Chapter 36 – I hate recovery
Casey'd had his cast on for a week and a half now, and his arm was itching like mad. It had been all fun and excitement at first, but now Casey just wanted his cast off and his life back to how it was.
Casey enjoyed watching movies all day and having his cast signed, but his young mind quickly became bored.
Cheryl had taken Casey to the doctor's only a few days prior to get the stitches removed from his knee and get an overall check-up on the progress of his injuries, in which Casey sulked through the entire examination and suture removal; even at one point refusing to let the doctor touch his knee; showing his bored and frustrated self.
After Cheryl had given him a stern word on keeping still so the doctor could do his job, Casey settled, though he was still upset that Brax wasn't with him because his brother had to work.
The whole experience was daunting and made Casey anxious. The doctor gave the stitches to Cheryl to keep and in turn made Casey super excited to show his brothers when they'd gotten home; quickly snatching them from his mother's hand to wave in their faces.
Now it seemed everyday was a struggle as Casey became grumpier with his itchy cast and inability to play like normal; often leading to conflicts within the family.
Casey groaned as he rolled over in his bed. Brax walked into Casey's room and gave his brother a gently shake.
"Time to get up, Case; let's get you dressed before I head to work. I think Mum's made some toast and eggs for you," Brax said.
Casey groaned again and with Brax's help, pulled himself up out of the bed. Brax grabbed a tee-shirt and pair of shorts and carefully helped Casey get out of his pajamas and into his day clothes. Casey took off down the hall.
"Ease up Champ; don't want you having another accident!" Brax yelled down the hall and went back into Casey's room to pick up his pajamas and folded them, placing them back on Casey's bed.
Casey slid into the kitchen chair. Cheryl laid down a plate with two slices of toast and a plate of eggs.
"Eat up," Cheryl instructed, handing Casey a fork for his eggs.
Heath was also at the table, scoffing down his breakfast, in attempts of getting organized for school. Casey was rubbing his right arm, with the cast, up and down the edge of the table.
"Stop that, Casey," Brax said firmly, from behind; grabbing himself some breakfast and gently kissing the top of Casey's head.
Casey grumbled and tried to scoop up some of his eggs with his left hand; unsuccessfully, managing to drop some, down his shirt.
"Grr; I hate this stupid cast!" Casey yelled; feeling very frustrated.
"Need help Case?" Heath asked, having finished his breakfast completely.
"I just can't handle this stupid fork with my left hand!" Casey whined.
"Here, I'll help," Heath said; holding Casey's left hand steady, helping Casey to eat.
Casey felt miserable at having to be assisted to eat like a baby. Brax tapped Heath on the shoulder.
"I got this mate; go finish getting ready for school."
"What about your work?" Heath asked, trying to delay getting ready for school.
"I'm the one that's all ready, Heath," Brax smirked.
Heath put down Casey's fork and pulled out from his chair.
"Be good, Shorty," Heath smiled and ruffled Casey's hair before leaving to his room.
Brax sat down and finished helping Casey. Brax took Casey's plate away to the sink. Heath came bounding back down the hall.
"Ready!" he called.
"Alright mate, let me just grab my keys," Brax called back.
Brax gently kissed Casey on the head and his Mum on the cheek.
"Bye Mum, bye Case; you be a good boy today," Brax pointed at his youngest brother.
Heath grabbed his school bag and swung it over his shoulder.
"Later Mum; see ya Shorty. Don't have too much fun without me," Heath joked.
Casey grunted and shifted at the table.
"Alright Casey, I'll go flick the TV on for you, so go take a seat on the couch," Cheryl instructed before heading off to the bedrooms to tidy some laundry.
Casey sulked and slid himself off the chair and strolled into the living room; he didn't want to sit around, he wanted to play and go swimming, and be outside. Casey watched a couple of movies before getting up half way through the third movie and wandering into the kitchen.
Casey sneakily looked around him for any sign of his mother; guiltily knowing he was about to do something he shouldn't, and finding the coast clear, Casey reached up with a struggle and opened the back door.
The sun shone brightly and the summer breeze felt fresh against his skin. Casey again glanced around to see where his Mum was before slowly stepping outside; one small step than another.
Casey has a wide smile radiating on his face which mirrored the warm air radiating down upon him. Casey forgetting all his misfortunes, Casey eagerly bounced off the porch steps and started running around; he was the happiest he'd felt since his accident, until Cheryl found him gone from the couch.
Cheryl heard Casey's laughter outside and stood on the porch, glaring at her son.
"Casey Braxton; you get inside this instant!" Cheryl yelled.
