Chapter 4 Let Us Call You Mom

• CHICAGO, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
• EIGHT YEARS LATER
• “Miss Ria! Miss Ria!” The children who used to live next door but now lives with her called out her name from the sitting room.
• “Phoebe, Phoenix, I am in the kitchen!" Ria said loud enough for them to hear and in no time they were already beside her.
• “Hey guys, how are you doing?" Ria asked as she cleaned her hand on a napkin to give them a high five.
• "We are fine!" They chorused and Ria laughed.
• "So what are you cooking?" The little man named Phoenix asked.
• “Well I am just trying to prepare lunch..or have you eaten at Ma’am Elise's place?" Ria asked.
• "No, ma’am Elise is not at home." Phoebe answered.
• “Okay now both of you should go inside the room and take a shower and after that you will eat your lunch—“
• "Then we will tell you what happened at school today!" Phoenix completed her intended statement.
• Well that’s how they do all the time. Phoebe and Phoenix both get the chance to tell Ria whatever happened at school or in their various classes each day.
• "Okay miss Ria!" They both rushed out of the kitchen.
• Telling Ria what happened in school is one of the best moments to her. Phoenix would argue for his turn anytime Phoebe wasn't ready to stop talking and sometimes he ends up crying and Ria has to pet him with a chance to write in the measurement book. Phoebe and Phoenix are both siblings.
• FLASHBACK
• Phoebe is ten years old while Phoenix is seven years old. They used to live next to Ria’s house with their dad, Mr Lawson until he left them alone in their home. Their mom left three years ago after Mr Lawson lost his job and couldn’t fend for the family anymore. Well they actually moved to Chicago a year ago because Mr Lawson thought he was going to secure a better job in the state. The bills of putting his children through school and also paying house bill and others was too much for him being that the minor barman job wasn't paying well so he felt the only way to escaped his responsibility was running away.
• Mr Lawson left his kids alone in the house under the pretense of going to work. Phoebe came to Ria the next day and cried that Phoenix passed out. Ria asked about the whereabout of her dad just to let him know his child was unconscious but Phoebe said he hasn't returned home since yesterday and that was so unusual of him.
• Phoebe led Ria to their apartment right where Phoenix was and truly he was unconscious, his pulse was weak and Ria feared that he was going to die. Then without wasting time Ria instructed the little girl to call Ma’am Elise who stays three blocks away to inform her about it. And ma’am Elise ordered Ria to call 911 and she did as instructed with the help of Phoebe who wouldn't stop crying.
• Ma’am Elise arrived almost immediately after the ambulance came in and Phoenix was taken to the nearest hospital. Mrs Elise and Ria managed to calm Phoebe by assuring her that Phoenix would be fine.
• “No, he won't be miss Ria.” Phoebe whispered and Ria knew there was more to her words.
• “What’s wrong?” Ria asked.
• Phoebe spoke up again. "We haven't eaten for days now because our dad didn't have the money to buy us food.”
• "Phoebe if this is about food, I will buy enough for you and your brother. Your brother will be fine.” Ria said.
• “No, this is not just about the food.” Phoebe cried.
• Ria exchanged glances with ma’am Elise. “Then Phoebe, tell me what is wrong?"
• "Dad found out Phoenix was ill but he left us.” Phoebe sniffed.
• "What illness?" Ria asked.
• "Phoenix was diagnosed of Appendix and dad doesn't have the money to get his surgery done.” Phoebe explained.
• Ria’s jaw dropped immediately. “Do you know where your dad might be?" Ma’am Elise asked.
• "He is gone..he is not coming back again.” Phoebe mumbled.
• "What do you mean?" Ria questioned.
• Phoebe sniffed again. "I saw the note he left under the TV. He left because we are nothing but a burden to him.” She sobbed loudly.
• “Phoebe, perhaps do you know his workplace?" Ma’am Elise asked.
• "I went there already..but a man said he stopped working there about two weeks ago after he got fired for engaging in a fist fight with a customer. And he also got into trouble with the cops so he is probably hiding now.” Phoebe answered.
• Ria and Ma’am Elise were speechless not knowing what to do about the situation. So Ma’am Elise pulled the little girl in for a hug.
• Phoebe said was true, the doctor confirmed it that Phoenix had appendix and he needed to undergo appendectomy to remove the Vermiform Appendix immediately or he might die. Phoebe had pleaded with the doctor to save her brother that she was going to repay him after she had saved enough little did she know that hospitals don't work that way.
