Boats and Birds

A dark hand print was forming around Mike's neck but nodded and cried into Alex's small chest. "Y-Yes, thank you Alex." He needed to let Alex know he wanted to call but he just couldn't.

"You're welcome Mikey. Where's your momma?" Alex asked.

"She want to th-the car." He sniffled and pulled back. "I-Im sorry. I-I wanted to call you b-but I can't work the ph-phone and momma had been so u-upset she cries alot a-and....." He put head down, scared Alex was mad at him.

"It's okay. I just thought you didn't wanna be my fwiend anymore." Alex looked down.

Mike hugged Alex as tight as his weak little arms would allow. "No....your my bestest friend." Mike had no other friends to speak of.

Alex's eyes widened. In little kid world that was a very big deal.
"Your bestest friend?!" He beamed.

"Yeah, your my very bestest friend ever." He liked Alex, he didn't expect to have it said back but Alex was his best friend.

"Yay! You're my bestest friend too!" Alex beamed lifting Mike up.

This suprised Mike but he grinned and wraped his arms around ALex's neck. "Really?" What about your other friends?" Alex was a popular well liked child.

"They're alright. But I like you the bestest!" He grinned.

Mike nuzzled his head into Alex's chest. "Because im small like a baby?"

"That's part of it." Alex grined. "But I just like you. You'e nice."

Mike's mother came in and gently took Mike from Alex. "Baby....they want to keep you here." Her eye welled up with tears. They didn't have the money for the transplant and even if they did, there was no hears available right now. Her baby was dying.

Alex's lower lip trembled. He just met Mike. He didn't want his new friend to be taken away from him.

Mike frowned. "B-But I don't wanna...I wanna go home." Mike sniffled, his bottom lip poking out at tears threatened to fall.

"C-can I stay with him?" Alex asked, gently tugging on the hem of Mike's mothers shirt.

"Oh, I don't know if your father would like that." Mike let out a small cry and wiggled out of him mothers arms, hugging onto Alex.

Just then Alex's father came into the room, looking distraught. He didn't want to tell Alex but this was probably his mother's last night to live.
"Alex, I'm gonna drive you home and I'll call the baby sitter to watch you. I'm going to stay here with your mom."
"Daddy if you're staying anyway, can I stay with Mikey? They want him to stay here."
"Honey, I don't know..." His father sighed and turned to Mike's mother. "Would you mind? I'm sorry he's a bit hyper."

She sighed. "Its fine..." She wanted her baby to have a friend. They weren't expecting him to make it much longer.

"Thank you ma'am." Alex beamed.
"You remember where your momma's room is right?" His father asked.
Alex nodded.
"I'll be in there if you need me or want to go home."

Mike sniffled and rested him small head on Alex's shoulder. "Thank you." He whispered, he didn't want to be alone.

Alex smiled and rubbed his back.
His father gave him a small smile and thanked Mike's mother before walking out of the play room.

"Come on," She reached down but Mike clung tighter to Alex. "Baby get off of him, your bothering him." Mike whimpered but let go.

"He's not bothering me at all." Alex smiled sweetly at Mike. Even though Mike was older he felt like it was his job to protect him like a baby brother.

Mike grinned and re-attached himself to Alex, hugging him around the middle. Mike mother once again tried to pull him off.