Casey stopped his running immediately and gulped; knowing he had now been caught.
"But Mum, I want to play out here," Casey whined.
"Don't you 'but Mum' me. Do I need to come over there and get you?" Cheryl threatened; taking off one of her thongs from her feet and walking towards the steps.
Casey knew if he didn't make a move by the time his Mum reached him, he'd be in even bigger trouble, so Casey slowly shuffled his feet towards the doorway.
"Faster Casey, I know you can come quicker than that; I saw you running," Cheryl implied, in a stern manner.
Casey frowned and picked up his pace, stomping up the back steps. Cheryl gently pushed Casey inside.
"It's not fair!" Casey sulked.
Cheryl locked the back door and glared down at her now pouting son.
"You know you are not allowed out there until your cast comes off and you are fully healed. I do not want you getting another injury!" Cheryl lectured sternly.
"But Mum, I won't. I'll be careful, I promise. I'm so bored and it's just not fair!" Casey whined and stomped his foot.
Cheryl crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow, warningly, towards her son.
"Casey, you will not stomp your feet and argue back at me. You are to do as you are told, and if I catch you going outside again or mucking about when you are not supposed to, you will get this thong across your backside. Do you understand me?" Cheryl warned and waved her thong in her hand.
"Yes Mum," Casey mumbled; shuffling his feet on the spot.
"Good. Now if you don't want to watch TV, you can go to your room and read or play sensibly," Cheryl told.
Casey walked into the living room but walked straight passed the couch and headed to his room. Cheryl threw her thong back on the ground and slipped her foot in; walking into the living room and sighing as her youngest sulked off to his room.
She didn't like seeing her youngest boy miserable and lacking in his usual cheery enthusiasm but in the same time she did not want Casey to get hurt again. Inside Cheryl still had the belief that she could have prevented Casey's accident but that was done now, but it did not mean she couldn't steer Casey on the right path for the future.
Cheryl cleaned up the mess of Casey's DVD cassettes in living room and any of his toys he had been playing with, before going back to her other work around the house.
In his room, Casey tossed some books on his bed and sat quietly; only flipping through the pages and looking at the pictures.
Heath made his way through the door after school. "Hi Mum," he greeted.
"Where's Case?" he asked, upon seeing the couch empty.
"Hi Heath; your brother is in his room," Cheryl replied.
Heath flung his school bag on the floor and made his way down the hall.
"Heath, will you put your bag away properly; do not lump it in the middle of my living room!" Cheryl ordered.
Heath smirked and went back to pick up his bag, putting it in its rightful place and making his way down to Casey's room. Casey glanced up from his books when Heath poked his head in.
"Hiya, Shorty; how you doing?" Heath greeted with a wide grin.
Casey shrugged sadly and turned back to flipping through his book.
"Hey: what's up little bro?" Heath asked, approaching Casey's bed and sitting down next to him.
"I went outside today," Casey mumbled, not taking his eyes off the pages in his book.
Heath noticed Casey seemed really sad and knew it was his duty as big brother to cheer him up.
Drapping his large muscular arm around Casey's shoulders, Heath pulled his little brother close to him.
"Wow, outside huh? I bet that was exciting," Heath encouraged, knowing all too well that Casey had not been himself lately.
Casey shook his head slightly and traced his finger across the pictures in his book.
"I got in trouble from Mum; I'm not allowed outside," Casey mumbled.
"Oh. Well Mum's just looking out for ya Case; you know how she gets, huh?" Heath said with a smile; squeezing Casey to him.
"I just wanted to have some fun. I've been so bored," Casey mumbled.
"I hear ya Case; it's tough, but you've been real brave," Heath said.
Casey just remained silent and took in his brother's comfort. Heath smirked and got that glistening look in his eye when he had a plan ticking in his brain. Heath surprised Casey when he swept him up off the bed and held him in his arms, racing down the hallway with the young boy flying through the air.
Casey started to giggle loudly as he looked at the ground below him, instantly forgetting his reason for sulking. Coming out to see what all the fuss was about Cheryl spotted her middle son hoisting Casey through the air and running around.
"Heath Braxton, you put your brother down right this minute!" Cheryl yelled.
Heath widened his eyes at his mother's harsh response and gently placed Casey on the ground.
"I was just cheering him up Mum," Heath defended.
"You do not play rough with him like that when he is injured!" Cheryl admonished.
"You are well aware that Casey still needs to be resting," Cheryl harshly lectured her middle son.
