chapter8: change

The morning of tenth day, Ash has become nine years old.

His tone of voice was changing. He often uses slang. While watching the TV or reading newspaper, he said, "Oh, blast!" "fuck-shit!" And he has a frosty look. Eiji worried Ash.

Then his behavior was also changing. He drank coke yesterday. But he might have drunk Budweiser while Eiji didn't keep his eyes on Ash.

Eiji found a can of beer at the corner of kitchen. Maybe he doesn't like it because it still full.

Ash sometime banters to Eiji and he said, "You look like a kid" but he was never violent to Eiji and he reluctantly comes into line with Eiji.

Then Ash had spoken to Eiji about his memory, for example, "my brother, Griffin taught me how to fish" and "I received Griffin's letter from Vietnam".

Eiji felt sad, because Ash doesn't seek to talk to his past memories.

(He mustn't want to talk about his terrible memories…I guess he left his house and arrived to New York, Maybe when he was eight or nine years old….and he might have met a soldier from mafia, Marvin and his boss Dino. )

A part of Ash's coolness and cold-heartedness appeared but the same time, a part of nicety also appeared.

During the night, Eiji felt strange and woke up.

"mmm…..Oh, Griffine! Ash shouted.

(Ash? He has a nightmare, doesn't he?)

"Ummm…Mom!"

Eiji heard of Ash's groan from his bed. Eiji got up and looked at Ash, then he tilted his face distressfully.

"What's wrong, Ash?"

Eiji stood up and confirmed Ash's situation. He is shivering, gripping the sheet of bed and calling the names of his brother Griffen and mother who went away with another man.

It was hard for Eiji to look at Ash who was sweaty and suffered. He stroked Ash's back many times gently without a word.

(Well…Ash, I'll stay with you… instead of your brother and mom.)

Eiji really wished the pain of Ash will disappear, and he keeps gripping the small hands of Ash until he can breath freely.

***

The morning of eleventh day, Ash has become ten years old.

"Hey now! Ash, you drank a Budweiser again, didn't you?"

Eiji has scolded Ash since this morning.

Eiji said, "You're growing up now, if you drink much alcohol, you might not get taller!

" Did you ever drink any alcohol when you were ten years old?" Ash asked Eiji without hesitation.

" No way! I drank milk or juice when I was a child." Eiji replied.

"Oh…Even though you drank much health beverages, you are adult but you aren't tall now ! So, I prefer to drink alcohol. I have a confidence that I will grow taller than you!" Ash twitted.

" Wh-What? Hey, Ash! Wait! Don't avoid me!"

Eiji was red-faced with anger and tried to catch Ash, but Ash laughed, stuck out his tongue and got away. Eiji couldn't catch him because Ash was quick.

"Hey you! I'm here!"

"Wait….Ash!" Eiji shouted.

Eiji was pranked by a ten years old kid.

***

In the following evening...

At night, Ash had a terrible nightmare again. His groan is getting harder than yesterday. Eiji looked at Ash and thought he might get a spasm soon. Then Eiji shook his body and made him wake up because Eiji is really worried.

"Get up….Ash…" Eiji said.

Ash was shivering and then he opened his eyes. Maybe he realized it was a dream, and then he was relieved. Eiji noticed tear drops fell from his eyes.

"It's okay…you just had a nightmare, take it easy…" Eiji said and patted his shoulder.

Ash was still shivering and crying. He said dryly while he caught Eiji's arm.

" That adults treated me like toys….Shit, that was so frustrating…..!"

Ash tried to describe to Eiji about his bad memory, but he couldn't express it.

"You don't need to say it….Calm down…I'll be here for you until you sleep again." Eiji gripped his fingers softly and said gently.

"…"

Ash cried silently. Eiji looked at him and his condition. The hardship of the kid who is ten years old is much more harder than normal kids. Ash was assuming at afternoon, but now he looked really nervous. Eiji decided to protect him seriously while looking at his condition and attitude.

(continue)