Alex slowly began to wake a few hours, later. He lay there with his eyes closed for a few minutes before he slowly began to open his eyes.

"Hello sleepyhead," said the kind quiet voice of a girl.

Alex was suddenly wide awake and leapt out of his bed and ran out of his room.

"DAD!" Alex screamed running into the living room.

Mr Wolff stood up when he heard Alex call.

Alex ran up to his dad and hid behind him.

"There's someone in my room," Alex said quietly hugging his dad's leg.

Alex noticed that his dad had been talking to another lady, who looked pregnant and was sitting on the couch.

The girl that was in Alex's room came out looking a bit shaken. Alex hid behind his dad so that he was as far away from either he could get.

"Alex, do you remember Onita and Little Grace?" Mr Wolff asked quietly as he crouched down and put his arm around Alex.

"No," Alex mumbled too quietly for anyone to hear.

"Huh Alex, do you remember?" Mr Wolff asked quietly.

"No," Alex said quietly, but audible this time.

"Onita was you mothers best friend," Mr Wolff said quietly, "Little Grace is her daughter, she is Nat's age,"

"Hello Alex, my you've got big," Onita said quietly.

"Hey Alex, sorry if I scared you," Little Grace said looking at Alex.

Alex stayed hidden behind his dad.

"Go on Alex say hello. "Mr Wolff said softly, "Onita and Little Grace are going to try and help you remember mom,"

Alex peaked out slightly.

"Hello," He said nervously.

"He isn't usually this shy, he's just had a trying day." Mr Wolff said, "Would some soda cheer you up?"

Mr Wolff remembered the effect it had on him in the classroom.

Alex nodded.

Little Grace went into the fridge and pulled out a bottle of soda, and came back.

"Here you go Alex," She said holding it out.

Alex slowly came out from behind his dad and got the soda.

"Thanks," Alex said quietly before going and sitting in the egg chair.

Mr Wolff noticed Alex was still wearing just his boxers and his singlet.

Alex sat in the chair and quietly drunk the soda.

"So what happened? You were pretty vague on the phone." Onita said looking at Mr Wolff.

"Since school on Monday Alex has been pretty upset about his mom being dead," Mr Wolff said quietly. "He had a bit of a meltdown at school today, which is why he is home early."

Little Grace went over to the egg chair she squeezed in beside Alex.

"You miss your mom?" she asked Alex quietly.

"How can I miss someone I don't remember?" Alex asked crying softly.

"Because she's family, Alex," Little Grace said putting her arm around Alex. "I miss my dad,"

"How did he die?" Alex asked sniffing loudly.

"Car crash," Little Grace said softly.

"So what's with the soda?" Onita asked quietly.

"Jessie told Alex, that his mom gave him his first can the day she died," Mr Wolff said trying not to bring back any memories.

Alex took another drink of his soda.

"That's why Alex had his meltdown, I think he was trying to remember her by drinking the stuff. His teacher took it off him and Alex got upset." Mr Wolff said quietly.

They were all distracted by Nat who walked through the door.

"Hey dad," Nat said, he then saw Onita and Little Grace, "Hey what are you doing here?"

"Sonny said Alex needed us, so we came," Onita said.

"Hey Nat," Alex said quietly from the egg chair. "Can you get me another soda?"

Nat looked at Alex.

"No Alex, I think you have had enough soda for one day," Nat said, he had heard about Alex's meltdown.

"GIVE ME SODA!" Alex shouted throwing the empty bottle at Nat, but luckily missing him.

"Alex!" Mr Wolff said warningly.

"Alex, you don't need soda," Little Grace said quietly to Alex.

"Yes I do! I want to remember mom!" Alex shouted almost ready to cry.

"Alex, you said it yourself that you still don't remember," Mr Wolff said kindly.

"But I might!" Alex screamed before he started to cry.

"Here we go again," Nat muttered to himself.

Unfortunately Alex heard.

"Easy for you to say 'Mr I Remember Mom'" Alex screamed crying.

"Calm down Alex," Little Grace said trying to hold on to Alex who was too worked up to sit still.

"I want Soda!" Alex screamed again.

"Alex, No!" Nat said forcefully.

Alex broke free from Little Grace and went over to the coffee table, he started to throw coasters at Nat.

"Give me soda!" Alex yelled.

"Cut it out Alex," Nat said getting angry and going to chase his brother.

Alex ran around the other side of the coffee table before he tripped over Onita's handbag.

"Nat! Watch the…" Mr Wolff called too late as Nat knocked the table and Onita's tea fell off the table and onto Alex.

Alex screamed as the almost boiling tea poured over him, scolding him with its heat.

"I'm sorry Alex," Nat said almost in tears, he didn't mean to hurt his brother.

Mr Wolff, gently but urgently, moved Nat out of the way to get to Alex, who was now howling on the floor in pain.

Nat went and sat down beside Little Grace stunned.

Mr Wolff looked at Alex, he was burnt all over his right shoulder and arm. Alex was still screaming, he was trying to hold his arm but it was hurting too much.

"Onita, can you run a cold shower?" Mr Wolff said

"I'm on it Sonny" Onita said disappearing down the hallway

"I didn't mean to do it," Nat said crying softly.

Little Grace put her arm around Nat.

"I know, it was accident" Little Grace said comforting Nat.

Mr Wolff helped Alex up. Alex was still howling in pain, the burn clearly visible, and by the stain on Alex's white singlet it looked to stretch down his back.

Mr Wolff led Alex down the hall to the bathroom. He helped him into the shower still in his boxers and singlet, he didn't want to cause Alex anymore pain.

Alex cried even louder still as the water hit him. It provided little relief but the pressure seemed to cancel it out.

Mr Wolff tried to help Alex for the next five minutes but he didn't seem to be getting any better.

"Can you get Alex, a towel, some shorts and a dry pair of boxers?" Mr Wolff requested more than asked.

Onita came back with the towel, shorts and boxers.

Mr Wolff helped Alex out, and took off Alex's boxers and dried his lower half before putting the dry ones on and some shorts.

Mr Wolff carried Alex while Onita went in front of him, opening the doors before helping Alex into the car. He was still howling in pain.

"Can you look after Nat for a few hours?" Mr Wolff asked needlessly.

"Of course Sonny," Onita said before Mr Wolff drove Alex to the hospital.

Onita walked back upstairs and into the apartment, Nat was shaken and she could see he had been crying.

"Don't worry Nat, it wasn't your fault," Onita said kindly.