"Geez Mum, we we're just playing. I ain't gonna hurt him; lighten up," Heath smarted, believing his Mum was overreacting just a tad too much.
Cheryl glared at Heath. "Don't you dare give me lip, young man or I'll give you a clip across the ear," Cheryl warned.
Heath shrugged and rolled his eyes.
"And don't you think I won't!" Cheryl threatened, pointing her finger towards Heath.
Casey by now had started to feel unsettling butterflies in his stomach as he stared at the floor in front of him; all thoughts coming back to him about what his mother had said to him.
"Sorry Mum," Heath sighed in defeat. "Sorry Shorty; fun while it lasted," Heath whispered to his brother as he rested his hand firmly on Casey's shoulder.
Cheryl humph'd at Heath's response and turned her attention onto her youngest.
"Casey, come here," Cheryl requested.
Casey hung his head again and shuffled towards his Mum, feeling nervous that he was in big trouble.
Casey kept turning towards his older brother for support and protection. Heath took note of Casey's sad eyes and instantly felt guilty that he was about to get in trouble because of him.
"Mum, don't have a go at Casey, it was my idea; he had nothing to do with it," Heath tried to protest for his brother.
"Heath, be quiet; Casey come now," Cheryl said firmly and waited for Casey to approach her.
"Mum, just let Case off this one time. We won't play rough again. If you want to have a go, yell at me," Heath fired back.
Cheryl glanced sternly at Heath and again pointed her finger at him. "I told you to be quiet; you will get your share later. Now out!" Cheryl ordered, flipping her hand up to shoo Heath out of the room.
Heath watched Casey sadly as he backed away from the room, knowing that when his mother's mind was made up it was no use arguing. Heath kept his gaze into the kitchen as he flopped down onto the couch.
Casey stared at his feet as his Mum stood over him. Casey was surprised when instead of being yelled at or given a smack Cheryl knelt down to his level and held her hands gently on his arms and looked firmly into Casey's eyes.
"Casey, what did I tell you just a little while ago?" Cheryl asked sternly, having calmed herself.
"That I'm not allowed to have fun," Casey hesitantly mumbled.
"No, this is not about fun Casey; this is about making sure you heal properly. Now I do not want to see any more antics from you when you are to be resting," Cheryl warned.
"Do you understand how important it is that you heal properly?"
Casey continued to stare at the floor and shrugged.
"I'm sorry Mum. Am I gonna be punished?" Casey mumbled; hoping that any tears forming would not slip out.
Cheryl noticed Casey's eyes beginning to well with tears and she softened in her tone, giving a small smile as she gently stroked her thumb across Casey's chin.
"Not this time, my baby boy. I know this is more your brother's fault and he will be getting a stern telling off later. Now off you go; behave yourself," Cheryl ordered.
Casey shuffled back out of the dining room and into the living room. Heath frowned upon seeing his brother's sad face.
"Shorty, come here," Heath called.
Casey shuffled over to his brother and wiped a stray tear falling from his eye.
"Ah Case," Heath whispered and pulled Casey towards him, assisting Casey up onto the couch to where the young boy shuffled himself next to his brother.
Heath wrapped his arm around Casey and held him close. "I'm sorry I got you in trouble; it wasn't too bad was it?"
Casey shook his head.
"Hey: how about, if it'll make you happy you can pinch me; right here," Heath said, pointing to his inner upper arm where the soft skin was located.
Casey shook his head.
"Come on; I know you want to," Heath teased.
Casey couldn't stop his bashful smirk from forming. Heath nudged his brother again.
"See, I told ya; go on."
Heath pulled his arm away from Casey's shoulder and held his arm open; ready for attack. Casey glanced up and pinched his fingers on Heath's arm, though still kept his sad face.
"Aw come on Casey, you can do better than that. Do it again; as hard as you can," Heath encouraged; he was willing to do whatever it took to cheer his baby brother up and so grabbed Casey's hand in his and held it to his arm.
Casey smiled at Heath then pinched Heath's soft under arm as hard as he could.
"Ow!" Heath shrieked and pulled his arm back; rubbing it furiously.
"Orgh; that's gonna bruise," he stated, with half a laugh.
Casey looked away shamefully. "Sorry; you told me to," he whispered.
Heath laughed and wrapped his arm back over Casey's shoulder.
"Nah, it's okay, you did good. And you're right I did tell ya to."
Casey leaned into his brother and giggled.
"'Ey, that's the way!" Heath cheered and pulled Casey onto his lap.
"Let's see what's on telly, huh?" Heath said, flicking on the television.
"Can we play with my connector set?" Casey pointed to the table where coloured blocks were spilt.
