Favoured son

Chapter One

EVER since Peeper's Dad went away, Mrs Pooper and Peeper had been spending a lot of time with the Beedles.

Beebo was pleased. Life couldn't get any better than this. He had his happy family, his best friend Peeper and most importantly his four meals a day.

Life was good.

The families went picnicking together. Beebo played with Peeper. On some days, Peeper slept over. Mummy Biddy cooked Peeper's favourite food. Daddy Melville took Peeper fishing. Beezy stopped hanging around Beebo and now hung around Peeper. Milly laughed when Peeper played with her.

Life couldn't be better.

Chapter Two

Beebo woke up one morning and instead of his favourite pancakes, he smelt roti canai.

"Roti canai?" asked Beebo. "Mummy, you know how I hate roti canai!"

"Oh Beebo! Roti canai is a nice change from having pancakes all the time. Besides Peeper likes roti canai."

"But I like pancakes!"

Beebo was cross. "Where is my good friend anyway?"

"Oh," said Mummy, "he's gone to the shop with your father. Peeper's helping Daddy in the shop. Isn't that sweet? It's so nice the way Peeper's taken an interest in the shop ... isn't it Beebo?"

Not a peep.

"Beebo?"

Mummy turned around to find herself alone with Milly.

Chapter Three

At the far end of DeliLand, overlooking the city, sat Beebo. His hands clasped as he faced the city below. The city with its tall buildings, busy streets and smoke ... or rather, smog.

But he saw none of these. He wondered why nobody wanted to play with him anymore. And why there was roti canai for breakfast instead of pancakes.

Siiiiigggghhhhhhhh went Beebo.

Chapter Four

"Beebo! Beebo!"

He turned to see Beezy running towards him.

"What is it Beezy? What's wrong?"

"Mum ... my ... asked... you ... to ... come .... puff puff home ...."

Beebo rushed home wondering what the urgency was.

Mummy was still in the kitchen calmly mashing more potatoes. Milly was looking in the garbage bin for food.

"Ah Beebo! Will you take some lunch to your Dad and Peeper? And hurry back."

"Was that all you wanted?" asked Beebo but Mummy did not hear him.

A very angry Beebo took the two packed lunches to the shop. Half way there, Beebo stopped. His mind racing, his heart filled with anger, Beebo put his hand to the ground and picked up a slimy slug. He then put it in Peeper's lunch box and mixed the mashed potatoes so the slug would not be noticed. And with a smirk on his face, Beebo ran to the shop to deliver the lunch.

Chapter Five

The next morning when Beebo woke up he was met with ... no, no pancakes baking. Not even the aroma of roti canai. But an empty kitchen.

"Mummy? Daddy?"

Silence, except for the sound of Milly sucking on her pacifier.

"Beee-boohhh?"

He looked at Milly.

"Huh?" Beebo looked questioningly at Milly.

"Milly?"

"Beeee-booohhhh?"

The voice came from the other room.

"Oh Auntie Pooper!" said Beebo turning around to face Peeper's Mummy. "I thought Milly was talking. Where's everyone and where's breakfast?"

"Your Daddy is ill. Mummy didn't have time to make or buy any breakfast. Beezy and Mummy have gone to the hospital with Daddy."

"Gulp!" went Beebo. Daddy must have eaten the lunch with the slug in it by mistake!

Chapter Six

Auntie Pooper took Beebo, Milly and Peeper to the hospital.

Daddy was lying very still on the bed.

"Oh Daddy," sobbed Beebo. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have put the slug in Peeper's lunch. It's all my fault. I thought you would all like Peeper more than me. And you would send me away!" How Beebo cried!

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Daddy's smiling face.

"Daddy? I'm sorry, Daddy. It's all my fault. Please don't just lie there. Please get up, Daddy, and come back home."

"Beebo, it's all right. I only have a little tummy ache. The doctor says I can go home tomorrow."

But Beebo didn't look any happier. He just stood there looking at his shoes. He didn't dare look at Daddy.

"Beebo, were you jealous of Peeper? Did you think that we would love you less and Peeper more?"

Beebo didn't say a word.

"Your mother and I love you very much. You are our son. We will always love you. Peeper only gets to see his father on weekends. And he's still very sad about the divorce. We may not be able to replace Peeper's father but at least we can try to make him feel like he still has a family. And try to make his life happier. Remember, you still have both your Mummy and your Daddy all day everyday."

Beebo understood, finally.

Beebo and Peeper remained friends. Daddy got better. And often Peeper and Mrs Pooper joined the Beedles.

And Beebo learned to share - his toys, his food, his joys, love and yes ... even his family.