At 11:30 a.m., Theo Hughes had already picked up Amy from the kindergarten, and William had everything prepared in the kitchen well in advance.
He had bought some beef, prepared it himself, and placed it on the grill.
He also bought a rabbit and kept it in the yard.
Alice hadn’t forgotten the task William gave her and arrived early. Nathaniel had a liver problem, so Alice brought over some prescription medicines for him. The side effects of these medicines were relatively minimal, and the primary goal of the initial treatment was to stabilize his bodily functions. As is well known, all medicines have potential side effects, especially when it comes to liver issues. For comprehensive treatment of this ailment, stronger medicines might be needed in later stages. The main purpose of the treatment for the first half-month was to strengthen and stabilize Nathaniel’s body.
William merely glanced at the medicines Alice brought without giving any comment.
To most, liver cancer is a grave matter, but to William, it was trivial, as simple as drinking a glass of wine, not worth fretting over.
Upon entering the yard, Amy squatted under a sycamore tree, feeding the rabbit William bought with a carrot.
William approached the tree, and for the first time, Amy didn’t hide from him. Looking up at him with her young voice, she asked, “Sir, is this bunny yours?”
“Yes, it is! Do you want to eat the bunny?”
Amy was taken aback by the question. She glanced at William, then at the rabbit in front of her, immediately pouting and teary-eyed, “Why would you eat the bunny?”
“How about eating beef instead?”
William asked, and Amy stopped crying. With reddened eyes, she nodded.
Later, Amy took William to watch ants under the sycamore tree. She solemnly declared that she would come every day to feed the rabbit and the ants.
By noon, William had already grilled the beef, filling the air with a delicious aroma.
Considering the presence of many elders and children, William prepared the beef slightly on the lighter side, ensuring it was tender and juicy.
Smelling the delightful scent, Amy stood by William, her eyes fixed on the grill, even holding a small plate in anticipation.
“Mr. Johnson, is the grilled beef ready to eat?” Amy eagerly asked William.
Jokingly, William replied, “This is grilled bunny, you know.”
“Wha…?” Amy was stunned. She ran out into the yard, found the rabbit she had just fed, then dashed back, pointing at William, “You’re lying! The bunny is outside. I saw it.”
William chuckled, then offered Amy a slice of the tender beef.
Having eyed the food for a while, she eagerly took a bite, her eyes gleaming with joy.
It’s undeniable; William’s culinary skills were top-notch.
“Amy, is it good?” William inquired.
Swallowing the grilled beef, Amy handed over her small plate, “It’s delicious! Thank you, Mr. Johnson.”
Accepting her plate, William served her some more beef, then teased again, “This is another bunny, you know.”
Holding her plate, Amy looked down at the meat in it. Her lips quivered, and with tears in her eyes, she said, “Bunnies are so cute; how could you eat them?”
“Why can we eat cows but not bunnies?” William questioned.
Holding her plate in one hand and wiping her tears with the other, Amy looked at William, unable to answer for a long time. Eventually, she burst into tears, lamenting, “How could you eat a bunny?”
Theo Hughes heard his granddaughter crying from outside and quickly came in. Amy ran to her grandfather’s side, pouting and said, “Grandpa, Mr. Johnson is a bad man, he eats bunnies.”
Theo Hughes couldn’t help but chuckle, lifting Amy and taking her outside. After that, Amy’s crying was no longer heard.
William set out the dishes he prepared, and Alice finally came in to help serve the food.
The adults gathered around the table, with Amy sitting on a small stool by the side, enjoying her meal.
“William, your culinary skills are indeed impressive. I thought the meal last time was prepared by your cousin,” Nathaniel tasted the beef William grilled and grew even more fond of the young man. “Honestly, with your cooking skills, you could run a successful restaurant out there.”
Nathaniel, like many of his generation, believed that while education was important, having a trade skill was essential. While excessive education could lead one to be a bookworm, possessing a trade skill was like having a steady job. Be it carpentry or car repair, one wouldn’t have to worry about unemployment. Of course, being a chef was even more desirable.
At the table, William chatted with Nathaniel and Theo. He even invited the two elderly men to go fishing at a nearby stream the next day.
Alice felt a bit left out. Oddly enough, it seemed that William, the young man, had more in common with Theo and Nathaniel. Even when the two elders endlessly talked about their daily affairs, William listened patiently without showing any signs of annoyance.
After finishing her portion of meat, Amy walked over to Alice and whispered, “Are you Mr. Johnson’s girlfriend?”
Alice was taken aback by the question, her cheeks flushed slightly, then she laughed and said, “Do you know what a girlfriend means?”
Amy shook her head, then nodded, “It’s just a girlfriend, right?”
Alice clarified, “I am William’s cousin, not his girlfriend.”
“Oh!” Amy looked as if she understood, but her eyes were still fixed on the grilled beef on the table.
Alice got the hint and smilingly asked, “Do you want some more?”
Amy nodded shyly, sneaking a glance at William. 𝙚𝙙𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙚𝙡.𝙤𝙧𝒈
After Alice served her more beef, William, continuing the earlier joke, asked, “Amy, is bunny tasty?”
Amy, looking like a little cat whose tail had been stepped on, pouted at William and murmured, “Mr. Johnson is mean!”
“How many plates did you eat then?” William asked again.
“Three!” Amy held up three fingers, then patted her round belly, sitting down with her plate again.
After dinner, Alice conscientiously cleared the table. After bidding goodbye to Theo Hughes and Nathaniel, William relaxed in a lounger under the sycamore tree, taking a short nap.
That afternoon, William didn’t attend school. Instead, he took a stroll nearby. New York’s weather in October was neither too cold nor too hot. At some point, he leaped from an ancient bridge of unknown name, startling bystanders who shouted for help. However, when they looked down from the bridge, there was no sign of him in the water.