186 Lean on me

Her warm hand brushed his hair soft. When was the last time he rested on her lap?

A memory came to her mind.

She had entered junior collegeAshay was eleven. Her parents were out of town.

It was night, Ira nestled on the sofa to watch TV.

An old cricket match was playing on it. She couldn't help but look stupidly at the teenager watching it.

"Ash..."

"Sis, We can watch a movie!" He said and took the remote control to switch the channel.

As a serious person, Ira would never watch TV. But with the new digital TV set-top box, it is convenient to watch movies.

After some consideration of Ira's likes, Ashay chose a suspense movie. He didn't see the name of the movie, it turned out to be a horror. The only impression that the whole movie left was dark and bloody.

She was watching the movie when a mutter entered her ears. Ashay flinched every three seconds with his hands covering his eyes.

"Don't watch."

"No, I am a big guy. " With determination not to be seen as a coward, he tried to watch the movie. Her attention now was bot on the movie but on her brother. He would close his eyes, even his ears in every horror scene.

Though he thought no one saw him, she realized this big guy was scared. When she turned he had this weird posture.

"What happened?"

"Toilet?" he said.

"Go."

"Go together." he clutched her sleeves and said meekly. Ira had no other choice but to drop him at the door of the washroom. She held in the giggle.

"Stand at the door, okay." He built the courage and went to pee.

"Sis... Sis..." He called from the toilet.

"Yes," She knocked the door.

After few seconds,"Sis.."

"Yes?"

"Sis."

"Say something. How do I know you are out there?"

"Ok."

They got back and continued with the movie.

Ira felt a sinking on her shoulders, she turned her head to see Ashay snuggling in her. His shoulders trembled as he leaned on her.

"Don't be scared. It's okay." The movie didn't even reach the interval. Even if the movie scared him, he was more scared to leave Ira and walk back to his room.

She sighed, caressed him to lie down on her lap. She then pulled the coat hanging on one side of the shelf and covered him. Though she continued to watch the movie she did decrease the volume.

When the latter half of the movie was finished she lifted his head and kept a pillow there. next morning he complained about her leaving him alone.

That was the last time he borrowed her lap.