Bloom

27. strange associations

Zephaniah

My eyes scanned the sentences that were scattered over the back of the book, my cheeks warming up as I knew they were waiting for me to, somehow, react to this. Truth was, I never knew how to react whilst being given something.

I was thankful, of course I was, but once those words would left my mouth, it'd never sound secure. Brushing my finger over the material of the paperback, I stared at the German Shepherd that was drawn in the right corner of the book.

The sentence was messily placed right over it, the white, bright letters bothering me as it sort of ruined the photo of the dog. "What do you think of it?" Uncle Samuel asked, sitting down beside me on the couch. "It's fine if you don't like it, it just made me think of you when I saw it displayed at the book store," he chuckled, reading the back of it himself.

"It is quite cool," I brought out, smiling genuinely as I briefly looked at him. "Thank you," I stammered out, warmth probably radiating off my face. Because, although I tried to suppress my dog obsession, which I never did when I was little- I'd never lose my immense love for them.

"No worries, Zeph! Jael and Phebe said I had to buy it for you, it looked like Cooper after all." He grinned, referring to his eight and six years old daughters, my cousins.

"Oh," I chuckled, briefly glancing at the two, dark brown haired girls that were giggling at Cooper as he tried to lick their faces. "You didn't have to, you know?"

Uncle Samuel shrugged, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, "Anything for my nephew. Hey, tell me your mum has made fries."

"Mum has made-" I stopped, suddenly realising he didn't mean it in that way. He meant to say that he would've wanted her to. "Uhm, dad wanted to barbecue," I said sheepishly, hoping not to have disappointed him in any way.

"Oh, nothing is better than a perfect grilled piece of meat," Uncle Samuel licked his lips, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I chuckled again, feeling comfortable around his presence. Perhaps, being in mum's side of family and some of my dad's family presence was where I was most comfortable.

Mostly because I knew they wouldn't judge, even if my mind still told otherwise sometimes. I had been growing up in their environment as well as they'd been through some phases of my life.

They knew me, I knew them.

Grandpa David and Uncle Samuel had welcomed us in their life when things were difficult for dad and mum, at a time where no one was really there for my father. The warmth from the first day where I had met them was still and always present, engulfing dad and I like a big hug.

That was mumma's family. Thoughtful, welcoming, loving and warmth.

I think Uncle Samuel and Aunt Ruth got married not long after mum and dad. I cannot quite remember how their day went, though, do remember that they also had loads of cake, chocolate specifically for me.

"Zeph? Hello, Zephaniah!" Jael sounded impatient, giggling softly when I got snapped out of my trance, suddenly finding my eldest cousin on my lap. "Phebe asked if she could paint Cooper's nails?"

"Uhm," I frowned, staring at Phebe who was staring at me with a wide smile on her face, small teeth with a gap in the middle showing. "Uhm, I-" My mind couldn't quite comprehend her question, the association with animals and nail polish not being there yet.

Jael stayed quiet, her dark brown eyes curiously fixed upon my face. It dawned to me a while later, knowing she just wanted to color Cooper's nails.

"We can ask if Auntie Hannah has nail polish and we will lay his paw down onto a kitchen towel! If that's okay with you, Zephy, I can do it very neatly! I practiced on Phebe," she grabbed her younger sister's hand and showed it to me.