Chapter 11 What a Small World

"Dad, don't touch me! I feel itchy all over!" "Stop scratching," William advised. Then, he barked, "Mabel! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get the medicine!" "I don't know which one to use, Mr. Parker. You know Mr. Charlie's condition is special. There was one time he had an allergic reaction. I gave him regular anti-allergy medicine, and it only made things worse. He nearly died! Since then, Mrs. Parker has been taking care of his medicine." William's eyes turned sharp as knives, and Mabel's face instantly turned deathly pale. "Without Mrs. Parker here, we can't simply give Mr. Charlie medicine." The flame of rage in William's eyes burned even hotter, and his brows furrowed tightly. "Charlie, do you remember what medicine your mom usually gives you when you have an allergic reaction?" "I don't know." Charlie's face suddenly turned pale, and before he could say anything else, he vomited out all the undigested pizza he had eaten earlier. "Charlie!" William's face dropped. "What's wrong?" "Dad, my stomach… doesn't feel good." As he spoke, he heaved again and threw up all over the floor in pain. William immediately called the family doctor, and Charlie was given IV drips and injections. After tending to him a whole night, Charlie's condition improved. The redness from his allergic reaction was no longer alarming, and the vomiting had also ended. "When the pollution level gets severe, Mr. Charlie requires herbal baths. I gave the prescription to Mrs. Parker, and everything has been going just fine. Why did his allergy suddenly become so severe? Is there anything wrong with the medication? Has it stopped working?" William had no idea that weather conditions caused Charlie's allergies. He frowned and replied, "He didn't take a herbal bath tonight. We forgot." The doctor sighed. "Just don't forget about it next time. Also, be mindful that Mr. Charlie can't have too much oily food. He had fried chicken for lunch and pizza for dinner. His body couldn't take it, so he vomited." After giving the instructions, the doctor left. William stood there and phoned me for the entire night. "The number you called is now unavailable. Please try again later." "Dad." Charlie's face appeared pale as he lay in bed. "Please don't tell Aunt Alexis I got sick from the pizza she bought me. She'd feel guilty if she knew, and I don't want her to be sad." "Okay. I promise not to tell Alexis." William put down his phone and sat beside Charlie's bed. Charlie nodded and continued, "This isn't Aunt Alexis' fault at all. It's all Mommy's fault! Aunt Alexis says it's because she's raising me too delicately. She often makes me take herbal baths, which only makes my allergies worse. She never lets me eat outside food, so now, when I do, I get sick. "Aunt Alexis says I need to take fewer herbal baths and eat more outside food. That way, I won't have allergies or stomach problems anymore. I'm a small man. I should be braver." "That's enough. You should get some rest. Your mother will be back tomorrow and won't let you suffer from allergies again." Charlie nodded. … I had just returned to my hotel when, to my dismay, I bumped into William and Alexis making out in the hotel corridor. They were fully unaware of their surroundings. I froze in place, and my first instinct was to immediately hide. My hands tightened into tight fists and hung stiffly at my sides. What a small world!