The Borrower and Her Bean (complete)

Part 3

Part 3

Melina regarded her daddy, he had for the most part been on her side throughout her life, but she also knew how highly he held to the borrower traditions. Her fingers drummed on her thigh has her adrenaline peeked, she needed to move quickly afraid for her Bean, but she could not hurry her family. "Daughter, you have risked much today. If it had been anyone else standing before me I would not have hesitated to say no." heart racing she looked directly into her daddy's eyes and watched as they turned from hard to soft "I don't know if this is going to destroy our way of life but I can see your genuine care for this Bean and your urgency. We will help. Tell us what you want us to do."

Her body almost collapsed at the relief of what he said. Trying to gather her thoughts she looked at the two mothers of the group and said "what would you do? He has a fever, sweats and is not really conscious. I thought cool cloths, and liquid Paracetamol if we can find a bottle." Pam's mother spoke up saying in a rich warm voice "you will need to keep him hydrated, maybe ice chips" and mummy finished with "and we need to get a bigger cloth not just for his head." Together they divided the jobs. The men went in search of a Paracetamol bottle they would start searching in her beans house then move through each house until they found one. The women already knew where to find the cloths and ice.

In the past they had used a miniature toy wagon to carry anything too heavy back to the wall space, today it was being used to move a small cup of ice. Whilst the two mothers had headed to the linen cupboard Pam, Elisha and Melina where in the kitchen. The little red wagon sat at the bottom of the fridge in preparation. Melina watched as Elisha threw a hook to the top of the fridge, a knotted shoelace was attached to it. Once the climbing equipment was secure Pam attached a bobbin to her back and together, they climbed to the top. It was a long drop down to ice machine attached to her bean's fridge, and it took a lot of courage for Pam using the same rope to now climb down. Once she was there Elisha let down the thread past pam to Melina who secured it around a small plastic cup.

The process took too long in Melina's mind, and they could only get a half a cup of ice chips as it would be too heavy to carry even with the three of them up to her beans room. Together they lowered it to the red wagon. By the time Pam and Elisha had climbed back down and caught up with her she had pulled the wagon to the stairs. With a lot of effort and time they slowly lifted the cup up each step. By the time they entered her beans room the rest of the borrowers were waiting at the door afraid to enter without Melina.

Walking up Malina moved into the room, all was still, apart from the groans coming from the bed. She instructed using hand signals to bring the Items to the side of the bed nearest the ball and Chain. Quietly she whispered to the group "I'll go up and check its safe then four of you need to come up with the shoestring ropes. Then we have to lift the items up one at a time. Just wait for my signal." Once she saw the heads nodding from all she began the climb up the ball and chain to the top of the bed.

As Melina reached the top, she moved to the pillow allowing her to see down the length of her beans body. They had taken so long getting the items that the sun had set and the temperature had dropped. She could see his body lightly shaking with the cool, but he was still sweating. The worry that had been sitting in her stomach all day distracted her normal sense of observation. As she started to move more, she heard a growl. There halfway down his body laid the puppy, his large brown eyes now glaring directly at Melina his lip curled showing his white fangs.

Mind scrambling, she did the only thing she could think of .... She sang. Her voice carried to the big bear of a puppy, his ears pricked up and he lowered his head back to his masters lap. He whimpered as his eyes went back to watching her bean. "It's ok puppy were here to help" she said to the worried canine. Sensing that it was now safe she waved to the family below.

Now the work truly began as the men climbed up the ball chain to meet Melina at the top. Together they lowered the ropes and began the arduous task of pulling the items up the bed side. Once the items were up the rest of the families joined them beside her Bean. His fever seemed to be at a peak, his body continuing to shiver and sweat, and the sounds of his groans reverberating around the room. Melina designated the tasks with the two mothers pulling one wet cloth to his forehead. The Girls who were good at climbing were tasked to drag the other wet cloth to his chest. This was not an easy task as his chest muscles were difficult to transvers.

Pam pulled herself up using his chest hair reaching the peak of his pectoral muscle let down a rope for Elisha. Pam watched as Elisha attached it to the cloth, she then pulled into place across his chest. Whilst this was happening the boys had successfully unscrewed the liquid bottle top and the four of them tipped the liquid into the measuring cap. Two Men carried the cap while the other two with the help of Melina also carried the cup of ice over to her beans mouth.

Melina was surprised with all this movement over his body that he had yet to stir. By the time this was done all the borrowers had moved close to the ball chain for a quick exit. All but Melina and her twin brothers remained. Reaching her hand up she stroked his cheek with as firm a pressure as she could muster whilst speaking with a loud voice "Come baby, open your mouth" hazy eyes opened in confusion. Not quite sure what he was looking at his mouth opened in surprise. Melina took the opportunity and placed a small chip of ice into his mouth. As it melted on his tongue she watched as he swallowed. Seeing that he was lucid enough to manage that action she instructed the boys to lift the cap to his lips. Repeating her action of stroking his cheek he opened again.

This time he sipped the liquid, confused eyes following their every movement. The boys both hugged Melina and left taking the cap along with them. She walked away looking at her family "Thank you" they all nodded to her before they left one by one. She walked back to her bean, picking up another ice chip looked at him "Open". Once again, he opened allowing her to place the chip on his tongue.

She smiled at his continued confused eyes, climbing closer so she could run her hand over his brow she said "is ok my bean, this is all just a wonderful dream. Close your eyes now and sleep" He continued to watch refusing to close his eyes but unable to articulate a word. She sighed sitting on the pillow her small hand still touching his face. Stroking the skin, she sang her lullaby "hush now my baby be still now don't cry, sleep as I sing you this little lullaby. The moon and the stars watch over us tonight. So close your eyes and sleep my little bean sleep." She sat there continuing to sing as she watched him fight to keep his eyes open. Slowly his lids fell, and his body settled, small puffs of air began a steady rhythm out his mouth.

Melina stayed by his side for the night, every now and then he would wake, and she would place another chip of ice on his lips. Eventually the cup became a mush of ice and water this time her bean reached out for the cup and drank the cold liquid. Resting his head back on the pillow he pulled the covers over his body and just watched her. She smiled at his worried face, sure that her appearance would be just as disconcerting and if she had woken to his face peering at her. Eventually he fell asleep again. Just before the sun rose, she checked his forehead it was now cool to the touch. Sighing she place a small kiss to his sleeping face. As she moved to leave, she looked back and whispered "I hope you remember but I'm sure you won't but even so I love you." A small tear silently ran down her cheek as she climbed down the ball chain and headed back to her bed. The sound of birds chirping filled the air as her head hit her pillow, and sleep overtook her but not before she pictured the way his blue eyes had watched her.

A/N I have a question - someone told me I should change panadol to paracetamol - can my international readers let me know if this helps :) 

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