1.9 Happily Ever After

Gavin became a handsome fellow, and after a night of partying and staying up late, he was ready for bed.  I was selected for the honor of tucking him in his first night as a child.  I couldn't wait to play ball with him and fish - things I used to do with my father.

"Dad," Gavin whispered as I leaned in to kiss him.
"Yes son?"
"We are surrounded by water," Gavin whispered weakly.
"Good observation.  We are on an island."
"I.. don't like... the water," he whispered as he fell asleep.

After making sure the blanket was tight I headed back upstairs.  He apparently hadn't forgot.

I found Sun Li upstairs on the couch.  I missed some technological advancements, like a television. "So about that wedding?" I said throwing my arm around her.  In the past few weeks it was hard to even think about a wedding for me.  For Sun Li it was harder because of her guilt. "Well I haven't forgotten," she replied with a smirk.  This was the best ending to today that I could ask for. There was no one I would rather have on the couch but her. Piercing screams filled the empty house as Graham demanded attention.  "I got it," Sun Li sighed and climbed the stairs to where Graham waited.

Sun Li was a great mother to our children.  After Graham's birthday she pushed herself to teach Graham to talk and walk while educating Gavin in the wonders of the world.  She was a pro.  Watching her made me tired.  While Sun Li took a break from her paintings, I was began picking up more writing jobs. I was making a fairly modest living and hoped that we could soon wed. 

Gavin had taken to mixing chemicals shortly after Sun Li showed him a chemical reaction with mentos and soda.  It was nice to see him taking an interest in science; however, it resulted in a shortage of our cleaning supplies and a large mess in his bedroom. To combat his wasteful and messy ways, Sun Li found an online store that shipped to our island and purchased a chemistry set.  He can't get in trouble, she said. He won't hurt him self, she said. Right.

He even got a cute little chemist suit.

 It was all fun and games till he blew it up.  Then I had to clean a mess out of his room.
Again.

And Sun Li got to comfort the crying baby. But, like a true soldier, he'd be right back at that chemistry set right after I cleaned it up.

Graham enjoyed spending nights playing with dolls.  I told Sun Li I didn't want him playing with little girls dolls, but she insisted she played with plenty of "boy toys" growing up and she turned out "just fine".  Graham had his own way of playing with dolls anyways.  "Munnnsterrrr YUMMMM," Graham yelled.

My birthday snuck up on me.  Wrinkles set in my face. The sparkles consumed me.  I was angry at first.  Time is a terrible thing, and it does terrible things to your body.  This attitude continued until I saw Sun Li  playing with Graham.   She was beautiful.  He was healthy.  Gavin was alive.  I had many things to be thankful for.  My own life for one.  And since time was so terrible, I needed to spend time with my boys.  They were quickly growing.  Now Graham can do more than poop and gurgle and Gavin isn't blowing things up like he used to.  It was things like these that made me realize I'm a proud father!

 I fantasize often about teaching Gavin to garden.  It would be nice to have some help since our garden is getting large.  However, I'll probably have to wait for Graham to show interest since Gavin hates any reminder that he lives on an island surrounded by water.  I wasn't looking forward to the hours of work I was about to put into the garden. Alas, my family needed feeding.  Sun Li skirted up to me in her ceremonial dress.  I hadn't seen that outfit in ages.   "We're getting married," she announced as she pulled me to my feet.

But we couldn't get married here! I protested - to myself.  This wasn't romantic! This wasn't Al Simhara! As if she could read my doubts Sun Li spoke again, "This is as good as any other place, Jace. It's a garden.  It's your hard work. It's the island where I found freedom and the home we raise our boys. It's the island that saved you from certain death at the sea.  This place has more meaning for the two of us than any pyramid in Al Simhara."  She. Was. Good.   I had to think a minute.  She was right- our wedding place should have special meaning to us.  This was the best place ever.

