problematic ➳ reddie

4

4. July ❀ age 5

It was 4th of July. Eddie had begged his mom to spend the day with Richie and his family. Sonia had denied this, but after Eddie had whined and cried and yelled, she had to say yes. The Kaspbraks were going to the Tozier house to spend their day. They were first going to see the parade at the downtown and after that, they'd go to the Tozier house to have dinner.

 Eddie really hoped that his mom would act. That she'd behave. Because Eddie knew that she didn't like the Toziers that much, but she'd do anything for Eddie, which is the only reason why she let Eddie and Richie be friends. 

"Mommy are you done? Are you done?" Eddie jumped up and down by her mother's bedroom door. 

"Soon, Eddie bear. Just wait a second..." his mother groaned and clumsily squat down to get her so-called 'walking' shoes. 

"Can I go already? Richie's probably-" 

"No. We're going together" Sonia said sharply and got up after tying her shoes. "Alright...let's go- oh wait, did you remember your inhaler?" 

Eddie's happy impression turned to a frown as his mother mention his...inhaler. 

He had asthma. Eddie had an asthma and he didn't like it when he had...asthma. He had noticed few days ago, or was it already been a week? When they were playing football with Richie, he had noticed that his breath, almost got thicker and it came hard to breathe. He didn't want to say anything to Richie, because he didn't want to worry him. It already felt so bad to Eddie that Richie had to purposely lose, for him. yeah, Eddie noticed. Eddie noticed that Richie had purposely played worse than usual and let Eddie do easy goals. Eddie didn't mention about it, because he appreciated Richie. 

"Well? Do you?" his mother repeated. 

"Do I have to take it?" Eddie asked. 

"Is that even a question? Of course you have to take it! Where is it?" Sonia exclaimed. 

Eddie dug a blue/white aspirator from his pocket and showed it to his mom. 

"Good. It's there to protect you, Eddie" Sonia ran her fingers through Eddie's brushed hair. 

"But Richie could protect me" 

"Richie can't cure asthma" Sonia rolled her eyes at Eddie, what made him even more mad. 

"B-But he could calm me d-down!" Eddie stuttered. 

"The LAST thing he's going to do, is to give mouth-to-mouth to you! I won't allow it! That is safer, Eddie. Trust me" 

Eddie furrowed his brows. What's mouth-to-mouth? He didn't know. 

Eddie was about to ask her, but Sonia made it to grab Eddie's arm and drag him out of the house. "Okay, Eddie. ground rules. Behave, don't talk while eating, don't disappear with Richie during the parade, don't tease his sister. Just be nice, like you always are" Sonia slightly caressed Eddie's head. 

"Okay, mommy" Eddie sighed. 

The two were now standing in front of the Tozier house. Sonia rang the door bell and soon they were greeted by Riley, Richie's eight year old sister.