Boats and Birds

"No in the doctor's room silly." Alex smiled.

"Why are you going back in there with me?" He fidgeted. He didn't know if Alex wanted to hear what they had to say.

"Didn't I just say that? I want to hold your hands. I know it used to help me."

"Well, Maybe you shouldn't." Mike was expecting bad news and he didn't want Alex to feel obligated to speak to him.

Alex's face fell.
"Oh okay..." Maybe the boy didn't want company..

Mike made an upset noise as he used his thumbs to lift the corners of Alex's mouth into a smile. "Come on now. Do you really want to hear some bad news today?"

"I just wanted to help you. I don't want you t be alone."

Mike shrugged. "That's sweet and all but its best you don't make friends with someone who might not be here tomorrow."

"My mom always says that if you love someone enough it can help them feel better. So I'm gonna try that with you." Alex smiled

Mike's mouth hung open. He had the popular kid wanted to help him. He never got help they just wanted to make fun of him. "B-But why?"

Alex shrugged.
"Cause I feel like it. And I like you. You're different."

Mike blushed. "I-I'm small and weak, don't you want a football buddy? I-I can't do that..." He trailed off.

"You're little. It's cute. You're like a baby." Alex grinned, patting Mike's head.

Mike pouted. "Im older than you." He listened very carefully when Alex was called and his was atleast a few months older.

"You are?" Alex asked incredulously. He was so much bigger than Mike. "You just look small then."

"You are a few months younger." He was just really small, he couldn't help that.

"Okay. Well I still like that you're small. Cause it's really easy to do this." He smiled as he lifted up Mike and hugged him.

Mike was really surprised as he was lifted off the ground. He hugged Alex back as the doctor came in and said it was his turn. His mother stood up. "Mikey, tell your friend you have to go."

Alex frowned.
"Doctow, can I pwease come in and hold his hand?" Alex made his lower lip tremble and batted his eyelashes. He purposely made his words come out more childish.

The doctor looked at the small child. "That is up to your parents and his mother." Mike's momma stared at the little boy and then her son before smiling. "Its fine with me."

"Yay! Daddy pwease?" Alex beamed.
His father chuckled and nodded.

Mike stared at Alex like he was insane. He couldn't believe this kid was serious. Mike's mother took his hand and lead him on hind the doctor. Mike was slower, he was tired already and was waited so Alex was caught up. "Mike baby, do I need to carry you?" His mother asked as he panted form only a little bit of walking.

"I can carry him." Alex smiled up at Mike's mother. "Can I?"

"Can you do it without dropping him? He is fragile." She didn't know if she wanted to let him drop her baby and hurt him more.

Alex nodded, still smiling.
"I'm strong and he don't weigh that much."