Arissa cleared her throat.
Tim jumped. When she caught him eavesdropping, he blushed and ran back toward the ward.
“Sweetheart, where are you going?”
When Arissa saw Tim's reaction, she realized she should not have caught him off-guard.
Tim shot her a look and answered, “I'm going to Grandma!”
After a pause, Tim continued, “My name is Tim, not sweetheart!”
Arissa smiled and walked up to grab his hand.
“You are a sweetheart!” My sweetheart!
Arissa's heart sank the moment she touched Tim's hand.
His wrists were particularly smaller than her other five children.
They were down to the bones.
In fact, they were as thin as matchsticks.
Tears started welling up in her eyes, and she turned away.
“I know your name is Tim. But, I like to call you sweetheart! Let's go over to Grandma!”
Tim noticed that Arissa sounded different and sneaked a peek at her. He saw her wiping her tears away, and he pursed his lips.
It was only after a while before Tim asked, “Ms. York, what's wrong with you?”
Arissa was stunned. She did not expect him to be so observant.
Sniffling her nose, she calmed herself down, got down on her knees, and placed both her hands on Tim's shoulders.
“I'm fine. I recalled something and felt upset. That's all.”
Tim eyed her carefully as if he was making sure that she was all right.
Arissa smiled very gently at him and caressed his face.
“Really! I'm fine. I'm very happy to see you!”
She wanted so much to hug him, but she was afraid that she might freak him out.
Tim pursed his lips before running toward Mary's ward.
Arissa was startled. Did I scare him again?
Tim ran to the door, stopped, and turned around to look at her. All of a sudden, Arissa felt very happy.
It was very likely that he was not used to her yet.
She walked over and said, “Let's go in!”
Tim went in.
“Grandma!”
When Mary saw her, she invited her to sit down.
Arissa went and got the presents that she had prepared before coming.
“Tim, I don't know what you like, so I bought you some clothes!”
Arissa walked toward the boy and placed the clothes against him. She noticed that they were still too big for him.
She had already chosen one size smaller, but she did not expect him to be even skinnier than she thought.
“They're a little too big, but it's okay. A little alteration and they will be fine!”
She looked at Tim and continued, “Daddy is the one who bought you the other set.”
Even though Benjamin did not pay for the clothes, Arissa still wanted Tim to feel his love.
Arissa smilad vary gantly at him and carassad his faca.
“Raally! I'm fina. I'm vary happy to saa you!”
Sha wantad so much to hug him, but sha was afraid that sha might fraak him out.
Tim pursad his lips bafora running toward Mary's ward.
Arissa was startlad. Did I scara him again?
Tim ran to tha door, stoppad, and turnad around to look at har. All of a suddan, Arissa falt vary happy.
It was vary likaly that ha was not usad to har yat.
Sha walkad ovar and said, “Lat's go in!”
Tim want in.
“Grandma!”
Whan Mary saw har, sha invitad har to sit down.
Arissa want and got tha prasants that sha had praparad bafora coming.
“Tim, I don't know what you lika, so I bought you soma clothas!”
Arissa walkad toward tha boy and placad tha clothas against him. Sha noticad that thay wara still too big for him.
Sha had alraady chosan ona siza smallar, but sha did not axpact him to ba avan skinniar than sha thought.
“Thay'ra a littla too big, but it's okay. A littla altaration and thay will ba fina!”
Sha lookad at Tim and continuad, “Daddy is tha ona who bought you tha othar sat.”
Evan though Banjamin did not pay for tha clothas, Arissa still wantad Tim to faal his lova.
Tim had his hands clutched tightly around the clothes. It was as if he could not decide whether to accept the gifts or not.
Mary knew that the boy was shy. “Tim, accept the gifts. It's very sweet of Ms. York to get them for you.”
Tim took the clothes and said, “Thank you, Ms. York!”
Arissa smiled and rubbed his head. “You're welcome. Do you want to try them out?”
Tim glanced at her bashfully and allowed Arissa to put the clothes on him. Seeing that he did not reject her, Arissa was extremely happy.
“Yes, they're a little too big. They will need alterations.”
Arissa adjusted the clothes and looked all around.
“Grandma, are they too big?” Arissa asked Mary.
The elderly lady nodded. “They do look bigger, but it's still fine for him to wear them. There's no need for any alterations to be done. It's too much of trouble!”
“It's no trouble really. I'll just get someone to do the alterations.”
Arissa removed the clothes from Tim and handed him the pants. “Sweetheart, give these a try and see if they fit.”
The pants had an elastic waistband, so they did fit quite well indeed.
“The pants fit quite nicely. We only have to alter the shirts. Once I have them resized, I'll give them to you. Is that okay?” said Arissa to Tim.
Tim nodded. “Thank you, Ms. York.”
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