The sixth story:memory

Morning of the sixth day, Ash has become five years old. He had watched on Anime TV show yesterday, but he's been watching news TV program since this morning. He had cut and folded a newspaper as a craft paper yesterday, but he's been reading it hardly since this morning. Then he talked to himself about it.

He changed his toys from character dolls to card game, Othello, magic and so on.

" Hey Eiji, Do you know for sure when Griffin will come home from Viet Nam?"

Ash asked Eiji while playing card game with him.

(Oh, Ash…you remembered your brother…) Eiji was mystified at his question.

" If you were good boy, I think he would come home. Just wait and relax until that dat. I'll be with you always"

He was upset because he doesn't know what he should say to him. But Ash stared Eiji and nodded.

＊＊＊

Afternoon of the day, Ash's henchman and number 2 leader, Alex came to the apartment.

"Hi Eiji! Oh? My boss isn't here, is he? " He asked.

"Yeah…..He needs to do what he needs to do and he is so busy. He just called me for a little while ago." Eiji said.

Then, Ash who is five years old appeared in front of Alex.

"Eiji. Who is this kid? And why are you with him? " Alex asked Eiji.

"He is the grandchild of a neighbor of mine. I'm taking care of him while she is going out." Eiji told a lie quickly.

" All right, hey kid, Do you want to eat it?"

Alex got some gums from his pocket and he showed it to Ash.

"No, I don't! You're silly!"

Ash showed his tongue out and ran.

" Hey, What did you say? Hell….He is absolutely a shitty kid!" Alex complained.

"Oh, take it easy, Alex. He is just five years old! " Eiji said.

Eiji comforted Alex who was angry with red face.

"I think the kid looks like our boss Ash. Alex said.

"Really? I don't think so. I think they look different."

Eiji hardly kept making something up in this kind of situation.

＊＊＊

At night, Ash pulled the pajamas of Eiji who was sleeping on the bed.

"Eiji! Wake up!" Ash called him.

"What's wrong, Ash? You had a nightmare, didn't you?" Eiji asked him and

Ash has a long face and he seems he's starting to cry, then he said.

"I dreamed a pumpkin monster…..I'm so scared. And, this room is so dark…."

He rushed into Eiji's arms.

"Thinking about it, Ash said to me that he became to hate pumpkins on the night of the Halloween when he was five years old ." Eiji remembered about that.

Eiji wiped the tears from Ash's eyes.

"Don't worry about it. Pumpkins won't hurt you. So no need to be afraid. This room will be bright in the morning. It will be fine. "

"All right…." Ash stopped crying.

Eiji stroked Ash's back gently and Ash fell asleep in relief.

（Ash might dream about his brother. He is one of Ash's families and precious brother）Eiji thought so.

Then, Ash rolled over on his bed and mumbled something. "Umm…Eiji…"

Eiji listened to his voice and smiled, then he kissed Ash's cheek gently.

"Good night….Ash"

＊＊＊

Morning of the seventh day, Ash has become six years old. He is now interested in baseball and he is watching and excited on the baseball TV show.

He said. "Eiji, I want to play baseball! My daddy taught me how to play it!"

"Oh, your father taught you it, didn't he? A baseball…Well, we can't play it in this room, Okay, Ash! Let's go to the park!"

"Really!? "

His eyes light shiny and he was glad to hear it. Eiji was glad to look at him, too.

While Eiji was preparing to go out , the bell of the door rung. He opened the door, there were two boys. They were henchmen of Ash, Kong and Bones.

" Hey Eiji! What's up?"

" Isn't our boss home?"

" Hi everyone! We are fine….but he's out. He's been to the library for few days. I guess he has to research something. He's so hardworking…haha"

Eiji told a lie to them with cold sweat, and they found Ash who is 6 years old hiding behind Eiji.

"Oh? Eiji, Who's this kid?" Kong asked Eiji.

"Is there a kid? Why is he here, Eiji?" Bones also asked Eiji/

(Pound Pound…) Eiji felt his heartbeat sped up.

" Oh, his name is …well…"Adolph". He's a grandchild of a woman who is our neighbor. I'm taking care of him for a bit."

"Mmm. That's why you take care of him."

" Sounds tough. You should get you're a salary from this part-time job from her!."

Kong and Bones didn't look interested in "little boss", Ash.

Eiji had a good idea. ( Oh! I'll take them at the park to play baseball with Ash. )

" All right…Hey! You two can play baseball very well, can't you?" Eiji asked them.

" Baseball? Of course we can! I can throw a fastball and I'm good at stealing bases! "

Bones replied proudly.

"hehe….I'll hit almost any ball over the fence!" Kong replied more proudly.

Then they confirmed their pitching forms each other and played super baseball player. Ash looked at them and asked them to play with them. " I want to do it, too! please!" He said.

"Let's play baseball together! I'll go at the park with him…"

"With this kid? ….Well, that's okay because we are bored…"

"Thanks, but go easy on him." Eiji replied smiling.

Then four boys went to the park and started to play baseball.

"Hey, tiny Adolph! Throw the ball here!" Bones said to him

Ash threw his ball from close range and the batter who is Bones swung his bat and missed on purpose.

"Amazing…! You won! ….hey, you're a good pitcher!"

"Right! Ash, you're excellent! I think you can play at the Major League Baseball already!"

Ash smiled shyly because everyone praised him.

"I'm great! …hehe." He seems glad.

"Hey, you're tiny but you're good at throwing the ball. Super! "

"He might be a boss just like Ash someday!"

Henchmen said freely because they didn't know that this kid was their boss.

Ash's played alone or only with Eiji in the apartment since he got younger, so he was really glad to play with many people outside. Then he was excited.

Eiji stared at him and he was sure that it was good to take Ash at the park with his henchmen.

( I hope we can stay calmly for 18 days until his memory and body will return to normal...)

At the time, Eiji thought positively, but he didn't notice that the remaining days will be really hard and painful for him.