Chapter 4 - Augustus
Augustus' coping was definitely the saddest for me to look at, as an outsider. Mostly because he didn't understand, like the others did. He thought that Manchee was asleep. He didn't see the burial. We couldn't bear for him to see it, so when they were all asleep we woke up Harper and Toby and took them outside. I'm not sure if they remember everything as clearly as Todd and I do, but then they wouldn't really. It was very late and they were basically still asleep, like zombies. I can't begin to imagine how Gus would have reacted if he had seen it.
Gus came over to me the other day when I was reading a book on the sofa in the living room, and sat next to me. I put my arm around him and he snuffled his head into my armpit. "Read me a story," He said, looking up at me.
"Okay," I replied, putting my book down and picking up one of his ones. I turned to the first page and read aloud to him. "Greg the dog rolled around in mud. He then went inside and shook everywhere!" Gus laughed, which made me smile, and stop thinking about Manchee. "His owner came in and saw Greg and the mud on the floor and sighed. 'Greg!' he shouted. 'Don't shake in the house!' Greg said sorry and then they hugged. His owner got muddy too!"
Gus giggled sweetly and hugged me tightly. We stayed like that for a few minutes, and I kissed his forehead. "Don't ever fall asleep, mummy," He said, his words muffled by my shirt. I paused and put the book down, then promised;
"I won't."
But the sad thing was that I knew that I couldn't promise that. One day I will fall asleep - and I will never wake up. And I dearly hope that Gus is too young to remember that promise.
I would just like to apologize for the shortness of this chapter, I didn't have much time and I know that I need to make them longer but I didn't have anything else to say about Augustus. The next chapter will hopefully be longer, but I'm not sure. It will most likely be up tomorrow.
EggyDanosaur x