54: The boy who cried

Kelvin informed Joel their dad would be home soon but had said to let him into their bedroom if he arrived.

It had been long since Joel saw his cousins, so it took him a while to recognize the boy and girl that had almost jumped on him when the door had been opened.

How they had recognized him could be explained from the many times Uncle Sam forced him to take a picture to send to them. He hadn't asked for a picture of them because he wouldn't know what to do with it. But seeing how happy they were to see him filled him with sorrow.

"What of your mom?" he asked Theresa, whom he carried in his arms.

Theresa was ten years old and her brother, six years older.

"She's—"

The door opened and Joel turned to see Mrs. Lawrence, Uncle's Sam's wife. She had a bowl covered with a ceramic plate in her hand and the reason he never visited on her face. A resentful glare.

"Good afternoon, ma," Joel greeted.

She looked him from head to toe and walked around him.

"Your uncle told me you've decided t