Chapter 5

When the cousins neared their families' shacks, Brendan finally released Seamus's arm. The distraught boy ran straight into his hut, to his corner and hid under his ratty thin blankets. After that, all that could be seen or heard of Seamus was a sobbing heap of old thin rags.

Brendan's family came over to the Harper's hut along with all the other relatives. There were cheers all around, well all around if you don't count one very upset young boy and one very scared rabbit. The gathering turned out to be a party of sorts. It was the type of party where 15 starving people get together to celebrate the tiny amount of food that comes from one small rabbit. But anything is better than nothing.

Spooky was taken outside to be slaughtered almost as soon as the boys arrived. Even under his blankets, Seamus could hear Spooky squeal as his family slit his friend's throat. A new set of heaving sobs came to his body. He could hear the cheers from his family as they prepared the meat. He could smell the stew being cooked. And he could smell Spooky.

He heard his family visiting with each other around the tiny hut while they waited for the stew to be done. For the first time in his life, he wished they would all just go away, then he felt a bony mass settle down next to him.

"Honey?" It was his mother.

"*Sniff* Yes", he managed to get out in between sobs.

"Are you okay?" Maggie asked, knowing full well what the answer was.

"I"m good, *sniff* I'm...good", he said not fooling anyone, especially his own mother.

"Honey, come out from there, I wanna talk to you."

Seamus slowly poked his head out from beneath the layers of cloth. Looking down at her son, Maggie saw a thin tear streaked face, but it was his hair that made her hold in giggles. The normally wild hair had been completely disheveled by the blankets. Areas of blond hair were now squashed down in some places while in others the hair was almost jumping off his head. Add in the static cling and the worried mother still had to hold in her laughter. Brushing his hair with her hand and wiping away his tears, she regained her composure. "I know that rabbit was your friend, but sometimes, well, sometimes... nature has to take it's course, that rabbit is foo..."

"Spooky!! The rabbit's name is..." He paused, "was Spooky." Seamus said defiantly.

"Well...Spooky is food and we need food right now. I'm sorry, I hope you understand." his mother explained as she caressed his face.

Seamus just looked up at his mother with blank face. He understood her, of course he did, he was a freak'n genius for heavens sake. But he didn't want any of this to be happening. He didn't want to be starving all the time, he didn't want his family to be starving all the time and he didn't want to kill and eat his little buddy. He just wanted to go back to his hole and pet Spooky.

At that moment, Mathew Harper walked up to the corner where his family was huddled. He had with two bowls in his hands. "Here honey, eat up." Maggie got up, took a bowl from her husband and left to go savior her little bowl of heaven. Mathew took his wife's place next to their son.

"Here buddy, you gotta eat this", Mathew said quietly as he tried to give the other bowl to miserable boy.

"That's Spooky, ain't it?" Seamus said disgusted, not taking the bowl from his father.

"Well, son, um, yes, it is, but it will fill you up, make your stomach stop hurting."

"I don't want it. I'd rather be hungry." replied the boy with great spite in his voice.

"You gotta eat it Shay", his father said a bit more sternly.

"NO!"

"Seamus Zelazny Harper!! You will eat this stew or I'll shove it down your throat!!" Mathew yelled. All he wanted was to feed his starving child. Why must everything always be so difficult and unfair.

"I WILL NOT EAT SPOOKY!!" Seamus yelled as he threw the blankets off of him and ran out of the crowded one room hut.

"Well that went well", Mathew muttered under his breath as he was left alone sitting in the corner.

TBC