First-time babysitting
About a week after the welcome-baby party King Kong and Terk were asked to babysit Amal's son, Kesho, who in age would be equivalent to a 5-year old human. Terkina found it out of the norm that Kong's half-sister shows up with her son and requests this after she had talked about Terk in a bad way with the other females when Terk was forsaking them.
"Are you serious? After dissing me along with the girls you expect me to do you a favor," she asked in a coarse tone. "The answer is no," she announced harshly, glowering at her.
"Amal, you are forgetting something," Kong chimed in sternly whilst making a quick glance at his wife.
"Terk, I'm sorry for saying bad things about you. The other girls are busy and my friends are waiting for me, we're having a get-together which involves no children, you're the only one that can help me out by looking after Kesho for a while," pleaded the female.
"I'll do it but we had better set up some rules. If you and the other ladies expect me to do good to you or help you, this includes babysitting, you had better not diss me and do negative things to me. Do you understand," she strictly said.
"Yes," replied Amal.
"If any of you treat me badly when I don't treat you that way, don't count on me," she added her tone of voice still firm.
"Okay," reacted Amal.
She roved off to meet her circle of friends leaving her son with her half-brother and his mate. Terk didn't know what to say or do, neither did the silverback.
"Hey, Kesho, do you have friends," asked Terk trying to break the unpleasant silence.
"Yes," answered the little one.
"What do you do together when hanging out," she further inquired.
"We play tag, have sleep overs, sometimes annoy each other and mommy. Yesterday, when she was talking with one of her friends, I copied their gestures and parts of their speech. My mom kept telling me to stop but I was so bored I kept doing it. When she yelled at me, I stopped, threw myself to the ground and played dead. After about a minute she called my name but I remained motionless. She picked me up, I still remained slack. Then, she carried me in one hand, I didn't know where she was taking me. Next, I heard her complaining to my daddy about me. I got scared and started acting normal. My daddy is mean, he gets angry easily, when he's mad at me he hits me. I tried telling my mom that I'm sorry, but she held me close to my daddy. I was really afraid and started crying. My daddy got madder, slapped me across the face and told me to man up and respect my mother. It really hurt," he reported.
Terk felt sorry for the kid and frowned at him.
"I'm really sorry that happened. You said that when your daddy is angry with you he hits you. So this has happened before? How do you make your father mad," she wondered.
"Yes, he's hit me before. I avoid him and crawl away when he comes near. I get on my mom's nerves when I'm with her and her friends in the nest, I'm so bored. When she has enough of me she yells. When I still can't control myself, she takes me to my daddy who hits me," he explained.
"Why are you bored so much," she enquired wanting to get a whole picture of his situation in his family.
"My mommy keeps spending time with her friends, she always invites them over or takes me to their nests," he responded.
"I see... It seems to me that she is neglecting you," concluded the female sorrowfully. She thought that the child is not getting the love and attention from his parents which he truly deserves. "Do you want me to hold you?"
"Yes," responded the child happily and crept closer to Terk.
Terkina picked him up, placed him on her chest letting one of her arms support his bottom and the other arm press him against her chest. She leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree, letting it support her back. Kesho brushed his cheek against Terk's who returned the gesture of affection. He felt safe and loved in the female's hold.
"You were great," whispered King Kong into Terk's ear.
"Thanks," she murmured back.
The male situated himself in front of Terk and began stroking the back part of the boy's head and neck. Kesho having sensed this turned his head to the side and got startled when he witnessed it wasn't the female who was petting him but the yellow-eyed, battle-scarred silverback.
"You don't have to be afraid of King Kong, he won't hurt you, he's not like your father. He does get mad at times, but doesn't hit anyone," assured Terk. "He just wants to stroke you."
The child reluctantly let the male touch him and after a short while got used to this. The silverback sat down next to his female.
"I wish you were my mom," the child shyly confessed.
Terkina held the little one in front of her and smiled at him, but when she envisioned being a mother to him, facing reality in her mind, her beam faded away. Kong was surprised by Kesho's words.
"I think it's best if your mother and I talk when she comes for you," advised Terk earnestly. "I don't think I'd be a good mother."
"I don't know how my half-sister is going to react when you bring this up. She has a bad temper like I do. I suggest you let me be present," said Kong.
"Okay," replied the female. "Kesho, what do you wanna do?"
"Play tag," he answered enthusiastically.
Terk put him down in front of her and the silverback.
"Who's it," she enquired.
"I don't know," said the boy.
"Okay, I'll be it. Gallop," suggested Kong's mate.
Kesho sped away and so did King Kong. After about 5 seconds Terk went after the child. She pursued him through the dense jungle and cornered him between the trunks of two large trees, which were almost conjoined by their trunks. Little did she know that Kong witnessed the chase and was now quietly creeping up to his mate from behind. After getting close enough, he stood up on his hind legs and embraced her while pulling her back.
"Now's your chance, make an escape," he shouted to his half-nephew.
Kesho obeyed and fled away quickly.
"You're it," exclaimed Terk still in Kong's hold while tapping him on the head.
The male released her, swiftly tapped her back and bolted. She went after him at full throttle and succeeded in touching the back part of his thigh then, hurried towards Kesho with Kong tightly in her tracks. Kesho dashed away from the couple. The male having noticed him closed in on him at a slower speed giving him a chance to gallop away. Terk was watching them from afar. About a minute later the silverback caught the boy and crawled towards his wife. As the child drew near the adults circled around him.
"Kesho, let's go," called Amal who just showed up.
She crawled in the direction of the three.
"Amal, we need to talk," said Terk.
Terkina described what she had heard from Kesho and emphasized the boy's spiritual problems. Lastly, she stated that she thinks the child doesn't receive the love attention from his mother which he is supposed to and this is why he annoys her. Amal was taken aback by the information and felt regretful. She found it extraordinary that her son opened up to Terk to such a great extent and got along with Terk really well. She sadly left his half-brother and his mate.
"I hope she will change her behavior towards Kesho," said Terk feeling bad for the child.
"Me too," replied King Kong. "You tried explaining the problem and its root cause. Let's hope this discussion has an effect on her parenting."
