Harmione Kay and Bryan Jay Stories

Chapter 1

Bryan Jay LeMay was born on April 24, 2038. He weighed 7 pounds and 10 ounces at the time of his birth. It's been one whole year since that day. He was perfect.

I work and go to school, and his Daddy works in radio. He looks just like his Daddy too. From those chocolate pools he has for eyes, to his wavy dark brown hair on top; he is a reflection of Charlie. He is also one of the happiest little boys I have ever known. He's not walking yet but he does know how to crawl. He's also learned that if he manages to hold on to something and prop himself up, he can stand for a very short period of time. He learns something new everyday. I'm very proud of my boy. I consider myself lucky to have him.

I heard a car door shut and Bryan kicked his feet as he lay on his stomach; on a blanket in the middle of the living room floor. He heard the car door too. He recognized that sound as well as I did. It was Charlie's truck. We both heard the keys and the screen door open. Bryan got excited and tried to sit up. He pounded the floor with his tiny fists. Drool escaped his mouth as he cooed.

"Who is that?" I asked him. "Who is that coming in Bryan?"

The door opened slowly and Charlie stepped in. Bryan squealed.

"Dada!" He screamed.

I laughed slightly.

"Yes, that is Daddy!"

"Hey little monkey..." Charlie spoke out. "You gonna come here, or do I have to come to you?"

Bryan kicked his feet and he was off. Charlie laughed and kneeled down to pick him up.

"That's him...that's my boy." Bryan just smiled in Charlie's arms.

"Whatcha doin, huh?" Charlie asked in a sweet tone. "Been a good boy?"

"He's been an Angel." I replied.

"Alright!" Charlie stroked Bryan's back and sat in a chair with him.

"Anything exciting happen while I was at work?"

"No...he just woke up from a nap; and he had a bath, and played with his toys...he's had a full day."

"That's great buddy." Charlie told Bryan. Bryan fumbled with Charlie's keys.

"You can't have my keys now." Charlie exclaimed and put them in his jacket pocket. That didnt stop Bryan. He knew exactly how to get them out. He reached in and started to pry them from their hiding place. Charlie stifled a laugh and gently pulled Bryan's hand from his jacket.

"No son."

In doing so, allowed Byran to grab one of Charlie's glucose candies.

"No" Charlie said sternly. "You definitely don't need that."

Charlie stuck the tablet back in his pocket. He then put Charlie in the floor near his toys. Bryan had a set of plastic rainbow keys he could play with. Charlie shook them in front of him.

"There you go buddy."

As Bryan began to play with the keys Charlie sat back down.

"He's growing up fast Har."

"I...I don't know about that."

"What do you mean?"

I sighed and looked from Bryan to Charlie. I then stood up from the couch and folded my arms across my chest.

"He...He's still not walking...and only knows a few words."

"So, he's learning."

"Yeah...but...I...he's sleeping a lot more than he should...and he's always wanting his juice...like he's thirsty."

"Hmmmm...that is concerning..."

"I thought so... Charlie do you think he might..."

"Be diabetic like me?"

I nodded.

"I don't know babe...all we can do is take him to the doctor and find out."

Charlie told me that his grandmother has diabetes on his Dad's side. It skipped a generation and went straight to Charlie. Charlie was told by doctors that it's possible that his kids may have it as well. Though they assured him that it was even more likely that his kid's kids would have it. Bryan wasn't a difficult baby. He didn't cry too often. He liked his bottle and he liked to sleep. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I've been worried about him having powers more than him being diabetic. The thought of him being exactly like Charlie never crossed my mind. In the past year however, he seems to be more and more like my Charlie each day.

I didn't want too but Charlie and I took Bryan to Bellwood Clinic Pediatrics. His doctor, Dr. Payton was one of the best. A nurse guided us to a small exam room. I sat in a chair with Bryan in my lap. Bryan wasn't fazed by anything. He just continued to suck on his pacifier. Charlie stood up and paced the floor.

"Charlie?"

He didn't answer me.

"Charlie, you okay?"

"I...I'm fine...I just...I feel so guilty about this."

"If Bryan has problems with his sugar that's not your fault babe."

"It kinda is."

"Charlie..."

Charlie took a seat next to me as Dr. Payton entered.

"Hello, how are we doing?"

"Well Doctor, Bryan might have problems with his sugar...we want to be sure." I answered.

"Mm-hm."

Dr. Payton began entering in some information into the computer.

"Let's see...his vitals were normal...no temperature...good...weight...19 pounds...he's a little underweight...not by much...maybe by 2 or 3 pounds...What is he able to eat?"

