You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

That’s weird. I’ve been gone for so long, but they haven’t called me yet. Usually, they would be scrambling around to look for me already. Aren’t Mommy, Zachary, Oliver, and Jesse worried about me at all?

With that thought, Jasper checked his phone, which resembled a watch.

Uh-oh. The battery died.

“Gavin, your food’s ready!” Edwin called out when he noticed Jasper as he was about to bring the food over to Gavin’s room.

“Okay!” Jasper responded as he ran to take his seat at the dining table.

Seeing that the table was full of delicious-looking dishes, he quickly grabbed a fork and happily dug in.

“Gavin, pace yourself. Please chew your food more slowly!” Edwin urged as the way Jasper ate shocked him. What’s going on? Usually, he would chew more slowly before swallowing.

“Mm-hmm!” The boy was beaming with delight as he ate. Oh my gosh! These are heavenly! Jesse would definitely love this!

Suddenly, Jasper slowed down as he felt guilty. Did Mommy, Zachary, Oliver, and Jesse eat yet?

“Mr. Whitley, these are really good!”

“Hehe! I was afraid that you’d get tired of eating the same thing every day! Have some more if you like it!” Edwin suggested as he put more food on his plate.

Jasper caught sight of Benjamin walking toward them and started to eat quietly.

“Mr. Graham!” Edwin quickly prepared cutlery for Benjamin while the latter took his seat to eat with Jasper.

His brows furrowed deeply when he saw Jasper swallowing the food without chewing.

“Chew for thirty times before swallowing!”

“B-But I’m hungry!” Jasper exclaimed in surprise. Thirty times? That’s too tiring!

“Don’t eat too quickly! No matter how hungry you are, you must chew your food thirty times before you swallow!” Did he not eat well while I was away?

glanced at Edwin. “Mr. Graham, Gavin’s been taking his meals properly in the past few days! Maybe he’s eating so quickly today because he was hungry,”

paced his chewing. What’s up

next few minutes, Benjamin would reprimand him whenever Jasper didn’t chew at least thirty times. This is the hardest meal that I’ve had! Ugh. The food

room and locked the door. Once that was done, Jasper continued to search the room

No, I must find a way to call Gavin to see

number was nowhere to be found. In that instant, he heard

Whitley?” he asked as

you want to eat it in

Mr. Whitley!” Jasper took the cotton candy merrily and took a bite. Yay! I get to eat this every day

Mr. Whitley, can I borrow your phone for a little while?” he asked out of the blue when

Edwin reached for his phone in his

it bigger for you!” Jasper tilted the phone to an angle

the same thing before, Edwin smiled and waited

changed the font size before returning Edwin’s phone to him. Good thing Mr. Whitley doesn’t have many contacts in his contact

exclaimed with a huge grin

before you sleep!” Edwin reminded with a

I’ll do that! Good night, Mr. Whitley!” Jasper

in the direction of Gavin’s room

a few more bites of the cotton candy and finished it as he waited for his device to be fully charged. After that, he went to brush his teeth and took a bath. Once he was out, the indicator showed that it was fully

Gavin with Mommy,

 Are you Gavin?

heard the familiar sound of an incoming message on his

He contacted

received a reply from Gavin. Gavin texted: Yeah.

How does he

 Yeah. But how did you know that? Where are

Daddy hasn’t found out about

of relief. So he really is with Mommy! That was quick. It sure didn’t take him long to call someone he had just met

 Are

the same! Does