Chapter 1059 Afraid of a Tiny Needle?
"We're a family of four, and we all need to stay healthy," Penelope said. "We gotta take care of ourselves, cherish our bodies, and get through each day together."
Kelvin pressed his lips together, staying silent.
Because... he didn't know what to say.
Who wouldn't want to be healthy? Who would wish for illness and misfortune?
But there was something called fate.
The car sped down the road, heading straight for the hospital.
"Hopefully, it's just a regular fever and cold," Penelope said. "Please don't let it be anything else... I can't handle it, I really can't."
The memories of Lucy's illness seemed like they happened just yesterday, flashing through her mind.
Thinking back to that time, Penelope was constantly on edge, heartbroken.
She gently touched Sam's face.
"It won't be, don't scare yourself," Kelvin held both Penelope's and Sam's hands. "Everything will be fine, everything will be healthy."
Their family of four had been through a lot. Lucy had been sick, and it took a tremendous effort to get her healthy again.
Now... Kelvin had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
If someone in the family had to bear illness and misfortune, Kelvin thought, let it be him.
He would bear it all for the family, let it all fall on him, and spare his loved ones from suffering!
His Penelope, Sam, and Lucy needed to be well and live long lives.
The hospital.
The emergency room.
Sam's temperature was still high, and he was coughing, sniffling, and his voice was hoarse.
The doctor ordered some tests, including a blood draw.
Sam, feverish and dazed, opened his eyes at the mention of "blood draw."
"No, no blood draw..." he said. "I don't want it, I don't want a shot."
Penelope responded, "Okay, no blood draw, no shot."
She comforted Sam while signaling Kelvin to take the test order.
Sitting at the blood draw station, Sam became more alert, squirming in Kelvin's arms. "You said no blood draw, no shot... Mom, you lied to me. Kelvin... Kelvin, let me go, I want to leave... Let go!"
Though usually clever and mischievous, he was still just a child.
Afraid of shots, afraid of pain, afraid of doctors.
Penelope knelt down. "Sam, do you remember when Lucy used to get an infusion? You encouraged her, stayed by her side, and said so many wise things to make her less afraid. Now it's your turn, are you going to back down?"
Sam pouted. "I, I..."
"Lucy wasn't afraid, and you're her big brother, you can't be afraid either."
Sam's eyes filled with tears, his eyes red.
"It'll be quick, just a moment," Penelope stroked his head. "Close your eyes, bury your face in Dad's chest, don't move. The more you move, the more it hurts. Come on, stretch out your arm."
Sam refused to move.
Penelope didn't get angry, but patiently persuaded him. "Think about it, if you waste time, there are others waiting in line for their blood draw. You're holding them up. The nurses work hard, can you cooperate a bit?"
"I..."
"Close your eyes, don't be afraid."
As Penelope spoke, Kelvin's large hand rested on the back of Sam's head.
"As a man, how can you be afraid of a tiny needle?"
Kelvin pressed Sam's head into his chest.
His voice was deep and soothing. "Count to ten in your mind, buddy. It'll be over before you know it."
Sam had no choice but to comply.
And... in Dad's arms, it felt so wide, warm, and safe, completely different from being in Mom's arms!
It felt like being surrounded by the whole world!
No wonder Lucy always wanted Dad to hold her.
Sam thought that he only received this treatment when illness befell him!
He silently counted in his mind, ten, nine, eight, seven...
"All done."
Didn't even finish counting before the blood draw was over?
"See, it didn't hurt, right?" Kelvin said. "Good job, very brave."
Dad was praising him!
How rare!
Sam's eyes lit up.
Seeing the light in his eyes, Kelvin smiled. "Our Sam is becoming more of a man. Let's go back to the doctor."
Sam smiled.
Beside them, Penelope smiled too.
Other parents with their children for blood draws saw their family and felt they were especially happy and warm.
They pointed at Sam and said, "Look, you should be brave like that little guy."
Sam happened to hear them.
He immediately poked his head out of Kelvin's arms. "It doesn't hurt! Not at all! Really, count to ten in your mind... before you finish, it's already done, nothing to be afraid of!"
Kelvin's smile grew wider.
This kid was teaching others now.
It seemed Sam had listened to his words and taken them to heart.
There was a special bond between father and son.
After the blood draw, Sam seemed to regain some strength, no longer weak and silent, leaning against Kelvin with a bit of sparkle in his eyes.
He looked up at Kelvin, then turned to Penelope.
Then he buried his face in Kelvin's chest.
So happy, really so happy.
He rarely had moments where both Mom and Dad were so close, caring for him.
Sam felt inexplicably happy. He was still a child, even though he was a boy, and he wanted to be held and pampered by Kelvin like Lucy!
Unexpectedly, his wish came true when he was sick.
Sam secretly smiled, but he didn't want his smile to be noticed, so he buried his face deeper in Kelvin's chest.
At home, Sam always remembered he was a boy, needing to be independent, strong, and protect Penelope and Lucy.
But actually... he was a boy, and he was only just a child.
Lucy had been frail, and he had been healthy, so Penelope's attention to him was indeed a bit less.
"Still feeling bad?" Penelope asked. "If you're tired, sleep for a while. If anything feels uncomfortable, tell me, okay?"
"I don't feel bad anymore, I think I'm almost better!"
"We just did the blood test, haven't taken medicine or gotten a shot yet, how can you be better?"
Sam replied, "Because with Mom and Dad here, I feel full of strength!"
Seeing him regain some energy, not as weak as before, Penelope felt a bit relieved.
"Sam, how did you catch a cold? Did you play at preschool, get sweaty, take off your clothes, and then get chilled? Or did you kick off your blanket while sleeping?"
"I don't know..."
"It can't be a cold for no reason."
Sam thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered. "I know!"
Penelope looked at him. "Tell me."
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