From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

What a shame.

It wasn't a message from Anthea.

It was from my older sister, Yuna Christensen.

"Hey Sherman, when are you, grandma, and mom planning to head back to Capital City?"

I was just about to reply when, out of the blue, I got a text from Anthea, "Been to the hospital yet?"

I shot back a message to Anthea right away, "Yeah, went to the hospital, doc says it's all clear."

All clear?

Anthea paused at her end of the screen.

Looks like her medical skills hadn't missed the mark.

But if Sherman was okay, what was with the rapid breathing and the heartbeat racing through the roof?

"Snap a picture of the CT scan report and send it over."

Without a second thought, I pulled out the CT report, laid it on the table, and sent her a photo.

Anthea opened the photo.

The CT report was all clear, alright.

Her eyes caught the ashtray at the corner of the report, her eyebrows quirked in amusement.

Sherman smokes?

And apparently, it's not just a once-in-a-blue-moon thing.

"Glad you're okay. BTW, smoking's a lung buster, you know. No issues now, but keep at it and you'll tar up those lungs for sure!" Me, quit smoking?

A smirk played at the corners of my lips.

Was Anthea showing concern for me?

"Alright, quitting it is."

calling me

"Okay."

sent over a picture of

A full-on feast.

was quite

my assistant,

Lunch delivery?

skipping

assistant was caught off-guard but managed to deliver the meal

lid, I also snapped a photo to send to

picture I sent, her eyebrows raised

Typical vegetarian fare.

tofu, it was

into greens

Greens?

but smile, warmth

tasty,

Anthea's eyebrows quirked

were anyone else, she'd have thought they were

But this was Sherman.

And who's Sherman?

practically a

he even know

"Monks' world, huh. "

a monk. Just because I'm off meat now, doesn't

teased, "So,

heart sits Buddha divine'?".

gut

as I was about to

call came

It was Yuna.

reminded me, I'd forgotten to

I kept on texting

a bear emoji rolling its