Yuree
I opened my mouth and ate the fried potato chip with something close to reverence .
It was delicious food ... I had missed it so much .
I almost cried with joy as I chewed it .
" Thanks mom . " I said to mom as we sat in the dining room eating dinner .
We had just gotten back and mom had set the table for dinner since I hadn't eaten anything all day . But it wasn't my fault the hospital food tasted really bad .
Mom smiled softly ," Well , I'm just showing you I'm glad your back ."
" Mmm She only cooks something this nice when you're back ." Gus grumbled and mom turned to him , she had a soft yet sharp look in her eyes that said she knew what he had said .
Gus shut up and we carried on eating .
Well not all of us .
Bee sat next to me , watching me eat .
It was ... not weird but not normal . He looked at me with such intensity that I felt like he wanted to eat ME !
" Bee , you haven't eaten anything yet . " mom said and Bee turned to her .
" I'm not hungry . " he said but she frowned .
" That's the second time you've said that . Did you eat something before coming back ? " she asked but Gus cut in .
" Or he's one of those diet freaks ."
" No , I did not . I just don't ... wish to eat . I am sorry ." Bee said looking down and mom looked concerned and so did I .
I knew he hadn't eaten anything besides the lunch the nurse had brought in at the hospital, so he had to be hungry .
Why wasn't he eating then - oh , i realised instantly the problem .
He didn't want to take of his mask .
" Well , if he's not eating ... " Gus reached up to take Bee's plate but mom smacked his greedy hand .
" Oh , no you don't . " she said with a frown and then turning to Bee ," Bee , I understand if you don't feel comfortable with us just yet . I mean , you don't know us and maybe your just being cautious but please ... we won't hurt you . The foods safe to eat ."
I felt bad about this , mom was completely misunderstanding .
It wasn't the food that was the problem .
I decided to clear the issue up now .
" Mom , Bee is okay with eating our food , right ? " I asked Bee just to be sure and he looked at me and nodded his head . Okay , I had his go ahead .
" Bee ... just can't eat with his mask off ." I stated and they both frowned .
" Why ? and why does he need a mask in the first place ? " Gus asked and mom gave a nod , agreeing with her brother .
" Well , Bee has a ... um " I thought of a proper word for his disfigurement ; blemish ? deformity ? stain ?
I settled on something more humane ," he has a minor spot on his face and he doesn't feel comfortable showing it ."
" What kind of spot ? " Gus asked and I sighed .
" Just a cut on his cheek but he doesn't like people staring at it . It makes him feel uncomfortable . " I explained ," That's why he doesn't take the mask off . "
" Oh , okay ." mom said , " Then he can take dinner up to his room after we're done and eat then . Is that okay ? "
Bee looked at me and then nodded his head . Why did he look at me ? I wondered .
" So , let me get this straight ." Gus said after awhile, " He has a spot on his face ?"
" Yes ." I answered
" And that's why he wears that mask ? "
" Yes "
" And he doesn't like people looking at it ? " Mom asked and I turned to her with raised eyebrows but I still answered .
" Yes ."
" So he never takes off the mask ? " she asked and I became confused . What's up with them and his mask ?
" Yes ."
" Have you seen his face ? Without the mask ? " she asked and I hesitated for a second and then answered .
" ...yes ."
Mom raised her brows , " How many times ? "
" Two , I guess . " I answered , " but I didn't stare for long . I'm okay with his face . "
" So is he comfortable enough to let you see him without his mask ? " mom asked
" No . " Bee answered for the first time and we all looked at him .
" Wait , what do you mean ? " Gus asked ," He's seen your face twice so what's there to hide from him ? "
Despite Gus's directness I actually wanted to know too . Why wasn't he comfortable with me aswell ?
Not that I wanted him to be , I was fine either way . It was his choice .
" I ... do not wish for nymph to feel sorry for me ." Bee said and I froze .
What ? I didn't understand .
" What do you mean ? " I asked him softly .
" You ... say to me that I'm not ... what I think I am . But I do not believe you when you look at me with ... sad eyes ." he said slowly and I felt a soft feeling in my heart , " I don't want you to feel bad for me . I want to help you and not be a burden ."
" You are not a burden ." I said quickly ," Why would you think I thought that ? I don't , and mom doesn't either . "
" It's true , I do not see you as a burden at all . I was the one who suggested you come live with us . " mom said with a sad and soft smile ," I would not have done that without thinking it through and believe me I thought it through . The whole day while I was at work and when I came home . I'm sure of this , you can stay with us Bee and it won't be a burden . "
" I agree with her . " Gus said , " Although , I think your kind of weird , you seem like a good kid . And Yuree's only here because you got him to the hospital in time . So you got my vote kid . "
Bee looked at all of us slowly and he nodded his head . " Thank you . I am glad to not be a burden . " He said softly , then he looked decisive , " I can take off my mask but not completely . I'm sorry ."
" No , it's okay . " Mom said , " You don't have to if you don't want to . You can just eat later ."
" Okay , thank you ." Bee said and he looked at me with a smile in his eyes .
I smiled back and looked down at my finished plate . I bit my lip and looked at Bee.
" Can I get a few of your chips Bee ? " I asked with a rueful smile and he nodded his head and raised his plate to give me his whole stack of chips .
" Whoa , that's enough . I only said a few ." I said laughing lightly .
" If nymph if hungry then I will give him all my food . " he said solemnly and I blushed and chuckled .
" Okay , I'll eat half of this and later you can eat the rest ." I said and I started to eat the tasty salted potato ships with relish .
" Yuree , that reminds me . " mom said ," Do you think it would be a good idea if you shared a room with Bee ?"
I spat the potatoes out and nearly choked . Bed came over next to me and patted my back until I settled down .
Or as close to settled down as I could .
Was she serious ? Why would he have to sleep in my room ?
" Why ? " I asked
" Well , if you fell down in your sleep on your injuries , i would never forgive myself ." she said but Gus laughed .
" So they're going to be in the same room ...and the same bed ? "
he said laughing but mom smacked his head and turned his laughter to small chuckles .
" Get your head out of the toilet , and stop making up ideas . " she said ," I just wanted to know if it was okay with Yuree but if it's not then ... that's fine . But Bee has to be with you whenever you want to get up . Agreed ? "
I nodded my head and resisted the urge to roll my eyes . I was not an invalid , I could get up on my own .
I picked up another potato chip and started to chew it's delicious flavour .
" Should I give nymph a bath now ? " Bee asked and I spat out my chip again .
Honestly I should just stop eating , at this rate I would be spitting up all of them .
" What ? " I asked uneasily looking at Bee , " Bathe me ? Now ? "
" The doctor said for me to bathe you , I will do it very gently and slowly so you will not feel uncomfortable . " Bee said and I blushed heavily .
Gently and slowly ?! oh my gosh !
I thought with embarrassment.
Gus laughed and mom chuckled slightly and I wished Bee hadn't spoken using sign language .
Mom didn't need to hear that !
" Well ... no , Bee " mom said and I thanked her in my heart ," Yuree needs to rest . But , " she continued with a sly smile ," you can definitely do it tomorrow . And do it extra gently and slowly ."
" Mom ! " I admonished and felt my cheeks heat up . My mom could be so shameless !
Bee nodded his head solemnly ," I will Mrs Rosi . "
I put a chip in my mouth and started chewing hoping no body would say anything more embarassing and that I could just disappear .