Chapter 25 – Laughter After the Storm
After a while, Madam Page returned with a steaming bowl of soup.
She sat down beside Joshua and blew gently on the spoon, testing the warmth before lifting it toward his lips.
Joshua blinked, feeling both weird and happy at the same time.
It had been years since anyone fed him like this.
Her kindness always had a way of melting the walls around his heart.
Just as Madam Page was about to feed him, a mischievous voice piped up.
> "Ohhh, Madam Page! Is there some for us too?"
The old woman turned, raising an eyebrow — but before she could reply, one of the girls smacked the boy on the head.
> "Shut it! Why would there be? Did you fall unconscious?"
> "Ohhhh!" the boy wailed dramatically, clutching his chest as he staggered backward and fell to the floor.
"Can I have a bowl now? Look, I fell!"
The room erupted with laughter.
A few of the smaller kids clapped, others giggled uncontrollably.
The girl who had scolded him was speechless for a moment, torn between laughing and yelling. Her face turned red — from both embarrassment and amusement — before she kicked him lightly in the butt.
> "Hey! Stop that, it hurts!" the boy said, laughing as he rolled over, still clutching his chest like a dying hero.
Madam Page shook her head, though a smile tugged at her wrinkled lips.
> "It's alright, children. There's enough for everyone. Let me feed Joshua first, then I'll give you yours."
At that, the children froze for a second — then quietly celebrated, whispering cheers and bouncing excitedly on their feet.
Joshua chuckled softly.
> "Grandma, don't worry," he said, pushing himself up a little. "I'm fine. I can feed myself. Go and give them their meal."
She blinked, hesitant.
> "Are you sure, child?"
> "Yes," he said, motioning toward the dramatic boy on the floor. "And I need peace to eat my food."
Everyone turned toward the boy.
He stood there now, arms folded, staring at the soup like a hunter eyeing its prey. A little drool sparkled at the corner of his mouth.
> "Zaaayyy…" the girl called his name in mock warning.
> "Huh? What?" he snapped out of his trance, blinking rapidly.
When he saw everyone staring at him, he froze — then laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
Joshua grinned.
> "I have a feeling Zay will attack me soon."
Everyone burst into laughter. Even Madam Page couldn't help but laugh softly.
Zay turned crimson, waving his hands frantically.
> "I–I wasn't gonna do anything!"
> "Sure you weren't," one of the older girls teased, grinning.
The noise filled the small room — laughter, giggles, playful shouts — all blending into a warm, gentle chaos.
For a brief moment, everything felt right.
The air that once carried fear and sorrow was now full of laughter and life again.
Madam Page smiled warmly, brushing Joshua's hair back.
> "Alright, child. Eat carefully. I'll come check up on you later."
> "Okay, Grandma," Joshua said softly, smiling.
She turned to the rest of the kids.
> "Come on, children. Let's go have your meal."
> "Finally!" one of them shouted, earning a glare from Madam Page — followed by more laughter.
The children hurried out one by one, still teasing and laughing as their footsteps echoed down the hall.
And then — silence.
Joshua sat there quietly, the bowl warm in his hands, the laughter still lingering in his ears like the last notes of a song.
He smiled faintly.
> "Peaceful… huh," he murmured.
Outside, the evening glow poured through the window, golden and calm — but somewhere deep in his chest, something stirred.
A faint pulse.
A whisper.
A reminder that peace never lasts forever.
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