Chapter Text
A flock of sparrows perch together on a tree branch way behind Basil’s window, their nest being in the nearby group of dense trees.
Basil slowly begins to wake up, warm and cozy underneath his blanket, kept away from the moderately chilly temperature of the outside.
When he does, though, he closes his eyes again as he wanted to rest for “a few minutes” more.
An hour and several minutes passes, and when Basil felt he had enough, he looked at what time it was: it was now 8:42 AM.
Basil was sitting up, yawning as he spoke, “Oh… what?” and he then gets out of his bed, putting his indoor slippers on.
He walks out of the bedroom that he and his caregiver share, and in the main room where he was hearing some noise, Basil finds Ethan working out, which he does every day. It seemed that for him, it was leg day today.
Ethan was also shirtless, and for Basil, his physique was impressive.
They greeted each other good morning, and they engaged in small talk for a little while.
Basil sat on the sofa, and he wondered about something as he watched his caregiver do his exercise. Basil asked Ethan some questions, “How come you exercise every day, Ethan?” Ethan then looked at him as he did a set of squats. “Do you have to do it all day? Is it fun?”
Ethan thought for several seconds before answering, humming as he comes up with a wise answer. After that, he replies to all of those questions with a slight smile, “Exercising helps to keep myself in good health, and develop my endurance and strength.” For Basil to fully understand, he had to simplify his words.
He continues, “It also makes me feel grateful for, proud of, and satisfied with myself. Moreover, it gives me great pleasure to know that I’m working hard and effortful not only mentally, but physically as well.
“It also helps a lot to be physically strong, and frankly, more attractive on top of that. Lastly, I do have to do it every day, but I do it every day mostly because I want to, and it feels rewarding, which makes doing it fun for me.”
Not even stumbling once in his words, Ethan completes his set of squats and he asks Basil back, “Tell me, Basil, how would you feel if you had a strong body? What would you want to do if you did?” He wipes his sweat as he begins to rest for the next set, remaining to stand.
“Uh…” For a few seconds, Basil imagined what he would do if he did.
He eagerly responds, “I… Honestly, I think I would feel awesome! Although, I can’t imagine anything else besides being healthy, fit, muscular, and that I’m able to help myself or others lift heavy things. But… what you told me was informative and inspiring.”
“Hm. I’m glad you feel that way.”
Several minutes later, Ethan was now done with his workout, and so he cooked and prepared Basil his breakfast while also being shirtless, which took a few tens of minutes. Afterwards, he got to take a bath.
Basil got ready to eat at the dining table, “Thanks, Ethan.” Ethan nodded at him in response.
The delicious and nourishing food that Ethan always cooks for him for breakfast has become one of his favorites, and that gave Basil some incentive to learn how to cook in the future.
Eating it always makes him feel good, and after he does, he is happy and satisfied. He made sure he enjoyed every bite, and he did.
Later on, Basil was sitting on the sofa, swinging his legs as he read through his precious photo album. As he did, he remembered something.
Seeing that Ethan has finished dressing up, he asked him, “Hey, Ethan. I noticed some of your books in our room, and they looked interesting. Can I give them a try?” Seeing the titles of some of the books and taking a closer look at them had made Basil interested in them.
The books that Basil was talking about were mostly about personal development, but he had some other types of books here and there.
“I think they’re perfect for your age, so of course you can.” Ethan approved of it.
“Ah, thank you, -” Basil got out of the sofa, now walking to the bedroom, “-I’ll try them out now!”
After taking one of Ethan’s books, he sits again on the sofa with legs crossed and began to read, turning off the television before doing so.
…
At 10:27 AM, Basil and Ethan decided to check on their grandmother together, so they went into her room, and noticed she was awake, struggling to get out of bed on her own.
They then heard her say to her white egret orchid, “Thank you, Frank.”
She then noticed her grandsons, turning her head to them.
“Good morning, you two.”
Their grandmother greeted them in a frail, soft voice.
With a tenderhearted smile, their grandmother is still as beautiful as ever.
They both greeted her good morning as well, but they were a bit concerned.
Ethan reminded his grandmother, “Grandma, you know it’s a risk to get out of bed on your own…”
Basil followed him, helping along by giving his grandmother her hemi-walker cane and being beside her in case if she trips as she walks.
“I know, but don’t worry…” She then cheerily says, “the older I get, the stronger I become!” Ethan was glad by how bright she still was in her mid-80s.
Basil laughed a little, and he loved his grandmother’s cheerfulness, which reminded him of one if his friends, Mari. He then added, “But… Grandma, please don’t make us anxious like that.”
Their grandma sighs, “I’m sorry, Basil. I just couldn’t believe that I can’t get up by myself these recent weeks.”