"Uh...let's see he likes fruit...we started him out on pears, apples, and bananas, and he likes juice."

"What sort of dairy does he ingest?"

"He loves milk."

"Cottage cheese, yogurt, anything like that?" Dr. Payton inquired.

"He's had some cheese, and yogurt but he doesn't eat it often."

Dr. Payton nodded and continued to type on the computer.

"Protein, I know his teeth are still developing but does he eat turkey or anything like that?"

"Chicken." Charlie said after.

"Good...and no food allergies, I'm seeing...It says here though he's had several mild cases of sinusitis, viral gastroenteritis, and a case of varicella...Well...Charlie...given your medical history. I should say that Bryan has diabetes. Although I'll have to run some tests to be sure. Because we aren't certain what causes diabetes, sometimes the pancreas just stops producing little or no insulin with very little warning. So, it's hard to say how long he has been effected by it."

"What sort of tests, Bryan's still not used to needles." Charlie spoke out.

"I don't know a child that is, but I will have to use one. If I'm to check his blood sugar I'll need to draw blood. One of you will have to hold on to him."

Dr. Payton opened the door and stuck his head out. He then called out to one of the nurses.

"Nurse, I'm about to draw some blood can you prepare for that?"

"Yes sir." I heard a small female voice reply.

Charlie and I exchanged glances.

"Charlie."

"Yeah. I'll do it." He said under his breath.

He took Bryan from me and placed him in his lap.

"Alright...Tracy will get you fixed up. If he is diabetic we'll need to get him his daily medication. I suppose you should give him his insulin after he eats dinner tonight, and try to find a rhythm to continue that process. Doing so, should keep him regulated."

"Thank you Doctor."

Dr. Payton smiled at Bryan and gently stroked his cheek before leaving. After the door shut I looked over at Charlie and Bryan. Charlie's knee began to bob up and down as he held Bryan.

"I can hold him if you-"

"I've got him."

"Charlie...relax...I'm not worried...you shouldn't be worried...even if he does have a problem...he has you and your mom...and Dr. Payton...and then me...I know he's in good hands."

"Suddenly I know how my dad felt about me."

"Well stop...it's gonna be okay I know it."

Bryan just looked around the room. He didn't know what was coming. He didn't even know why we were at the doctor in the first place. The nurse then entered with her supplies to draw blood from Bryan.

"Hello!" She said sweetly. "Hello little baby boy!"

I saw Bryan grin under his paci.

"Okay...I'm going to do a finger stick and take some from his arm to make sure we get the correct results...and he can go back to his normal diet and activities after today's test...he might be a little sore but he'll be alright."

"Thank you." I told her.

"You're welcome."

She put on a pair of gloves and kneeled down near Bryan. She then used a swab to wash Bryan's fingertip.

"Okay baby boy..." She said as she held his finger and poked at its tip with a plastic lancet. Bryan whimpered and let out a cry. I wanted to hit the nurse out of the way and scoop him up. Charlie just held on to him tightly and stroked Bryan's back. As the nurse finished she then placed a band-aid around his finger. Bryan continued to cry.

"Oh I know it, those mean old things hurt." She told him and prepared two new needles.

"Two?" I asked promptly.

"Well Dr. Payton wanted to check Charlie's blood sugar while you were here Charlie."

Charlie sighed heavily.

"You'll have to hold him Harmione."

I didn't want too but I took Bryan and hugged him. He was still crying. I tried my best to wipe his tears away. The nurse prepared Charlie's arm.

"Any bad spells lately Charlie?"

"Uh...no...I've been doing okay."

"That's good." She began to wash the area on Charlie's arm with an antiseptic swab and tied a rubber cord around his upper arm. Charlie turned away as she placed the needle into his vein.

"You okay?" She asked him.

"Yeah."

"Okay...now I can do the baby."

Bryan had calmed down some but his cheeks were still tear-stained. The moment she did to Bryan the exact same thing she did to Charlie, he screamed. The pitch of his voice was so shrill I felt it stab my heart. His face turned red and snot began to pour out his nose. His entire world was flipped upside down. He wanted to run but couldn't move. He wanted me to comfort him, but I couldn't hold him to tight. He wanted Charlie, but Charlie couldn't grab him. He just screamed and cried as the nurse finished the test.

"Bless him." She said as she put a band-aid placed over a piece of gauze on both Charlie and Bryan's arms. From there we got our results. Charlie's sugar was fine. Bryan's was not. From that day going forward, needles, and doctor visits became my perfect baby's new normal.