The Borrower and Her Bean (complete)

Part 2

Part 2

Melina tiptoes along the wall behind the bookcase, peering around it's edge she waited and watched. Which room was he in today? It seemed to Melina that this time her bean was home was different. Normally he would have guests over or he would spend most of his time out of the house during the day. This time was different, this time in the 4 weeks he had been home she had not seen him leave the house once. This change in habit was concerning to her, and it had greatly affected their daily routines.

As the weeks had continued, she had grown bolder, if he was playing his computer today, she was going to paint. Her sculpture was still half-finished, and she desperately wanted to prove to herself that she could complete it. Scoping the room, she noticed it was empty. Listening again for the familiar sounds of the computer keys clicking, his gentle rumble as he read his stories, even his puppies light snores. Silence.

This unnerved Melina, for the past 4 weeks there had been a steady cacophony of sound in the muse. Now you would think that this would be a happy thing. An empty room for Melina to go do what she had most desired. However, instead it caused her stomach to quiver with concern. She needed to know where her Bean was. She cautiously moved quietly along the skirting board, eyes searching up into the expanse of the room. Seeing no one there, she quickly ran from the couch leg to the edge of the door frame. Once again, she peeked around into the next room.

The Kitchen had also been a place she had found her Bean on many occasions. The smell had made her stomach rumble and mouth salivate with pleasure. Today however it was cold, and the only smell was the garbage can that needed to be emptied. The only other room he could be was his bedroom. She scurried across the tiled floor to the small hole behind the cabinetry the took her into the wall. Her thoughts were now consumed with finding her Bean.

She had continued to watch him sleep, had sung to him to sooth his night terrors and had observed him living in his house. She had become so attuned to his movements that the fact she could not find him had her stomach in knots. As she finally scurried through the hole by his bedside table she didn't even wait to check for his puppy. Her adrenaline was pumping so fast that she instead climbed quickly up to her resting place. Peering across she saw her Bean, she looked out at the sun, it was still high in the sky which scared her. He would not be in bed in the middle of the day.

She walked behind a glass of water and his watch too the stack of books that were always present near his bed. She watched him for a sign life, he had a blanket only half way up his body revealing a bare hairy chest,  his hair stuck out in odd places on his head and the beard that had been growing over the last two weeks was tangled about his face. But what caught her eye was the beads of sweat that lay on his forehead. She heard a groan pass his lips and he took a ragged breath. For the first time since she had laid eyes him, she felt genuinely concerned for him so much that she forgot she was a borrower and putting her safety at risked moved towards him.

Looking at the gap between the side table to his bed she judged it a safe distance. Backing up she ran as fast as she could and leaped landing softly on his pillow. She stilled for a moment watching him for movement, another groan rumbled from his mouth, but his eyes stayed closed. Walking slowly, she reached his face. She was standing right in front of his forehead, she reached out and touched the space between his eyebrows. a sheen of sweat coated his face and now her hand as she felt the burn of his skin.

At her contact, his eyes opened, she held her breath, then let it out again. Even though she was standing right in front of his line of sight she saw he was unable to focus, and she noticed his eyes were glassy. Feeling brave she said "Shhhh, my bean. Go back to sleep" He kept staring at her confusion creasing his forehead. Trying again this time she resorted to her lullaby, her sweet voice floated around his head as his face relaxed and he shut his eyes.

Panic now set in, her bean was really sick. She didn't know how to help him...... if he was her size, she would wipe his brow with a cool cloth, feed him soup and get him some liquid Panadol. How was she going to do it for someone his size? Her stomach twisted as she realised, she was going to need to get help from the others, but would she be able to convince them it was worth breaking the rule to never be seen. She ran back to the side of the bed, she reached out and caught hold of the ball chain attached to the blinds and skimmed down to the floor. Melina then hurried to find her family.

She found the twins competing in the hall cavity, they were trying to see who could make the fastest paper Aeroplane. "Brothers please I need your help; do you know where mummy and daddy are?" Greg picking up on her panicked plea replied quickly "there talking with the family from down the way. In the trusses above." She quickly mulled over her problem and then started running calling over her shoulder "Follow me please" together they ran back up the way she had come but instead of climbing out at her beans room she kept going up until they reached the roof.

Across the long wooden plank standing in a group she could see her parents talking to the other borrower family. There was 4 of them two tall young ladies about the same ages as her brother's names Elisha and Pam, and their mum and dad. It just emphasised to her that she would always be alone and how important it was that she look after my Bean. Running towards them she cried out in a breathless voice "I need your help, please" they all turned and looked at her with confusion and worry on their faces. Catching her breath, she looked at mummy "Please my Bean is sick, he has sweat on his face and is moaning. He didn't even see me when I touched his brow"

Melina shook so hard trying to gain her composure as she watched each borrower gasp and frown at her. Daddy's face took on a hard look "Melina, what have you done!!" silent tears started to fall as she looked at each one standing there. "Please, I know it's against the rules........ but he's really sick and....... He is all I have" She hung her head aware that if they decided to they would disown her for making such a mistake.

The seconds ticks until she felt a hand on her shoulder, she looked up into her brother's eyes, Greg asked in a soft voice "What do you mean he's all you have? You have us" she smiled at him a soft smile but still she replied "until you marry Elisha or Pam. Everyone of you have someone to love. I know that its stupid and It will only ever be love from a distance, but I can't sit back and watch him hurting. Please, if the books he reads are anything to go by He loves fantasy and I'm sure in his delirium we will be just a hallucination to him. If you won't help, I'll do it myself, but I could really use the help."

The parents turned to each other mumbling, as the 4 younger borrowers also conferred. Melina had never risked so much in her life. Why was her Bean so important to her that she would risk losing her family? One borrower at a time turned and waited until she had 8 sets of eyes looking at her. Her father stepped forward his eyes unreadable as he began to speak...........

A/N Have you ever had to stick up for something that you knew could risk your relationship with your family? 

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