Chapter 2

"Good morning dears!" A woman in her late fifties sauntered into the dining room carrying plate full of pancakes. She placed it in the center of the table and regarded the two teens in front of her. "Eat up!" She told them cheerily. "Walter will be arriving soon!" She reached for her cup and leaned towards the table for the thermos full of coffee but the teen with Chinese features offered to pour her the drink. "Thank you." No answer. She sipped her cup and smiled towards the two young men in front of her. "You two are glowing healthy!" She remarked happily. "I'm glad!"

"You take good care of us." The teen with Chinese descent replied quietly. "We are grateful."

"Thank you." The other teen sitting beside the Chinese uttered softly which completely surprised the woman.

"You're welcome dear boys." She answered, pleased that the boys are talking with her, somewhat. She picked up her fork and served herself a breakfast. The sound of a truck coming and stopping was heard while they were eating. This caused the two teens in front of her to stiffen and stood up quietly. The two position themselves near the window but out of view to those outside the house.

"Marie!" A male voice bellowed. "Marie!" It called again.

Marie went hurriedly at the window to look outside at her husband. "What happened!"

"Prepare three beds!" Her husband answered. "And sent the two boys here! I need help!"

"Why? What's the matter?" She asked. She was startled when the two teens near the window started to move quickly towards the truck is located.

"I'll explain later!" Her husband shouted. "They also need clothes!" He added.

Marie hurried towards a room where the other two is currently staying. The room is big enough to hold eight if the occupants will use only sleeping bags. A fire pit is located at the center and serves as a fireplace to keep the occupants warm. She went to the cabinet and pulled three sleeping bags and rolled them on the floor. She hurriedly walked out of the room and went to another room to rummage through a closet. She pulled out three sets of male clothing. She pulled three underwears, still packed from a drawer, and came out from the room briskly as her legs will allow her. She found her husband and the two boys with the three newcomers inside the room. Two of them seemed to be crippled. The sorry state of the three boys caused her to instantly be on their side. "You three need a shower, food, clothes and sleep!" She exclaimed. "Here!" She handed the clothes to the tall teen beside her. You two help the three of them get settled. I'll fix something." She hurriedly went out from the room and went to the kitchen.

"You boys fix yourselves up!" Walter told them. "I want my food." He turned on his heels and went to the dining room.

The tall one nodded at the three and gestured his head to the right. "There are three bathrooms. We have one, in the right." All three nodded their heads.

"He should go first." The cobalt eyed teen gestured to his blond friend. "Is there a tub?"

"Yes." The tall one answered. He crouched down and scooped the blond from the floor. The Chinese teen stepped away and led the way to the bathroom. He hurriedly opened the faucets for the hot and cold water to pour into the tub. The tall one lowered the limp figure to the tub and helped him remove his clothing. Silently, he assessed the physical state of the young man. What he saw worried him. He heard the painful hiss emanating from the blond whenever he attempted to move his arms and his legs. "We'll help you bathe." The tall one told him and gestured to the Chinese teen. The Chinese teen reached for a sponge and leaned down towards the figure in the tub. He began scrubbing gently.

For four agonizing hours, all three were presented to the man of the house, Walter Blake. The man is in his early sixties. He entered the room pushing a trolley laden with an assortment of food. "Here's come the man bearing gifts!" His wife followed in his wake with towels, beddings and pillows.

She immediately handed them to the three sitting in there sleeping bags. "Here you are."

Each took it from her and nodded their heads graciously.

Walter Blake positioned the trolley near the three and lifted the cover. The smell of the food wafted inside the room. "We leave you three to eat." He told them. "The two of you come with me." He gestured to the tall one and the Chinese teen. "We need to finish the green house." He stalked outside the room with the two in his wake without looking back at the three, while the woman kept fussing over them.

"You three are so skinny, pale, and…." She poked and prodded each of them. "…malnourished!" She turned away from them and went to the trolley. She took out bowls, spoons and trays. She handed the trays to the boys and ladled soups into the bowls. She served it to her guests with a smile on her face. "There you go." The boys accepted the spoon and began eating. She turned away again and pulled bread plates. She placed sausages and beans with a hot garlic bread on each plate and served it to them. She took three glasses and pulled fresh milk and served it to the starving boys. "Do not hesitate to call me if you need something." She stood up and went out from the room. "I'll be in the kitchen!" She shouted.

The three boys kept on eating until they felt they are full. The cobalt eyed teen moved from his sleeping bag towards the trolley. "Man, these tastes good!" He started refilling his plate with food.

The two remaining teens still in their sleeping bags held up their plates. "Please." The blond softly asked his friend. The cobalt-eyed boy acquiesced and accepted the plates from his friends. He began refilling them and handed it back to them. He moved back to where his tray is located and sat down. He began eating again alternating it with sips from the soup bowl and the glass of milk that was offered.

Just when he started to talk the woman came back to the room. "Do you need anything else?" She asked.

"Not as of the moment ma'am." The blond politely replied. "These are delicious!" He smiled gratefully.

"Thank you!" The woman replied. "Call me Marie dears. I will get the trolley later. You all need rest. I'll be in the kitchen!" She smiled at them gently and went out of the room.

"I sure need some rest." The cobalt eyed teen glanced at his companions. "You two finished?" He asked.

"Hn." The messy haired grunted his response.

"For the moment." The blond replied. "I will stuff myself again when I rested."

"Ok. I'll get your trays." He stood up and placed his tray and placed it in the trolley. He leaned again to take the trays from his friends. He approached each of his friends and started to help them lean back to rest in their sleeping bags.

"Rest." He said. "I'm here." He promised them.

"Thank you." The messy haired boy grunted. He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.

The cobalt-eyed boy approached his sleeping bag, sat down and fluffed his pillow. He stretched down facing the door and closed his eyes to rest.