All Men Are Not The Same

An Answer to Unanswered Questions

"Uncle?" Maddox called for the third time but again there was no answer. David was fast asleep and Maddox decided not to disturb him. His uncle has also had a hard day along with him.

Maddox turned to his left, seeking some sleep. He was playing with the strands of hair falling over his forehead, imagining his mum who used to do so to put him to sleep. He made up his mind to speak to his uncle at breakfast.

Barely three hours later, the sun was already shining bright above the horizon. Maddox was in the kitchen, making himself a cup of milk.

"Three small spoons of milk powder, one spoon of sugar, pour in the hot water, stir and your milk is ready my little prince!"

Maddox felt like he could hear Miranda's voice giving him instructions as she used to say these words nearly each morning while making her beloved son's milk. The whole house reminded the little boy of his mother. Her footsteps, her laughter, her scoldings, all resonated within the walls of the now dull house. Their dwelling has gone lifeless without Miranda. She was the soul of their little family.

The day Miranda left home to go to the hospital, Maddox did not have the least hint that she would not step back into the house again. That day while leaving, Miranda held her son tight saying, "Honey, you always say you are a grown-up boy, right? So, baby, oops... I mean, my big boy, you should now take care of yourself."

She smiled her brightest although her eyes were mirroring her hopelessness and then, she left.

At that moment, Maddox thought that she was asking him to take care of himself for the days she would be away from home. He did not know that from that moment on, he would have to handle himself lifelong.

As Maddox sat by the table to drink his milk, he heard someone stepping into the kitchen.

"Good morning Maddox!" greeted David, still yawning, his eyes slightly swollen.

"Good morning uncle."

"Your dad is not yet home?" David inquired, looking around the kitchen, "or is he still asleep?"

"No, he didn't come back home," Maddox answered in a plain voice. "Anyway, what will you have uncle? Some milk or coffee?" the little boy quickly asked, attempting to change the topic for he did not even want to think about where his father had spent the night. Mr Howard usually spent whole nights out especially on weekends, yet Maddox never thought that he would do so even on the night his wife passed away.

"Don't worry dear, I will make some omelette and tea for both of us," David replied.

Maddox sat down to drink his milk and was lost in his own thoughts.
I couldn't even make myself a good cup of milk. This tastes so bland!
What will I do after uncle leaves? How will I manage on my own? Will dad be there to help me?

Elisa's death certainly drained the happiness out of Maddox's life and affected his childhood adversely but Miranda's death seemed to have put a full stop to Maddox's life.

Within a few minutes, Maddox and David were both seated by the small kitchen table, eating their breakfast in complete silence. They were each lost in a world of their own when suddenly the little boy blurted out, "Uncle, I have something to ask you."

"Yes my boy, what is it?" David answered, breaking out of his own thoughts.

"Uncle, promise me that you will give me the answers I am seeking. Please, promise me," Maddox pleaded in a faint voice, pricking his omelette with a fork.