Ice and Fire

In the morning, with the sunlight filling into the room, Cherry opened her eyes sleepily and found Joe Shen's legs on her waist, his body sprawled on the other side of the bed.

Cherry looked at the clock on the wall. It was 10 o'clock!

Cherry shouted in a hurry, "Joe Shen, wake up, right now!"

Joe Shen, deep in his sleep, heard someone calling his name. He could not see who it was but his guess was on mommy.

With his eyes still shut, Joe Shen spoke with annoyance, "Shhhhh! I need to sleep a little longer. Don't disturb my beautiful dream, please. There's a beautiful girl in my dream."

Cherry looked at her son angrily, "Joe Shen, your computer is missing!"

As soon as Cherry said it, she saw Joe Shen opening his eyes immediately.

"Where is my computer? Who has taken my computer? Help me find it back, please!" Joe Shen sprang out of bed on his feet.

His concern for his computer angered Cherry even more. She asked in a fit of anger, "Joe, is your computer more important to you than your mother?"

It then occurred to Joe that his mommy was lying to him. He snuggled into bed, closed his eyes and tried to negotiate sleeping again. Lying on his comfortable bed, he said sleepily, "Mommy, you are the greatest mommy in the world."

"If you mean that, get up right now." Cherry saw that her son wanted to sleep again and her anger began boiling again.

Joe Shen couldn't tolerate his mother's noise any more. He grudgingly allowed himself to be dragged by Cherry into the washroom to wash his face.

When Cherry, taking Joe's hand, brought him downstairs, she was welcomed by the aroma of a delicious breakfast.

"Wow! Uncle does know how to cook!" Joe Shen shouted happily. Although he had been forced to get up so early in the morning, it was all worth it to enjoy the yummy breakfast. For this, he could forgive his mother for her bossiness.

"Your uncle has always been good at cooking, " said Cherry, walking Joe Shen into the kitchen.

the kitchen. Pleased to see Cherry and Joe, he greeted them lovingly, "Good morning. Now, take

the

delicious food, "Mommy, I think uncle's cooking skills have

"

should marry him so that I'll have a dad who is good at cooking." Joe Shen was not joking.

into a fit of

brought her a glass of water so that she could smoothen the food

drank the water slowly to relieve the discomfort forming up in

such nonsense! He's

for a long time. Just to take care of me, he even refused other women's love. Why can't you marry him? Why can't he be my daddy?" Joe Shen spoke his mind boldly. For five years, he had wished to have a father, just like other

with fury. She was worried that she

temper rising, hurried to quieten Joe Shen, "Joe, don't try to anger your mother. She's right. I'm your uncle, and you're

he really wanted his mommy to be happy. He knew that uncle loved and spoiled him, and his mommy needed that support. After all, she had been living

those past five years, she had had a very hard time accepting that it was herself who had inflicted pain on Joe. He deserved a harmonious family which included a father. Joe was smart and thoughtful, but the lack of a father had affected his life and would continue to

Cherry. He feelings towards them was also complicated. To lift up their spirits, he said, "Joe, finish your breakfast, and I will take

Joe nodded slightly, although he still kept his head low.

her son's upset mood, she still had no idea of what

"Cherry, what will you do

on a calm face and answered quietly, "I'm gonna go visit Emily at the graveyard on the outskirts." Even

but said nothing.

closest friends. Mommy had told him some of Emily's stories too. He also knew that Emily had been his

his head and requested timidly, "Mommy, I also want

his son's anger had disappeared. She had always

said Cherry. This time, she would visit Emily on her own. She had a lot to talk to Emily about. If Joe were present, she would have to hide some secrets from him. After all, he was still a kid, and there

take me there next time. Don't forget that, "