Charlie was working at his computer on an important equation which might explain the Bloch theorem. His brother was having a beer and watching TV while sitting on the sofa.
" Dinner Time, Boys!" Alan Eppes called bring his famous Tuna casserole from the immediately came like a dog sniffing meat.
" Charlie, come on! Once I start, there's no stopping me. Cardinal rule" Don said shouting to Charlie who was sitting on his favourite armchair.
"Charlie gave a sigh. " I think I'm gonna skip dinner today. I really need to finish this"
He got up and started walking towards the staircase.
" Aw, Charlie, Just take some dinner with you." Don said. Alan was already serving on a plate and handed it to Charlie.
" Thanks, Dad" Charlie said. " Night."
"Night" Alan and Don said. Charlie headed to his bedroom.
" Do you think he'll eat it?" Don asked his father./p
"No" Alan scoffed. " He didn't eat anything for five days except peanuts. We'll have to force him to eat something at breakfast"
"It's probably some math thing that's got him worried. He'll solve it and everything will go back to normal" Don said, seeing the worry on his father's face.
"Yeah, until the next one comes along" Alan said, with a pained smile.
" Dad, maybe I should stay for a couple of days." Don said
" No,Donnie. Don't worry. Nothing you old man can't handle" Alan said
Don made up his mind to have a talk with Charlie in the morning.
MORNING
Charlie slept until 10 in the morning. He came down to breakfast at 15 mins to 11. Since it was a weekend, Don was there for breakfast.
"Charlie, hey sleeping beau.." Don trailed off as he saw the bags that lay in Charlie's hollow face. Charlie was extremely thin too judging from the looseness of the T shirt that Charlie had just bought last week.
" Hey Don ,don't you have a date with Robin?" Charlie asked, trying to appear normal as he got a glass of water as if he didn't spend the whole night tossing and turning.
" No, she cancelled" Don lied, he was the one who cancelled the date." Come have breakfast. We'll do something today,just the two of us."
" No, I have some work to do. Maybe next time" Charlie said
" Okay..but take some breakfast!" Don said ,but it was too late. Charlie had already drifted to the garage.
" Any Luck?" Alan asked hopefully coming from the kitchen
" No, its like he dosen't even notice we're here" Don said"
" Donnie, I was thinking of taking him to a professional" Alan said
" He won't like that, Dad" Don said, thinking
" I know but he can't go on lke this. He hasn't eaten for about a week now"