“We still have to go to school while we're here?” Zachary asked in astonishment.
Benjamin felt tickled to see the children's intense reactions, but he tried to play it cool and nodded expressionlessly.
“Of course.”
He couldn't help but want to tease them. “I'll get Ethen to take you to school.”
The children's jaws fell to the floor.
“But we want to go to the school in Dellmoor!” Gavin was the first to protest.
It's not like we'll be here for a long time! Why do we have to change schools?
Benjamin stared at him for a few seconds.
This kid still hates going to school?
“Your brothers will go with you.”
A look of envy formed on Tim's face as he heard Benjamin talking to the other children about school.
He wanted to go to school too, but he didn't have the money.
“Will Tim be going too?”
Zachary gazed at Benjamin with puppy eyes before turning to Tim, who was in the midst of bringing his grandmother some water.
“Of course! All six of you have to go to school.”
Upon hearing that, Tim became so filled with excitement that the hot water from the glass began to spill.
Arissa rushed over and put the glass aside before wiping the water off her son's hands.
“Does it hurt?”
Tim's heart skipped a beat when he saw the woman use her own shirt to clean him up.
“No,” he answered, shaking his head.
Arissa then observed the boy's hand. It's not red.
Feeling concerned, Mary sat up too.
“Be careful, Tim!”
“Okay!” The child nodded obediently.
Benjamin gazed at him deeply as the other children ran toward him.
“Did you get hurt, Tim?”
“No.” Tim shook his head.
Arissa blew on his hand before turning to leave.
Tim stared at her, not knowing where she was headed.
“Where are you going, Mommy?”
Jesse ran after her, but she was just too quick.
“Mommy didn't wait for me!” he exclaimed after returning to the ward.
“I guess she went to get some ointment for your hand.”
Zachary understood Arissa well and immediately knew where she had gone off to.
Tim was visibly surprised. “But I'm not hurt.”
Zachary smiled. “The water didn't hurt you, but you'd still feel better after using some ointment.”
Tim glanced at him before turning his attention back to Mary and giving her the glass of water. “Be careful, Grandma.”
“Use a straw.”
Gavin placed a straw into the glass for Mary.
“I'll help myself,” the old woman remarked, feeling touched by the children's kindness.
Meanwhile, Arissa spotted Oliver and Jasper while making her way to Shaun's office.
“Where are you going, Mommy?” The children ran toward her.
“Tim scalded his hand, so I'm getting him some ointment.”
“Is it serious?” they asked, their faces filled with worry.
“No. He just got some hot water on his hand,” the woman answered before quickly walking away. “Get back to the ward.”
The two boys glanced at her before returning to the ward.
“Is your hand okay, Tim?”
They quickly took their brother's hand and eyed it.
“I'm fine,” Tim replied, feeling moved. “How did you know?”
Jasper grinned. “We bumped into Mommy just now. She's gone to get you some ointment.”
Tim's eyes lit up as he turned to Zachary. He was right!
Zachary smiled at him.
“Wash your hand with some cold water, Tim. Mommy will be back real soon,” he urged.
Tim shook his head. “It's just a slight burn. It doesn't hurt anymore.”
“Come over here, Tim!”
Benjamin walked out of the restroom with a handkerchief and called out to the boy.
Seeing how stern the man looked, Tim walked toward him obediently.
“Mr. Graham?”
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