Otis heard the young couple talking later that evening in surreptitious whispers.
"Abram...He...he was so scared...His little body was just shaking so hard...And...All those bruises and welts he had...oh my god...Th...They were awful...How could...How could anyone do that to such a sweet little boy..."
"I don't know Macie...I...W...Were any of them fresh? Do we need to take care of them?"
"I don't know...He...He's so thin, Abram...I didn't notice it until I..." She shook her head. "I don't understand..."
"Was he healthy otherwise?" He asked hesitantly, almost unwilling to know. He had heard enough about the boy's tragedy. He wanted to hear something positive. Needed to. He feared the worst, however.
"The doctor couldn't examine him...He was too upset and he was just so scared...He was fine until the doctor picked him up and put him on the table...Then he started shaking and when he took his shirt off he really got scared. He ran off the table and trapped himself in a corner like...like an animal trying to escape..." She paused; Otis could hear the tears in her voice. "What happened to our precious little boy, Abram? Why is he so fearful?"
He heard the sweet slick sound of a kiss, and a softness in Abram's tone. "I don't know, love. But he'll never have to go through anything like it again. Okay?" A pause, Macie whimpering in agreement. "Where is he now?"
"He's cuddled up with his bear I got him. Why?"
"I think we should check him out ourselves. See if there's anything we need to do."
Otis sleepily rubbed his eyes, clutching his bear as he peered into the hallway, seeing them approach.
Abram chuckled. "Hey, little guy! What've you got there?"
"M...M...M...My bear sh...she got me...I..."
"Wow! That's pretty nice! Do you like him?" Abram asked. Otis nodded, burying his face in the soft fur as he clutched it. "Hey, buddy...We're gonna take a look at you. Just to make sure you're okay. Is that okay?"
Otis nodded hesitantly, afraid of the consequence if he dissented.
"I'm gonna need you to take your shirt off. Come on, let's go in the bathroom."
He obediently followed Abram, tottering behind him, bear still clutched tightly to his chest. He took his shirt off and sat on the closed toilet lid as he was directed.
Abram's face paled when he saw the extent of the mutilation on the little boy's torso. "O...Oh god..." His hand shielded his mouth in horror at the bruises littering the pale skin. The angry purple and pink welts.
"...It ain't so bad..." Otis muttered, speaking not to Abram, but to his bear.
If Otis wasn't hallucinating, he swore he saw tears well up in Abram's eyes. Abram stood abruptly and Otis startled, flinching away and drawing in on himself protectively. "Oh, no, buddy. It's okay."
"Do...Do any of those ouchies hurt, sweetie?" Macie asked.
Otis stared back in horror. Carefully scrutinizing the situation, he began to tremble. Was he honest, admitting that they hurt- is that what they wanted? Would they be satisfied and not harm him any more? Or did they want him to be a man? Say that they didn't hurt? Would that make them beat him?
"It's not a trick, honey. I promise. Just be honest with us."
Averting his eyes, Otis answered shyly, "I always hurt...Somethin' always hurts...They hurt, but it ain't bad...I can take it..."
"But you don't have to, sweetie. Here, let me at least put something on those cuts and welts. Okay?"
"O...Okay..."
Otis had never had hands laid on him that were so gentle. Macie lightly dabbed ointment onto the injuries she saw fit, lovingly massaging the medicine into the skin. When she was satisfied with her work, she drew away, handing Otis his shirt. "All done." She kissed his forehead. "They should heal up faster, now. You'll be good as new in no time, cutie pie."
"W...What're you g...gonna do...?"
"Hmm?"
"T...To me..."
"I..." She shook her head, resetting her mind. "I was going to read you a story. How does that sound?"
"W...Why?"
"Because I want to spend time with you! Is that okay?"
"I...I can read..." He offered, hoping it would prevent any anger that may have been bubbling.
She smiled. "I have no doubt about that. Hey, maybe you can read me and Mr. Bear a story! How does that sound?"
Otis nodded. "Okay."
They sat in the living room together, Otis reading slowly, pronouncing words in a childlike manner and working his way through the plot of a fairy tale.
Abram sat next to Otis, then, tin pan in his lap, and knife and apple in his hands.
"Dinner won't be for a while yet. How about a snack?" He asked, beginning to peel the apple, letting the skin fall into the pan. "Do you like apples?"
Otis shrugged.
"Haven't you ever had one?" Abram asked. Otis shook his head. "Here. I bet you'll like them."
Otis carefully took the piece he was offered, cautiously staring at Abram for signs of aggression. He happily munched on the sweet treat, relishing in it's crisp taste.
"Told you you would like it." Abram smiled. He cut up the apple entirely, letting Otis munch freely. "Go on. Take another piece." He coaxed. "You can have as much as you want."
Food was a battle for Otis. He hoarded pieces of the sweet fruit in his cheeks, depositing them in his food stash when he retreated to his room to place his book back on the shelf. He did the same after dinner. Days passed until Macie and Abram noticed an odor coming from under the bed.
Upon their discovery, Otis begged and pleaded not to be beaten, sobbing at their feet.
"Buddy. Listen." Abram lifted Otis onto the bed. Otis's sobs redoubled, breaking into hysteria.
"Please...Please don't do that...Please...Not that...I...I'll be good. I'll be good! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Y...You can hit me just please not that. Please...Please..."
"Shhhh...Calm down. Calm down." Abram seemed alarmed.
"It's okay, sweetie." Macie soothed. "What don't you want him to do? What do you think he's going to do?"
Otis's face reddened and he curled into a ball. Macie offered his bear, which he gladly clung to.
"Okay. Listen to us, Otis." Abram began, placing a soft, warm hand on Otis's back. He jumped, staring at the man in bewilderment. "You will always have food here. You just have to ask us for it if you're hungry. You don't need to hide food away from us. You don't have to cache it away. You will never go hungry here. I promise you. Alright?"
"B...But-"
"No buts. You will always have food, as long as you want it. You don't have to do this, sweetheart. Alright?" Macie filled in.
"That's right. And we can always have snacks too. Okay? You need food to grow big and strong, so whenever you're hungry, you can have a snack. Got it?"
Otis nodded, shying away into his bear's soft comfort.
"Okay."
That night, Macie and Abram tucked Otis into bed, sitting on either side of him. Abram produced a plate of cookies and warm milk.
"How about a bed time story and a snack, little buddy?"
"W...What?"
"We'll have some cookies and milk and then we'll read you a story. Sound good?"
"B...B...But..." Otis stammered. He had never been allowed to eat so freely. Would they beat him if he made crumbs? What if he spilled the milk? Or dripped it on his sheets?
"What's the matter?" Abram asked, concern on his face.
"I...I...I could make a mess..."
"So? We would just clean it up then and carry on. What's the problem with that?" Abram cocked his head.
"I...I...Y...You won't be mad? You...You won't hit me?"
"We would never hit you sweet heart. We both promise. Okay?" Macie answered.
"O...Okay..."
"So come on. Can I share a cookie with you?" Abram asked.
Otis bashfully smiled. "Yeah."
Macie read the story while Otis and Abram listened. Otis began to doze off as the story went on, however, eventually cuddling up to his bear and succumbing to the warmth and love that radiated off of the couple, falling into a deep sleep.