“It’s… okay, grandma.” Basil was sorry for his grandmother as well.
Ethan said as he helps his grandmother with walking, “People becoming old and eventually becoming unable to do basic things that they once were always able to do… it can take a toll on them.”
His grandmother agreed with him, “As Ethan said. Long story short, I don’t want to become any more useless as I age, but I can accept it. It’s merely a part of life.”
A few seconds after on their way to the main room, their grandmother, named Flora, looked at both of her grandsons’ faces, and she laughs, saying, “Don’t brood over it, you two. Don’t let an old woman ruin your day.”
At the main room, Basil was reading, Flora was watching cartoons on television, and Ethan gets into cooking his lunch and his grandmother’s lunch, and he’ll also be making Basil’s salad.
During lunch at the dining table, Flora expresses to her two grandchildren how proud she is of them, telling them each of their positive characteristics, and how fortunate she was to experience such a wondrous feeling.
Several minutes later after lunch, Flora wanted to have a walk outside, despite it being chilly and lightly snowing outside. Before they do, Ethan helped her wear clothes that would, for the most part, protect her body from the cold temperature.
Then, they prepared, changing to winter-fit clothing. The three finally went outside, and the second that they set foot outside the house, they felt the air become colder all over themselves. Basil felt chills on his arms.
Basil hugged himself, “Brrr… Wow, that’s one way to make me feel fully awake.”
“Whooo!” Flora shivered a little. “Oh, my favorite weather…” Flora said, with a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
As they get to the sidewalk, Ethan asked, “By the way, grandma, are we going for only a walk, or are we going places?”
“Hmm… I want to go to the park. I haven’t been there in a while.”
Walking slowly their way to the park, they met Aubrey, who saw them from the opposite direction of the sidewalk when she turned around.
Aubrey waved at them in greeting—she gasped when she saw Basil’s grandma walking outside with them, as Aubrey hasn’t seen her friends’ grandmother in a few months until now.
Once she got close to them, “Mrs. Flora! It’s nice to see you!” Aubrey, only now, does she notices Flora’s hemi-walker cane.
Flora waves with at her with a hand, “Hahaha… It’s nice to see you too, sweetie. It’s been long since we haven’t seen each other. How are you?”
Basil and Ethan kept silent for Aubrey and their grandmother to talk.
“I’m doing very well, how about you?”
“I’m doing just fine, never mind my cane.”
Later on, Aubrey was asked by Basil and Ethan if she would want to join them, and when they told her that they were going to the park as well, she did.
On the way, Aubrey got to know more about Flora’s current state, asking either the grandma or Basil and Ethan about the questions that she had. With that, it didn’t take long before they got to the park.
Immediately at the playground, Aubrey and Basil hopped onto the seats on the swing set, and Basil brought up the topic of asking rhetorical questions to themselves about what and how the future for them will be, which was exciting for the both of them.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Flora sat together on the bench facing the playground and had a conversation.
Flora began, watching both Aubrey and Basil on the swings, “Aww… Look at those two.”
“Hmm? What about them?” Ethan responded.
“They remind me of when me and my late husband first met in a playground, back when I was eight years old. Growing up, I had a great childhood with him, along with some friends. I miss him very much.”
“May God bless him, and that he rests in peace. Sorry for your loss, grandma. Grandfather must have been a good man.”
“He was. Thank you.”
They spent several minutes more in the park, because Flora wanted to relax for a bit here. Once they were done with that, they were soon to go to the plaza and Aubrey had gone on her own way to Kim and Vance’s house.
Flora looks at Basil who was walking beside her, “Basil, I want to ask you something…”
“Yes?” Basil responds.
“About that girl—Aubrey—do you have a crush on her?” Hearing this, Ethan laughed a little.
Basil was taken aback by her question, “Uh- I- N- I-I don’t know… I see her as just a friend? Why do you ask?”
“Hahahaha… I was only curious.”
At the plaza, they first went to Hobbeez, where they sat with their grandma to read some free short comics. Basil and Flora later looked at old items and toys from either the 90’s or the 2000’s.
Outside at Gino’s, Flora discussed with Basil and Ethan that she wanted to have some pizza as an afternoon meal before dinner, to which Ethan was slightly reluctant to at first because of her age, but thinking about it, he decided that he would buy her pizza later.
Basil and Flora were looking forward for pizza later. Thank goodness for Ethan for having his own money come from other things besides doing his job as a caregiver for his family members.
Walking past through the doors of Othermart because they didn’t need anything from there, they went into Fix-It specifically for the garden.
And in that garden, Basil was reminded of his garden at the back of his home, which hasn’t been used ever since this year’s winter came in.
There, they viewed various kinds of plants: climbers, creepers, flowers, herbs, shrubs, and small trees. Since all three of them had a common interest for gardens and plants, they enjoyed the viewing session throughout.