Heath leaned over and grabbed the blocks. Keeping a firm arm wrapped around Casey's waist, the two brothers played and connected the blocks, making various objects.
Brax walked through the door, carrying a shopping bag.
"Hey boys," he greeted, receiving a wave and 'hi' from Casey and a short 'hi' from Heath.
Brax went into the kitchen to put the groceries away. "Hey Mum; I picked up some milk on my way home after work."
"Thanks Darryl,"
"Did ya see Heath and Case out there?" Brax smiled.
Cheryl groaned. "Well as long as they are being sensible," Cheryl commented and went about explaining the day's events to her eldest son.
Brax sighed and walked back into the living room.
"Having fun boys?" Brax asked.
"Look at what Heath helped me make, Brax," Casey pointed.
Brax picked up the object on the table.
"That's great Casey, but it's time for your bath now, so come on," Brax encouraged.
Heath assisted Casey to hop off his lap and the young boy followed Brax to the bathroom.
Brax helped Casey strip down, in which the young boy whined when Brax got to his underwear; pulling away slightly.
Brax chuckled and pulled Casey back towards him. "Come on Case, you haven't got anything I haven't seen before."
Casey kept quiet and allowed Brax to help him into the water.
"Now keep your cast out of the water," Brax warned and left Casey's arm hanging over the bath tub.
"Heard you went outside today?" Brax initiated; running the soap under the water.
Casey didn't answer as he kicked his feet in the water and slowly by reflex, moved his casted arm over the tub.
"Arm away from the water," Brax reminded and pushed Casey's arm back.
Brax rubbed the soap over Casey's back, arms and chest.
"You wanna tell me why?" Brax continued.
Casey again didn't answer but thrashed his feet in the water.
Brax scowled as the water flicked widely, and pushed Casey's arm away from the splashes of water. Brax rinsed off Casey's body and was about to wash his legs when Casey grumbled and moved his cast arm into the tub and near the water. Brax quickly moved the arm away before it got wet.
"Casey; keep your arm out! If the cast gets wet it could become infected. I will not tell you again. What is the matter with you today?" Brax snapped.
Casey slowly splashed his toes in the water, trying to forget about being scolded by his brother. Brax sighed and lifted up one of Casey's legs to wash.
"Now tell me more about what happened today," Brax spoke calmly.
There was nothing but silence in the bathroom for a brief minute, until Brax heard a soft sniffle. Brax lifted Casey's chin and noticed the boy was crying.
"Casey, what's wrong?" Brax asked gently; turning all attention onto his brother's sad face.
"I don't wanna wear this stupid cast anymore!" Casey burst out; pointing vigorously at his cast, while Brax kept his arm away from his wet hands.
"It's so hard to do anything and I can't have any fun! I'm bored and I hate being treated like a baby!" Casey sobbed and leaned his head against the bathtub.
"Hey, calm down; no one is treating you like a baby, and you can do things," Brax spoke softly and rubbed his brother's bare back.
Brax pushed Casey to sit up again, only to have Casey latch himself around Brax's neck and stand up in the bathtub. Brax held an arm firmly around his brother's waist, not caring about how his shirt was getting soaked from the bath water.
"You here now; I used to bath myself, and Mum won't let me play outside when I know what I'm doing; I won't hurt myself," Casey sniffed hard; his stubbornness coming through clear.
"Sit back down, Casey," Brax instructed and grabbed the washcloth to wipe Casey's tear stained face.
"Casey, that doesn't mean we think you're a baby. I'm helping you because I don't want you hurt and besides you can't wash yourself with one arm, and Mum, well she doesn't want to see you hurt outside either or unhappy, because you have to stay in your cast longer because you didn't rest properly," Brax explained.
Casey's eyes were red as tears continued to fall.
"I know it seems unfair and not fun but you only need to wear it for another week and a half; it'll go quick I promise you."
"No it won't; that's ages," Casey grumbled.
"I'll make you a deal: when you're better I'll take you down to the park and we can have some fun then, okay," Brax bargained.
Casey shrugged, "Okay."
"Right, let's finish with his bath before the water goes cold and you get all pruney," Brax joked, eliciting a smile from the small boy.
"You wanna pull the plug for me?" Brax asked, grabbing a towel at the ready.
Casey nodded and reached around to pull the plug.
"Just make sure the drain monster doesn't grab your arm and suck you down," Brax joked.
Casey frowned at his brother's comment. "Brax, I don't believe in that anymore; I'm not a kid."
