New Life

Part 2

 Celso was eating with his family like every Sunday but his uncle Dante and his wife had come over to visit. He was sitting by his uncle, his mother by Dante's wife and his father at the head of the table.  Everyone was quiet, making the room fill up with silence. His father decided to talk about Celso. 

"So, Celso, how do you feel now that you are training?" He cleared his throat afterwords.

"Hmm." Celso answered with a grunt and nod. His uncle nudged him.

"I remember when I was just about your age! Ah the training and girls!" He laughed while his wife glared at him.

"I meant to say, that I met the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on. I ended up marrying her." He laughed awkwardly. Dante then turned to look at Celso.

"Make sure you get real strong, and  in time this will all be yours!" His face was completely serious. Celso nodded at his uncles words.

"I understand." Celso mumbled to his uncle. His uncles eyes widened, and a smile spread a cross his face.

"He spoke! He finally talked to me!" His mother and father stopped eating.

"What? No, he doesn't talk. You must've heard something else." Celso's mother argued.

"He's rarely ever talked. If what your saying is true, he must like you." Dante's wife smile over to her husband.

"Indeed! I'm your favorite uncle, aren't I?" Dante beamed out.

"Yes, I suppose you are." Celso's father nodded. Celso nodded in agreement.

"He won't sit by his other uncles." His father added.

"That's great. Say, would it be OK if I talk to him after dinner?" Celso's father agreed.  And after dinner they went outside to talk.

"Hey. Soso would you be sad to take over? I mean like if your father died and you had to take over for him." He corrected himself. Smiling nervously at the young man that was taller than himself.

"Don't call me Soso. And no, I wouldn't care one way or another." His voice was bumpy and gruff, surprising his uncle.

"I won't stop calling you that! How would you feel about taking care of my wife?" He smiled at his nephew once more, this one being more sincere and soft. 

He shrugged it off. 

"Wow look at you, so young, but yet, intimidating." He laughed and scratched his neck.

"Take care of her and yourself, ya hear? She's my everything, my world." He smiled thinking of his wife.

"Don't."  Dante turned to look at Celso.

"Huh?" His face turned into a confused but amused expression.  

"Don't kill him, it will cause more problems for me, and your girl." He took a step closer.

"Ha, kid I wish I didn't have to. But it's the family's honor on the line." He sighed, taking out a pack of cigarettes.

"Ya want one?" Dante offered.

"No, I'm fine without." Celso shook his head.

"Are you sure? They burn like hell. But, hey, in the end that's where we'er going anyways." Dante offered them again.

"Fine." He rolls his eyes. The truth being that he wonders if it will hurt, if he'll feel it.

  His uncle lights them both. Celso takes his first huff, nothing. No cough. But then he feels, he feels the burn not strong but still it's there.