SKIM OFF THE CREAM.

   “ but i like dreams. you know, they’re really nicer than life. and if you believe, i’m sure they can come true, you just have to - oh, i don’t know. but it’s sweet to think things can be good ? ”

         “ I just think that maybe…Never mind, I’m being dumb.”

He sighs, visibly letting his shoulders rise and fall.

He reaches back towards Hanschen. Desperate fingers trying to hold him closer, to not let him pull away. Not now. Not when he needs him most. “Mama’s getting the doctor. But we can’t afford him that long.” His sentences cut off, hands rising and falling in a choppy movement of disharmony. He can’t grasp this. He can’t articulate this.

Hanschen glances at the hand on his shoulder, but doesn’t move it this time. His brow furrows as he thinks, mulling over this new weight added to his shoulders. 

               “ Well maybe...maybe my family could help. “

❝ Why not? It isn’t going to  K I L L  you! ❞

     “ why couldn’t it ? it’s important to believe anything could happen, i think ! ”

        “ I mean…I can it’s just jokes aren’t always very nice either !! “

His face contorts in anger and he grabs the other boy’s shoulder, giving it a shake as if to force him to understand. “I’m not trying to be FUNNY. I’m serious. Mama won’t tell me anything but I can tell from their faces that it’s bad.”

Hanschen pushes the other boy’s hand off of him, shaking his head.

                “ Well-- are-- what’s going to happen to you? “

“I’m sick Hanschen. Really sick this time.”

He scoffs though his concern.