Honey Tea Lemon Tree

Chapter Two

By the next morning, the feeling had worn off. It was replaced by annoyance, because today was the day I was going to start babysitting Oceanus.

"But, Daddy, the kid's twelve!" I argued with my dad. "I didn't need anyone looking after me when I was twelve."
"You and Oceanus are two different people, Carli," Daddy said. "You may have been fine on your own, but he needs special guidance and care."
I sighed. "Is he at least potty-trained?" 
"Yes."  
"Well, he still can't talk. How will I know if he he's hungry or tired?"
"He can still point to things," Daddy said. "As a matter of fact, you can use that to your advantage. You can tell him all your secrets and he won't judge you or tell anyone."
I had only known this kid for a day. I didn't care that he couldn't talk, I had yet to trust him.
"Kids with special needs can be some of the sweetest you'll ever meet," my dad said. "From what I've seen, I think Oceanus would make a great friend."

My dad and I went downstairs to have breakfast. Oceanus was at the piano, and my eyebrows went up at how exceptionally well he was playing. Lorraine saw my surprise and chuckled. "Isn't he talented?" she gushed. "Music is the way he communicates, because sometimes a strong, heartfelt melody can say much more than words can."
I didn't think about what she had said. I just thought she was crazy. When Oceanus finished, I felt like it was only fair to give him a pat on the back. "You're a really good piano player," I told him, and he smiled. His smile was so precious and innocent, and it still is to this very day. 

Babysitting Oceanus technically wasn't babysitting. It was actually me and him playing Jenga blowing bubbles and drawing pictures with Daddy and Lorraine chatting on the couch nearby. I actually had quite a bit of fun, and felt younger than I had in a long time. I made him a can of soup for his lunch, and we played some more games together after then until suppertime. Fortunately for me, Lorraine agreed to give Oceanus his nighttime bath, and while she did I realized I hadn't talked to Dylan all day.  I went to my bedroom and called him. After about five rings, he picked up. "Hello?"
"Hi babe, it's me Carli," I said.
"Oh, uh, now's not the time..." he said. Just then, I thought I heard a girl's voice say something inaudible. Dylan's voice replied to hers, with the same inaudibility. 
"Dylan?" I said. "Who are you with?"
"I-it's my cousin," he replied.
"What?" the girl's voice said, in an offended manor.
"Look, uh, I gotta call you back," he stammered, and hung up.
Disgusted, I flipped the phone shut. I was offended and angry that he was so rude. And who was that girl he was with? I began to grow suspicious. But then Lorraine appeared and interrupted my thoughts. "Oceanus is clean and dressed," she said. "All you have to do is tuck him in and tell him goodnight."

I sighed, put my phone away, and went to Oceanus' bedroom. I found him sitting in his bed, wearing red fleece PJ's. "Lie down," I said softly, and he did just that. I covered him with the comforter and told him good night. I was about to leave when I heard him get up. I looked back, and saw him pull a storybook of his shelf. He held it out to me. 
"You want me to read that, don't you?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Alright," I said with a sigh, sitting down on the side of the bed as he handed me the book. I looked at the front cover.  "The Grumpy Rhino,"  was the title of the book. It showed a cartoony illustration of a rhino in a savanna, wearing an exaggerated cantankerous expression. I turned to the first page.

"A grumpy rhino lived in the African savanna. None of the other animals knew why he was so grumpy, he just was." I read.
"The baboon tried to find out why. 'Mr Rhino, why are you so grumpy all of the time?' he asked. But he had no avail. 'Get away from me, you pink bottomed howler!' the rhino yelled, and the baboon crawled away with hurt feelings." Oceanus giggled.

"The elephant tried to ask the rhino why he was so upset, and was told the same thing... except he was called a great big gray wrinkle. So, he stomped away with hurt feelings." Oceanus cuddled a little closer to me. I was kind of wierded out, but it was a rather sweet gesture nonetheless. 

"Finally, a tiny marmoset monkey approached the rhino, and she said, 'Mr Rhino, why are you so grumpy?' The rhino glared down at her and said, 'Get lost, you tiny, puny ape!' But rather than leap away with hurt feelings, the monkey stayed. 'I don't want you to be grumpy. I want you to be happy.' she said."
Oceanus took my hand and looked up at me with wide, sparkling eyes.

"The rhino became even grumpier. 'If you don't go away,' he declared, 'I'll -'
But before the rhino could say anything else, the monkey gave him a hug around his leg. The rhino felt funny. He hadn't gotten a hug in a very long time. He began to smile, and laugh a little."

Oceanus rested his head on my shoulder as I read the final page.
" 'Sometimes, someone who's grumpy needs to know that someone cares about them,' said the monkey. 'And I care about you a lot, Mr Rhino.'
'And I care about you too, little monkey,' the rhino said, and wasn't grumpy anymore. The end."

Oceanus smiled at me and laid down. I tucked him in and told him good night, then went to bed.