PRINCETON BEACH

The yellow chick

Chapter 7

The yellow chick

Ethan tried to tell Carl everything he saw and heard in his entire 10-year-old life. It went on for three days like that. Every day after breakfast, Ethan and Carl talk for hours. Tyler didn't get approval to go outside. He had to help on the farm to feed the animals. They get to hang out only at night. But Ethan was happy, so Tyler was also happy. The only person who wasn’t happy was Carl. Tyler didn’t know why, but he didn’t look so happy about the whole thing.

It was sausages for breakfast that day. The usual happened that day too. Ethan started talking. Tyler was in the kitchen helping herbius. He can hear everything they say. He was so proud and happy about Ethan having a father. But the look he observed on Carl’s face disturbed him.

Ethan talked, and Carl had an angry look on his face.

He was talking about the time when he was running away from a dog which was chasing him. Carl threw away the book he had in his hands. He stood up quickly with anger. “You are not helping”. Carl yelled at Ethan. Ethan was confused. He didn’t know what he did wrong. He looked at Carl, wondering what he was so angry about. 'I don’t think you are any use for the series'. ‘Why are u f*****g happy all the time?’. Ethan couldn’t say anything.

Tyler was washing the dishes. He threw the dish back into the sink and marched to Carl. Herbius followed him. Tyler stood in front of Ethan, facing Carl. ‘Shut the fuckup'. 'If you yell at him ever again, I’m taking him with me. We are out, do you hear me?’. Tyler told him. Ethan thought, this is it. Both of them will be out again in the streets. He was afraid of Tyler going back to how he was again. But Tyler wasn’t. Nice food and nice clothes will be gone. Ethan thought. Tyler was afraid of it, too. But he can’t do anything. He already said the word. Carl doesn’t seem like a guy who wouldn’t throw them away from the house after hearing that.

Carl looked at Tyler with surprise. He suddenly got cheerful. But he didn’t show it because the situation demands otherwise. “I’m sorry. It’s just the work pressure I have a lot of bills to pay. Thats all my father left me debt and I’m taking it out on some kids”. Carl said.

“Apologize to him”. Tyler demanded to Carl.

“I’m sorry Ethan, it was wrong of me”. Carl said. Carl walked out of the house entrance. He passed Rosy’s room. But he was smiling. The anger in Tyler’s eyes made him happy.

Ethan got into tears. Tyler sat next to him and hugged him. “it’s not your fault”. Tyler told him.

‘It is for thinking he will be a figure I mean that jerk, really?’. Ethan smirked. Tyler smirked at him and patted his head. Herbius looked at the way carl was gone. “I can’t believe this jerk is his son. Can money change people like that”.

Herbius was on the farm. Tyler and Ethan were with him. They went to the chicken coup. There was one mamma hen who was sitting on its eggs.

“How many days will it take for one to hatch?”. Tyler asked. He was excited.

“She is sitting on six eggs and all of them was lay on different days, so 21 days to all of them and when you think about that one will hatch tomorrow”.

Herbius said.

Herbius promised them a baby chick tomorrow. Both of them were excited about it. They heard thuds in the living room. It was Carl coming back after his angry ride. Herbius asked the kids to read some stories for Rosy. Carl went to the back to meet herbius.

‘She’s incubating?’. Carl asked him.

Herbius nodded. He looked at Carl with a disgusting look.

“That’s a nasty look.” Carl said.

“We’re you always a jerk because this is not how I remember you.” Herbius said.

“I became selfish after dealing with a ton of betrayals. But my life flourished after I became like this, so I regret nothing.” Carl said.

“I don’t see any, though. You still have your debts.” Herbius said.

“Do whatever selfishness you want and adopt a ton of kids for that I don’t care. I mean, we can take care of them or they can do it themselves. Just don’t give them any hope of a father figure alright. If you don’t care, you don’t and that’s it. No matter what you do, I just hope it works out for you finally. I’ll pray for that”.

Herbius left to cook dinner.

Carl just stood there, taking in everything he said. His debt was the only thing that mattered to him. He took a deep breath. His face showed that he’s going to exactly what Herbius told him to do.

Carl went to Rosy’s room. The kids were still there.

“Hey kids, can you excuse us? I have something to talk to my mom”.

Tyler gazed at Carl. They went outside. Carl stood beside his mom. Tyler and Ethan were helping Herbius into the kitchen. Carl came out crying from Rosy’s room. Only Tyler saw it. But he thought little of it.

The next day morning. Herbius, Carl, Ethan and Tyler were in front of the chicken coup. A yellow baby chick just hatched. The chick was crawling. It was still cold, and it got under its mother to get warm. It filled their eyes with joy. That’s the first time they all been together and done something for the first time. Tyler laughed out of happiness at seeing the chick. Carl smiled at hearing that. Ethan and herbius looked at Carl and Tyler and smiled.

“I’m going to head out. Have some work to do”. Carl told them. He patted Tyler’s head and went out.

“Now that was weird.” Herbius said.

‘I know’. Both Ethan and Tyler agreed.

“I have something to tell you guys. You two are matured enough to hear it. There are sometimes you need to be practical in life. The time when you only think about yourself and your loved one’s wellbeing. Carl’s going through something like that. You guys will go through the same thing in the future. Carl didn’t bring you home so he can be father and love you guys. He just want you guys to act in his series for free instead of the food and clothes me and his father made. But it’s not that bad if you think about it. He’s working really hard. I trust him that this series will get a big break. If he gets money from that, you guys will receive salaries.” Herbius said.

‘But we don’t know acting'. 'Remember how he got mad because Ethan couldn’t?’. Tyler asked.

“Yes, that’s true, but it’s in you guys. When you got angry at him, that’s when he saw the potential in you guys. He laughed before he left. So try to express every emotion more. I strongly believe that you guys can do it.” Herbius said.

He patted their hair gently

“Carl’s going to bring more children here. So he doesn’t plan to love you guys. But this is an opportunity no one gets. So be practical like him. Promise me you two will be there for each other all the time.” Herbius said.

Tyler and Ethan nodded their head.

Carl was at the dinner table hearing everything. He laughed with the butter knife in his hands.

“My friend is actually something “.