"Good lad!" Zayn patted his head while he set him back on his feet. "Now run along. Boys
must be brave."
"Understood." Josh seemed to have grown in confidence spontaneously, as though his leg
no longer hurt and his fear had dissipated. He got right back at attempting another ascent
on his gimpy leg.
The peak seemed so distant that it felt a little intimidating. His leg noticeably quivered.
"Go for it. I got your back, " Zayn called out in encouragement.
"Alright." Josh gritted his teeth as he turned back to the steps with renewed determination.
He continued to climb.
This time, the boy was not afraid anymore, as he knew someone would be there to catch
him should he fall.
Carla was profoundly moved by this scene. As competent a mother as she was about
caring for and educating her children, she understood that there was no replacement for a
father figure in their lives.
In spite of his inexperience with children, Zayn had the ability to instill patience and
confidence in them, as well as have them rub off the fortitude of his masculinity.
Carla cussed at herself for having doubted his capability to be a good father. It would
seem that her worries were for naught, as his attentiveness to her children had exceeded
every expectation.
"I want to ride on the swing, Uncle Zay. Would you push me?"
Venus acted coquettishly as she wanted some of the man's attention for herself too.
"Sure, " he replied as he extended his arms. "Jump down. I'll catch you."
"It's so high. I'm scared."
Her stumpy legs retreated from the edge as her little hands continued to grip tightly onto the
guardrail.
"I'll go first!" Randy seized the initiative to launch himself over with aplomb.
Zayn corralled him right away and rubbed his head. "You nearly caught me off guard
there. What do you think could have happened if I wasn't ready for you?"
"I had faith that you'll definitely come get me."
Randy had begun to gravitate toward Zayn, as he felt the man could teach him to
become more courageous.
"Good lad!" Zayn pinched that pretty face of his as his own lips curled into a smile.
"Here I come, Uncle Zay."
Venus covered her eyes as she leaped off with a shout.
The man stretched out and caught the girl in his off-hand.
"Ah——"
She almost burst his eardrums as she continued to scream into his ear when she landed.
"I'm sure you've a great singing voice, " Zayn said with a frown.
"Stop it, Venus. You're safe now, " Randy said as he patted on her arm.
She uncovered her eyes and surveyed her surroundings. "Wow, you did it. That was kind of
fun!"
"Here goes nothing, Uncle Zay."
Josh's voice rang out from the side.
Zayn turned to see that Josh had successfully clambered to the highest point. With
arms extended, he yelled the whole way down the slide.
"Well done, Josh!"
The nurses cheered and clapped for him.
They were elated to see him back in action, as he had been positively bored out of his mind
after sitting out for almost two months since sustaining that fracture.
It was with Zayn's encouragement that he took the first step towards returning to
normalcy.
To prevent that injured foot from making contact with the ground, the man rushed forward
to slow the boy's descent with his foot while he still had Randy and Venus in either arm.
Josh took care to lift his own foot high to protect it as well, and came away unscathed.
"You alright?" Zayn hooked his foot under the boy and flicked him into the air.
Josh yelped as he landed upon Zayn's shoulders. He hurriedly clung onto the man's
head for dear life.
"Oh wow. You're so awesome, Uncle Zay, " Venus enthused as she clapped in delight. "You
caught all three of us at one go."
"You're my hero, Uncle Zay!" Randy appeared quite in awe.
"No more Uncle Zay from now on." Zayn corrected them. "You've to call me Dad!"
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