 I should have agreed and waited until the sun *started* to set (because you know it really never fully sets here) but I decided that the present was the best time.  And with a short exchange of vows and a ring slipped on her finger I officially and finally made Sun Li my wife.

Celebrations we're over for the night just yet.  It was the boys' birthdays.  So much for christening the wedding night.  I wasn't too let down, Sun Li was mine for the rest of our days, but the boys only had so many childhood birthdays.  We crowded around the table for birthdays galore. 

1.8 Pitter Patter

Sun Li stayed sick throughout her pregnancy, so we shoved the wedding until after our second child was born.

Gavin was an easy baby.  He slept, ate, and pooped.  Not much more.  However as a toddler, he was difficult to train.  No potty could contain him and forget about learning words. It was like fighting with a parrot that only knew one word, "NO!"  Maybe we could have a silent household? Pretty sure Sun Li wouldn't be happy.

Every once in a while Gavin would spit out something that sounded like trash can or gloves.  I'll take what I can get.

While I worked with the last of our wood on a basement,  Sun Li finished teaching Gavin to walk.  He was much more cooperative with her.  I might have envied her a bit. Gavin always melted into her arms. I wanted a daughter. 

With the lack of knowledge I had about Gavin, We didn't have very many things to entertain him.  However, Sun Li was dead set on giving Gavin the best shot at life.  She quickly went to work with a peg game to sharpen his logic skills.  He immediately took to it.

Gavin also loved to be read to. With a mother that could draw and a father that could write, the only thing stopping him from knowledge was how fast we could put out books for him. 

I had to take her word that this pregnancy was harder.  But I was determined to take care of her every little whim. Even if it meant I was making mac and cheese in my underware at two in the morning.

Construction was finished on the house just in time for baby number two.  I constantly wondered secretly if was normal to have a water illusion on your stairs.  I think we're good.

Sun Li spent nine hours in labor.  It was times like this I wished we lived with civilization. Medical technology could take the pain away, but we didn't have that technology. So Sun Li relaxed in bed until a baby boy graced us with his presence.  With a small talk we decided to name him Graham, after my father.

I picked up a few extra writing assignments to help save for the wedding.  I spent each day writing while Sun Li worked with the boys.  Writing was usually pretty relaxing for me.  We decided early that we were going to homeschool the boys -not that there were too many other options.  Sun Li took this serious and started teaching Gavin as soon as he could talk.  Days were usually quiet so when I heard Sun Li's high pitched screams I immediately jumped from my seat.

Outside I found Sun Li holding her mouth.  I followed her eye sight and a rock sank to the bottom of my stomach. Just out in the ocean laid Gavin curled in a ball. I couldn't tell what happened next because the next thing I knew, I was in water to my knees with Sun Li screaming hysterically behind me.

I pulled Gavin toward my body and swam back to shore. "He's not breathing," I said, handing him off to Sun Li to catch my breath.  Sun Li had calmed herself and rushed the limp boy into the house.  I followed her and watched as she quickly pumped his stomach and listened to his breath.  Soon I heard Gavin gag and let out a high pitched wail. Never have I wanted to hear a wail as much as I did at that moment. I relaxed a bit and Sun Li's soft smile let me know the danger had passed.

Sun Li watched Gavin with hawk like precision and Graham never left her hip.  I was worried for her.  I slipped on my writing.  Right now my family was most important. And with Sun Li feeling guilty and Gavin refusing showers, I had to step up to keep the family balanced.  Within a few days, Gavin had all but forgot about the accident and Sun Li started to relax. 

Ever since Gavin learned to talk, he constantly jabbered on about how the carburetor is connected to the manifold and the manifold is connected to the engine. It sounded a lot like a rhyme I sang as a kid, but I really don't remember those being the words. I really wasn't sure how he learned all that seeing as we had provided him with all his toys.

With the money we had saved for the wedding and our over abundance of produce from the garden, Sun Li was able to bake a birthday cake for Gavin.  It was a small party for just us, but we had plenty to be thankful for as Gavin started on a new path in life.