Grieve Me

The Boy Named Hiro

'Let him grieve,' they told her. 'All children needs to grieve in their own way and they all grieve differently.' Cass wasn't an expert on parenting: the closest thing thing to a child she had her cafe. She wasn't a therapist either so she felt there was no choice than to listen to the professionals.

But the child never grieved.
That was just it.

Her young nephew experienced a horrible tragedy...him and his young brother. The boy had every right to grieve but he didn't. The accident changed her nephew but not in the way she's changed.

Tadashi never went through a bout of depression. Cass never heard a sniffle nor seen so much as a tear cascade down his face. Tadashi smiled, despite the pain, and he took life as it is. Placing one foot in front of the other - often he was the one who comforted his aunt when the pain overwhelmed her while helping her run the cafe when he wasn't in school.

He was an angel, aunt Cass believed, but deep in her heart, she couldn't shake a twinge of doubt, especially when 'he' was around. Maybe she had a 'mother's intuition' after all in her genetics.

Tadashi didn't grieve...he was ok.

Even if it meant, his hobby, made him ok.

So she listened to the professionals and let her Tadashi be. He was a strong boy after all and deserved whatever his heart desired, even if it was driving her crazy. She shouldn't worry over nothing, right?

That did nothing to ease her mind as she watched Tadashi's 'brother' make his way up the stairs, casting her an apologetic glance with his round brown eyes that resembled her sister's. The aunt doubted if the kid felt any remorse at all for what he's done.

"I should really buy books on parenting." Mumbling, the woman turned to her sweet display for some comfort. Grabbing a chocolate doughnut, Cass motioned for her older nephew to approach. Making sure, the younger Hamada was out of earshot, Cass implored, "Couldn't you have programmed him to dislike bot fighting?" Biting the sweet violently, she raged, "This is the fourth time I had to bail you Tadashi and it's not changing! Look at me -" She gestured to the sugary sweet, "Stress eating and this is really good!"

"I'm really sorry aunt Cass." Truly, the eighteen year old was sorry for putting stress on his beloved aunt. "He's in a phase right now, is all." Tadashi admitted, "I'll think of something, promise."

"Why don't you just 'adjust' him, Tadashi?" This conversation has been going on forever and like his dear aunt, the bright college student was equally tired. He was tired of having this debate with her about Hiro. He did his best to avoid these touchy conversations and he'll continue to do so to the end of time.

Shrugging a bit, Tadashi replied, "If I do that, aunt Cass, then he wouldn't be Hiro in there." Before his aunt could argue, he pecked her on the cheek, adding "I will do something about it. Love you aunt Cass."

"Love you as well." it was tiny, tainted with shades of sadness, but it was enough for Tadashi as he ascended up the stairs.

The young man rubbed his neck, unsure of a plan at this point. Hiro's been sneaking out, almost every night, bot fighting. He's only been caught four times. Perhaps this is his rebellious age? Tadashi wondered, silently planning that if so, he'll have to make some adjustment and soon. First, he needed a way to get Hiro out of chasing money and thrills.

"You owe aunt Cass big time." He attempted to sound authoritative but failed the moment his eyes fell on young Hiro. The boy merely 'yup' at their computer as he typed away. Feeling his irritation fading fast (it could never last long with Hiro), the older Hamada tried, "I'm serious, before she eats the whole cafe."