After all of that, there was one nearby place that their grandmother wanted to go to: the church. She wanted to pray there, and so they went.
At the Catholic church, they were welcomed by silence and the murmurs of a few people’s prayers. There were no clergymen — only the feeling of the Son of God watching over them.
They sat on a pew at the right side, the one that was nearest to the church doors.
Flora then got ready to pray with a voice… she closes her eyes.
“Heavenly Father,” She began.
In her prayer, she acknowledged God’s greatness, thanked Him for His compassionate love, goodness and mercy, asked Him to forgive her for her past sins, and to bless her and her relatives for prosperous and longer lives.
“-for the healthier we are, the more thoroughly we can do Your work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Throughout their grandmother’s prayer, Basil and Ethan sat beside her with a reverent silence.
The three were now walking back home, and in a desire to know, Basil asked, “Grandma, how did you know what to say during a prayer?”
“I knew because it came from the heart, my dear. I’ll tell you more about it later, if you wish.”
Halfway back home, Flora felt a sudden and sharp pain in her left rib, and her discomfort was visible.
Ethan was worried but not panicking, “Grandma, are you- where are you hurting?”
“Ah… At the left side of my chest. Under the rib, maybe.” Basil seemed concerned.
“Does the pain also feel heavy?” For Ethan, hopefully it was not what he was thinking.
“Not at all, but it’s, ah, a sharp pain…”
“That’s good news. We should hurry back to the house.” Basil and Flora nodded in agreement, and Flora began to walk slightly faster.
Now back at home, Ethan got her a glass of water, and just in case, medicine for her to drink. She didn’t drink these meds at first, because she wanted to see if the pain would subside.
After several minutes, it did. It was now reduced to a little ache.
Flora was relieved, and she sighs. She commented, “Hah, I’ve gone through worse.”
“Grandma, are you okay?” Basil asked her anxiously.
She reassured him, “I’m alright now. There is nothing to be worried about.”
Ethan wanted that to be made sure, examining her for symptoms, but there didn’t seem to be any, so he was at ease. He mentions, “Whoo… Well, that was a bit scary.”
Half an hour later, Flora was sitting on a chair facing the window where she could view the outside.
At the dining table, Ethan seemed to be using his laptop to learn something. Flora was always been fascinated by technology which evolved throughout the several decades that she’s lived. She had even experienced virtual reality once a few years ago.
Basil took a chair and sat beside his grandmother to tell her more about his group of friends in this part of Faraway. He brought his photo album with him, and he showed all its contents to her. She was keen on listening.
It reminded her of something… didn’t she also have a photo album when she was as young as Basil? She should get it one day.
*smartphone ringing*
Basil and Flora turn around at the source of the sound.
“Oh, someone’s calling me.” Ethan looks over at his phone to see who was calling him. It was one of his good friends and former collegemates.
He stands up, taking his phone, “Ah, I’ll be right back.” Flora nodded.
Ethan proceeds to walk into the bedroom that he and Basil share.
He presses the accept call button.
“Hello again, Polly! What brings you to call me today?”
“Hey, Ethan! I… I want your recommendations for the lunch that I’ll be cooking.”
Ethan asked her what food it was, and Polly showed it to him with a screenshot.
He then asked her what she was aiming for with the taste and smell, and with her answers, he typed in a list of ingredients and things to do to give her ideas, and described what each of these will do to her dish.
Once they were done with that, Polly thanked him immensely, as cooking was a skill that she wanted to improve on.
Over the phone, Polly sounded jolly, “No, Ethan, really! I appreciate it a lot!”
“Hahahaha! You’re welcome. Now, is there anything else?”
“Well, I wanted to ask something personal. How are you doing nowadays?”
“I’m doing quite great! How about you?”
Ethan hears Polly sigh over the phone. “Oh… Honestly, I’m not doing too good… I wanted to talk to someone about this, and you were the first person that I thought of.”
Her friend sympathizes with her, “Hmm. I’m here for you. What seems to be the issue?”
“Besides the stresses of work and keeping up with peers, nothing too major. It’s just…” Polly fell silent for a few seconds, breathing heavily for one time.
“Well… I suppose stress is the only problem for me right now. I feel like I’m about to be burned out.”
For a few seconds, she didn’t continue her speech, so Ethan gave her an advice that has served him well over the years, and that advice was what made him to be a well-rounded young man.
In his advice for Polly, he mixed it with his own experiences, which he thought was important to bring up. The result?
She sounded amazed and sincere, “Wow… Now I see. Thanks again, Ethan. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“As always. And because you’re dealing with stress… You live near Faraway, right?”
“Yeah, I do. Why?”
“Let’s go on a coffee date sometime.”