The ice-cream stick house

Hi.

Hi.

...

Are you okay ?

I've been better. What about you ?

Same. Been a little busy. Work and all.

Oh. ok.

So.

So.

I heard your dad's pissed with me.

A bit.

A bit ?

Okay. A lot.

I'm really sorry.

It's okay. 

I didn't mean to...

Never mind. Leave it. So how is work ?

Bad. I really don't know how I'm supposed to carry on some days. 

Oh ?

Everything I do somehow always ends up going wrong and everyone then blames me.

It's okay. We all have bad days. 

Not like mine. I don't know what I did to deserve this curse.  

Come on.

I'm serious. What do I do ? If I try to help someone, his boss curses me. If I help the boss, the servant curses me. If I help two people fall in love, a third person's heart breaks. If I break them up, then they all hate me.

...

I'm sorry. I shouldn't be telling you all this.

No. It's okay. It's not like I'm going anywhere.

... Sorry. 

Hmm ?

About it. I mean, I know I should have done more. But I was distracted by someone else...

Is he okay ?

Who ?

The person who distracted you.

...

God ?

No... he.. they all died. He and his family were killed an hour ago... nameless faces in a war that didn't involve them.  

Does it piss you off ? Them using your name and doing all this ?

Every day... every day.

So why don't you do something about it ?

...

God ?

Have you ever made something ? Out of your hands... with all your effort and dedication and concentration... and love ?

Yes. This one time, me and dad

Dad and I.. not me and dad... it's dad and I..

Okay. Dad and I, we built this amazing house purely out of ice cream sticks. It took us all day... it was summer holidays..

Last year ?

Ya, you remember ?

Uh... yeah. 

Liar ! Anyway, I always remember how much I loved it. We took all day, had sandwiches for lunch and dad even missed his nap just to help me finish it. 

And how did you feel when you had to dismantle it all ?

... It hurt real bad. Mom had some important guests coming over and had to clear the dinner table. She just broke it all down with one swing. I remember crying for an hour.

But you knew it would have to be removed at some time from the table, didn't you ?

Ya, I kept thinking what if we had only used glue while making it ? We could have saved it.

That's the problem. All this that you see... this was my ice cream stick house too. I wanted it to be perfect. But slowly the sticks started to weaken on their own. And I could only watch helplessly.  

So why don't you...

I know. I know. I want to but I can't. You loved your house after just a Sunday. I have loved my stick house since forever. And I was so sure it was perfect when I created it.

...

...

It's okay. Don't cry. Please. Everything will be okay.

I don't know what to do. I don't have the will to break it down but I can't bear watching it like this either. What should I do ?

...

...

Do you know how I stopped crying ?

No. I'm sorry. I was... away. 

Dad went to the store and got me more ice creams.

...

More ice creams. More sticks. And the next Sunday we made a bigger better house. And this time, we learned our lesson and used glue.

...

It's still there at home if you want to see it.

I just did. It's amazing. 

I know, right. 

Wonderful.

Feeling better ? 

Yes. Yes. 

Good. You look really sad when you cry. And old.

I am old.

You look older.

You are a naughty one, aren't you ?

...

Are you ready ?

I don't know. 

It won't hurt. I promise.

I'll miss daddy and mommy.

No. They will miss you. But you will never miss them. I promise you that.

Won't they feel sad ?

Yes... but that is how you will know you were loved. 

God ?

Yes ?

Was I a bad boy ? 

You were the loveliest boy. 

Why did this happen to me ?

I don't know. I wish I could give you the answer but I honestly don't know. Those sticks called fate and free will... every day I regret placing them in my stick-house. They were meant for good but the way they have been so badly misinterpreted... but never mind all that. Don't ever think that it was because you were bad. You were the best child a parent could have. 

Thanks. And God ?

Yes ?

Are there dogs in heaven ? We never had a dog. Mom had allergies.

My child. There is no heaven without dogs. Of that, you can rest assured.

Cocker spaniels ?

I have them.

Golden retrievers ?

By the dozen.

Poodles ?

Sigh...Unfortunately. The missus loves them. 

Pit bulls ?

Now why would you want a pit bull ?

Just to see what a live one looks like.

Well. I know someone down under who has a bunch of them. I could ask him if you wanted...

No, it's ok. I'll select one once I get there.

Excellent choice.

God ?

Yes ?

Thank you. I had a good time. Some really nice memories.

No, thank you, my child. It's kids like you that make me glad I created this house...

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Abigail : When did he die ?

Shilpa : Last night. The leukemia had gotten worse since evening. He was unconscious and on ventilatory support since late night.

Abigail : Poor child. How he suffered these last few months.

Shilpa : I know. But he died so peacefully in the end. We never even knew till this morning.

Abigail : Well. He's with God now.

Shilpa : There was something weird though.

Abigail : Oh ?

Shilpa : His forehead was wet. 

Abigail : Was he feverish ?

Shilpa : No. Not sweat. There were three droplets just resting peacefully on his forehead when we came to check up on him. They were still warm when I wiped them away. If I didn't know any better, I would have said someone had been there in that room, crying over him.

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