A ''Fresh'' Story

Fresh sighed as he got out of the bathroom. He felt so much lighter and a little sleepy.

The youngest of all took his sweaty clothes from the ground and put them in the washing machine. Then, he moved to his room to wear clean clothes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Šø țěłł mė, Ģèñø, āŕē ýøų fĕêłįňģ øķåý?"
"Well, umm... I am fine... B-but Fresh-"
"Đøň'ț wøŕřý âbøůț hîm, Ģèñø. Hė įš ãłwāýś fįňè." Said Error in a bored tone.

Suddenly, a pink figure appeared in front of the door.
"Hey, kids!"
"Oh, h-hey mom!"
"Hî. Śø... Ýøų'řė đøńê wîţh ýøūř wøŕķ?"
"Yep, I finished today's drawing and decided to spend more time with you." CQ said. "So, how're you guys doing?" She sat on the floor with her children, Error and Geno.
"We are okay, mom... But... Fresh..."
"Øh, płêàšë! Hê'ś fįńé! "
"Error..." Said CQ. "Fresh is also a creature like you. Please treat him better." She looked at Geno.
"So, what is up with Fresh?"

Geno explained everything clearly. In every sentence he made, CQ's face became more curious. When Geno finished, she simply nodded.
"Don't worry, I will speak to him today as soon as possible. Has he gotten out of the bathroom yet?"
"We don't know. He probably has." Geno said.
"Okay then." She stood up. "I will speak to him now, if he's in his room."

Geno nodded and Error sighed.
"Ī đøñ'ț ģěț whý ýøū ćářê ąbøůť hįm țhîś můćh..." He said as he rolled his eyes.

Geno just gave him an empty smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Fresh! Are you there, sweetie?" CQ said as she knocked on Fresh's door.
"Yea, ma!" Fresh said loud enough for his mom to hear.
"May I come in?"
"Uh... Yea."
CQ opened the door to see her youngest child sitting on his bed with 'Fresh' out of laundry clothes.
"Are you feeling okay, sweetie?" Asked CQ.
"'M totes 'k, ma! Why'ja ask?"

CQ walked slowly to Fresh's bed and sat down. She looked at him.
"Fresh, you know you can tell your family what happened, right? Geno said you stuttered and shivered, which aren't very likely to you."
Her face became more worried.
"So, what happened?"

Fresh looked at his mom. He really didn't want his mother to know anything. He thought if he should tell it or not for some seconds. Then, he thought that not telling the truth wouldn't do any favors to him or to his family and friends.

"Uh, well ma, I kinda had a headache 'n a shiver while I was studying. Then, I heard Error Brah's voice calling Geno. Sa, I went ta his room ta check 'em if they were 'k. Then, the headache 'n shiver became stronger, sa I went ta da bathroom 'n decided ta take a bath. Dat's it."
"Are you feeling okay now?"
"Yea!"

CQ looked at Fresh with concern.
"Well, I am glad that you shared this with me. Just know, you can tell anything to your family." A pause.
"But... I wonder why you had that headache." A pause again. "I think we should go see a doctor."

Fresh's eyes widened behind his shades.
"Nah, ma! 'M 'k, nah need fer a doctor."
CQ frowned.
"Fresh, headache and shiver wouldn't appear out of nowhere. We have to go see a doctor. Plus, you are just a child. Headache is not normal for a child!"

Fresh looked away. Then at his mom again.
"But I'm 'k now, ma. I'm feeling..." He paused. With a second, he stood up, put his right hand on the side of his pelvis bone and made a thumbs-up with his left hand.
"Radtastic!"                                                                                                                        

CQ's frown faded and left a less worried face. A few seconds later, a smile. She also stood up just to kneel down on her knees and hug the neon skeleton.                                                  

"If you say so, sweetie..."                                                                                              

CQ let Fresh go then put a hand on his boney cheeks.                                            

"Just let me know if you need something, okay?" she asked.                

"Ya totes can be sure, ma!" said Fresh. CQ smiled sadly. She got up and said:

"Well, if you want to join your brothers and me, we'll be in Error's room. You can come there if you would like to."                                          

"'K ma."                                                                                                                              

CQ nodded and walked out.

" Well, might as well join mah brosephs. Got nathin' else ta do anyway..." Fresh thought and walked towards his door. He opened it to see Error's door open. Geno and Error's voices could be heard well.         
"O-oh... He... He said that he was fine..?"
"Í ťøłđ ýøů."
"Well, in any case, if he tries to talk to you, please let him talk. Don't interrupt him. Okay, boys?"
"Okay, mom!"
"Whăťêvëř..."

Fresh entered Error's room. Every eye was on him now.
"Hey brahs!"
"Oh, h-hey Fresh!"
"I'm glad you came as well, Fresh. That's nice of you!"
"Well, got nathin' betta ta do anyway."

He sat down on the floor with his brothers and mom.
"Sa, 'water' we doin'?"
There was a quick silence.
"Oh, what about we watch a movie?" Geno asked.
"Ýêś!"
"Sounds Fresh ta me!"
Their mom got up and looked at them.
"Well, you boys go pick the movie that you want to watch. Don't forget to pick the movie fairly. I will prepare juice for you all in the meantime."

Geno and Error gave a "Yay!" face while Fresh just looked at his brothers with a smile.

CQ got out of the room and went to kitchen downstairs.

The boys went to the living room, in front of the couch to pick movies. However, later on, they decided to do it with their mom. She wanted fairness in their choices after all.

Choices...

Choices are something else, aren't they?

Choices are basically what the life is based on.

If you choose wisely, there will be a bright future on your side.

But if you choose the wrong thing, you might not come back.

Fresh made a wise choice by choosing to spend time with his brothers and mother.

He saw them happy and excited while he was with them.

So he meant something to them after all.

He even meant something to Error, who hurt his non-existing feelings constantly.

Maybe, he cared about Fresh, but didn't want him to know?

Was he doing all of these to make Fresh stronger..?