• Ria knew there was only one way to save Phoenix’s life which was using a part of the money she was saving up for her eye surgery to pay up the medical bills. It wasn't an easy decision to make, she went through a lot to save up that little amount of money but if she decided to keep saving it for her eye surgery then Phoenix would die. Settling the bills would save Phoenix’s life so after much thinking Ria paid for it.
• Ria Robert is blind but she can still do some many things with her condition but being dead means it is the end of existence. She doesn’t want that for the little boy that is so full of joy. Ria would always think of what she went through in Lucas's den and how someone had also showed up to save her.
• Phoenix surgery was successful and in few weeks he was back to being the exuberant child that he is. Ria never regretted giving up her money to save his life. But what would become of them now that Phoenix was fine?
• Ma’am Elise suggested that they take them to the children center but both siblings refused saying that they would rather starve to death than go to the children center. Ria didn't want them to wonder about the street or get separated at the children centre so she made another decision to raise them like her own children since she doesn’t see herself trusting any man or have anything to do with one of them not after what Lucas did to her.
• Ria and Ma’am Elise decided to become their guardians and ever since then they have been staying with Ria. And the children are happy that Ria had offered to take them in. They both promised to repay her someday but that isn't necessary because she would keep praying for their dad to get a better job and think of his children. And with the help of ma’am Elise, they have been able to get a court note to raise the children.
• FLASH FORWARD
• What Phoebe and Phoenix went through three months ago was too much for their mental health especially the part of abandonment by both parents.
• "Miss Ria, are we ready for lunch?" Phoenix asked.
• Ria giggled. "Sure we are ready for lunch. Sit down and let me serve you.”
• "Let me help you.” Phoebe said.
• Ria sensed Phoebe’s presence by her side as she looked for a spoon and the little girl handed her one. You might be wondering how blind people go about living their lives like other normal people do. How they can walk without tripping on the ground and without crashing themselves into something that can injure them. You think of how they read, will there be someone who will read them something interesting or stories or the newspaper? You also ask yourself how can they know people? Since there are a lot of bad people out there anything can happen to a blind person such as being robbed.
• Many times Ria have always wished that she could see maybe just once. Her eyeballs are always opened but she couldn't see anything. Ria only relied on her sense of touch. She was born blind and she has learned what normal people usually did using her other senses especially the sense of touch.
• Usually disabled people would be discriminated from the rest of the society simply because they did thing much slower and people presumed that blind people could not do things that normal people could do as well. Ria could possibly prove that all these are not true.
• Ria Robert started using the needle to mend clothes at the age of seven and she could use the sewing machine in her blind state at the age of twelve. Disable people could not do anything you say? But Ria could pick up a pencil and draw out any design of clothes you can think of according to description. There are other ways for a blind person to function like normal people, one of it is that the other senses would become more sensitive, like the sense of hearing and sense of touch.
• "Miss Ria on our way back from school Phoebe said she wants to tell you something when we get home.” Phoenix said.
• "What is it Phoebe?" Ria asked as they all settled to eat their food.
• "Nothing Miss Ria.” Phoebe replied in a low tone as she shot her brother a glare. "You are such a loose mouth, Phoenix.”
• Ria heard Phoebe whispered to Phoenix. "Phoebe, it is fine if you don't want to talk about it now. We can have a discussion later on.” Ria managed a small smile on her face.
• "Of course she wants to talk about it but she doesn't know how to present it to you.” Phoenix answered.
• "Okay..don't worry Phoebe tell me whatever it is you want to say when you are ready. And—" Ria paused. "Phoenix, you will read one of your books to me.” She completed.
• "Okay...but are you not sewing a dress today?" Phoenix asked.
• "I will do it tomorrow.” Ria answered.
• "But why not today?" Phoenix grumbled.
• "I can't do anything today because I am expecting Ma’am Elise to bring in the materials.” Ria replied.
• "Okay.” Phoenix got back to eating his food.
• Phoenix loves the sewing business and one of his favorite aspects of sewing is writing down measurement while Phoebe’s job is to take measurement according to Ria’s instructions and at times to confirm the numbers on the tape rule whenever ma’am Elise is not around and she was the one doing the measuring.
• Phoebe and Phoenix have known about these things even before their dad left. They always work together with Ria whenever their dad wasn’t around to watch them at night and during weekends. They all work together on weekends after Ria must have made sure that they are done with school school works. That excitement of calling out measurement whenever Ria is about to cut a dress makes the children do their school works without being told to do so. At ten now, Phoebe can mend dresses of her age and Ria feels indeed blessed to have them around her because the children have been really helpful to her.