"Oh: right I forgot; big mature boy huh?" Brax laughed and pulled Casey out; drying and dressing him quickly.
"Wonder what Mum's planned for dinner; you hungry?" Brax asked.
Casey nodded and scurried down the hall, Brax however setting off to his bedroom to change his soaking wet shirt.
Casey stood beside Heath as the teen solemnly set the table ready for dinner. Casey adoringly smiled up at his older brother in which Heath gave a weak smile back. Casey wasn't sure why Heath was quieter than he'd been that afternoon but the young boy continued to shuffle next to Heath, following him around the table as if he was playing a game.
Under normal circumstances Heath would have told Casey to go away or shoved him, but Heath was well aware that his baby brother needed his comfort so remained quiet.
Casey was oblivious to Heath and Cheryl's silent eye contact but as Brax finally walked into the room he was quick to pick up on the tension. Eying his mother and brother, Brax was curious as to what was going on.
Seeing Cheryl nip to the bathroom Brax approached his younger brother.
"Oi, what's going on there?" Brax questioned with an eye raise.
Heath rolled his eyes towards the direction that their mother had gone in, at the same time as placing a serviette on the table.
Casey had stopped following his brother and had gone over to the stove, crouching down to look in through the clear window of the oven at the grilling chicken and vegetables. Brax noticed his brother near the stove.
"Casey: watch yourself please," Brax called out.
"I'm not doing nothing," Casey mumbled.
Brax raised his eyebrow at his brother and gestured for him to move away. Casey shuffled back as he was told but remained staring at the cooking dinner.
Brax nudged Heath again. "So what happened with you and Mum?" he whispered.
Heath shrugged. "When you were bathing Case she was having a go at me for playing rough with him this afternoon," Heath explained in a whisper, so as to not alert Casey.
"Yeah, and, she had every right too," Brax stated firmly.
Heath sighed, wondering what the point of his brother asking what was wrong if he was just going to tell him off too.
"Well what's causing the tension then?" Brax pressed.
Heath turned to look at his brother.
"Well I guess I kind of starting arguing back and one thing lead to another then she clipped me one," Heath whispered.
Brax gave his brother a stern look. "Heath, you don't disrespect Mum like that," Brax lectured.
"Yeah but she didn't have to whack me; I ain't a little kid like Case," Heath stated his frustration a little louder, causing Casey to turn around at the sound of his name.
"Well sounds like you argued like one."
"Why you taking her side, I was only doing it to make Casey happy."
Brax sighed. "Heath it ain't about sides. I get you aren't happy about what she did but she's our Mum and she's the only one we've got."
Heath dropped his shoulders at that, he hadn't meant for it to sound so bad but he'd let his teenage emotions take over. Cheryl walked back into the room, resting her hand on Casey's back.
"Get up now Casey, you shouldn't even be near there," Cheryl said gruffly.
"Brax said I could stay here and look," Casey replied.
Cheryl shot Brax a look before turning back to Casey.
"Well I have to get the dinner out now, so out of my way please," Cheryl instructed.
Casey moved away, but stood smelling the aroma of herbed vegetables as Cheryl removed part of the dinner from the oven.
"Case, grab me another servie would ya?" Heath asked.
Eager to assist his brother Casey twisted around hurriedly heading towards the counter and in doing so he hadn't been aware his Mum was already at the counter dishing up the last of the vegetables and he gently bumped into the back of her.
At the jolt, Cheryl had dropped the pan on the counter and spun around with a deep frown on her face.
"Casey!" Cheryl snapped.
Casey stared at his Mum wide-eyed.
"Sorry Mum," Casey quickly spat out and shifted to grab the requested serviette.
Brax moved around the table towards his brother and rested his hands on Casey's shoulders.
"Come on, let's just go sit down." Brax took the serviette from Casey's hand and gave it to Heath who quickly placed it on the table and went to approach Cheryl.
Brax helped Casey sit at the table and gently pushed the young boy in; the chair scrapping along the floor as it was moved towards the table.
"Mum?" Heath whispered, as he stood beside Cheryl.
Cheryl dished the last up of the dinner and looked at her middle son.
"I'm sorry about arguing with ya before. Can I help with anything?" Heath initiated.
Cheryl placed down her cloth and rested her hand on Heath's cheek before giving him a quick kiss on the same cheek her hand was rested on.
"Good boy. Here take these," Cheryl replied and pointed to some of the plates.
Heath took two of the plates and Cheryl the remaining two, so the four could all sit down for their meal.
Brax cut Casey's food up into tiny bits so he could eat easily with his fork then went about scoffing down his own meal.