

"Are you two ready?" Day asked the children.

"Ready, Daddy!...Ready!" Ob and Anda replied in unison, making Day and Brick smile. They then helped their sons into their car seats. Brick called Tip to let her know they were leaving; Tip would be driving Kirin to meet them, as one car wouldn't be enough.

"Daddy, where's Kirin?" Ob asked, his speech now much clearer than before.

"Kirin's going with Aunt Tip," Day answered, before Brick started playing children's music for them in the car. Brick glanced in the rearview mirror and laughed as he saw Anda bobbing his head to the music and trying (unsuccessfully) to sing along, while Ob tapped his feet.

"Anda, you're going to get whiplash bobbing your head like that!" Brick said wearily. They had arrived at the entrance to the housing estate, and Tip's car was already waiting. Day pulled ahead.

"Huh, it looks like P'Tip isn't driving," Brick commented with a grin.

"Is Dr Jom coming along too?" Day asked, referring to Jom, the doctor who seemed to have a crush on Tip.