~Jasam's Rain~ (Undergoing serious editing)- Read at your own risk.

Chapter 4 : Stranger At Your Door

Chapter 4

Armed with the knowledge that I was on the road to a quick recovery Dr. Marie Rhett exited the room instructing me to get some rest. By this time, my head was throbbing relentlessly and my entire body felt as if it had very recently been a wrestler’s punching bag or better yet, Sultan’s. It had been awhile since I’d felt this way, the last time was four years ago when I had tried to avenge my grandfather’s death;

//FLASHBACK\\

After spotting my grandfather’s lifeless body slumped against the dining room wall, I’d teleported over to the predator and had barely taken a swipe at him when I found myself flying through the air and then crashing against the opposite wall. It had taken the beast just one hit to incapacitate me to such a degree that I was bedridden for days, suffering from six fractured ribs and a broken thumb.

//END OF FLASHBACK\\

Releasing a pent up breath I turned spotting a small movement from the corner of my eye, I had forgotten about my little grumpy friend. I hadn’t fed him, or was it her? since yesterday morning. Tira had purchased it for me two weeks ago and I named it Bobby. Bobby was neutral right? Grabbing a bottle from a nearby table I scattered some pellets into the aquarium and watched Bobby slowly make its way over to treat.

Stooping so that I was at an eye level with the turtle, I pressed my hand to my aching temple and watched its slow progress then letting out an exasperated sigh, I reached into its glass prison and snatched it up, depositing it right before the pile of food, if not for my help, the pathetic creature would  have probably died of starvation, considering the length of  time it had taken to take a few steps.

I glared at the animal, it hadn’t even taken one bite. The ungrateful creature was trying to provoke me! But I knew I was just letting my aches and pains get the better of me. Rubbing by forehead, I hobbled over to my warn comfy bed and in minutes I was asleep.

 I woke the next morning feeling infinitesimally better, my head ache was now nothing but a dull, easily ignored throb and my wrist wasn’t as painful as the day before. I looked down at my hand, turning it this way and that to inspect the cast; I’d never worn one before. At that moment my door creaked open and Sultan’s head popped in;

“Hey, mom said I should give you this” he withdrew a small white bottle from behind the door and threw it at me. I started to stretch out my right hand before I remembered the injury and quickly switched to my left, snatching the bottle from the air. It was a bottle of non-drowsy pain medication with instructions to take one pill twice a day or whenever needed, after meals.

“How you feeling?”

“I feel great”

Sultan released a pent up breath and placed his hand dramatically over his heart, “Great, because we were all wondering if you were up for helping with dinner?”

I grinned, “Yea sure, I’ll be down in a sec”

He disappeared from view, closing the door behind him

“ He’s gonna do it!” I heard Sultan announce downstairs, then I heard sighs of relief.

            It was Sunday, which entailed Sunday dinner with the family so everyone came early to play their part in preparing dinner. It was also a chance for us to see Gabe and Analise who no longer resided with us.

When I went to Jamaica last year to visit my aunt Sheba and her twin daughters Cleo and Patra, her boyfriend Pete had taught me the many ways of  preparing pork. Armed with this knowledge, I went as far as to make roasted pork and broad beans one Sunday, it was a hit and now everyone’s favorite Sunday meal. Every other Sunday I prepared different kinds, which would explain Sultan’s anxiety over me helping with dinner today.