• They all ate in silence for few minutes until Phoebe dropped her spoon and cleared her throat. "Miss Ria.” She called.
• "Yes Phoebe.” Ria answered.
• "Well...actually Phoenix and I have been thinking of everything you have done for us. I mean, you have been really good to us and you have done too much for us even what our parents couldn't do for us. Miss Ria, you enrolled us in a good school, you feed us three times a day and you even give us whatever we need. So we realize that you are just like a mother to us..and that’s why—“ Phoebe shared a look with her brother who winked a sign to signify that she should continue her words.
• “Phoebe—“
• Phoebe interrupted Ria. “Phoenix and I have decided that we stop calling you miss Ria.”
• Ria arched her eyebrows. “So what do you plan to call me?” She asked.
• “We want to call you—“ Phoebe paused and urged her brother to say the word.
• "Mom.” Phoenix completed.
• "Mom?" Ria repeated.
• "Yes.” They both chorused.
• "We want to call you mom since you have decided to raise us as your own children. It’s so kind of you to accept us into your life.” Phoebe added.
• Ria was silent as the children waited for her to say something. “Perhaps you don’t like it?” Phoenix asked in a low tone.
• Ria waved her hand in the air. “No..no..that’s not—“ She blinked back tears that threatened to spill any moment from now.
• She has never thought of having any kid to call her mom but now her adopted children wants to call her mom. Phoenix exchanged glances with his sister when he noticed the sting of tears in his eyes.
• “You don't have to cry. We only need someone we can look up to as our mother and you fit in that picture.” Phoebe said as they moved closer to her side.
• Ria sniffed. “No, I am not crying. I am just a bit emotional at the moment.” She plastered a small smile on her face.
• "This is the best thing that Phoenix and I feel we can do now to repay you for helping us." Phoebe wiped the tears that strayed down Ria’s cheeks with her fingertips.
• “Yes. We love you so much too.” Phoenix said.
• "Even if we can't repay you back with a huge sum of money now, we can do well at taking care of you and I am sure someday my brother and I will have lots of money." Phoebe said again.
• Ria raised her hand up until she touched Phoenix face and she managed to pull the both of them in for a hug. "Listen, you don't have to repay me. Phoenix and Phoebe, you both are one of the best things that has ever happened to me in life. And I love you so much.”
• The children hugged her tightly. "We love you too." Phoebe whispered.
• "Mom, we already informed our friends at school that you are our mother." Phoenix said after Ria released them.
• "You did that?" Ria smiled.
• "Yes. They are always questioning us about our mom so when we didn't know what else to say. So we told them you are our mom." Phoebe said happily
• "And they didn't mock us for having a blind mom." Phoenix spoke up too.
• "Well actually a boy mocked me but others in class defended me. They said that my blind mom was able to put my brother and I in a private school and not a public school. I think that’s enough to prove that you are the best mom in the world!” Phoebe giggled.
• "Yeah Phoebe actually kicked the boy’s butt when he tried to mock her." Phoenix laughed.
• "Hey Phoebe, you shouldn't go about kicking anybody at school. I don't want you to get into trouble with anyone.” Ria cautioned her.
• "Well I am ready to get into trouble with someone who thinks ill of you." Phoebe pouted.
• "Same with me too...I will cut their heads with my homemade sword.” Phoenix demonstrated his animated fighting skills which Ria sensed that he would do.
• “Oh my little man! You must be getting better at your fighting skills.” Ria giggled as Phoenix snuggled closer to her again.
• “Yes! I am doing great! I am going to protect you too” Phoenix coaxed.
• Ria pinched his cheeks. “Thank you for offering to protect me and I am glad that I have been able to help you.”
• "Thank you for taking care of us too.” Phoenix kissed her cheeks.
• "Since you have haven't been out for days now so I suggest we all take a walk.” Phoenix suggested.
• “Yes! That’s a great idea!” Phoenix jumped in excitement.
• "Sure we will do just that when the sun goes down.” Ria replied.
• "An evening walk around the park.” Phoebe gave her brother a high five.
• "Yes. Go back and eat up so we can wash the dishes before heading out.” Ria instructed them.
• "Okay.” The said in unison.
• They all ate their meals. Phoebe and Ria washed the dishes while Phoenix was busy arranging the workshop area. Then they both settled to finish up their school works while Ria did a few counting of steps in her head.
• When the sun was down, they head out of the house for an evening walk after everything planned was done.