SPOILED SON

Jayia Matree

‘Austin, that’s enough sweets for you,’ his mom repeated for the fourth time, swiping the bowl of half-finished treats from her son’s grippy hands.
            ‘Ugh! You’re so annoying, mom! Get out!’ Austin snapped as he pointed to his bedroom door with a chubby finger. His mom froze at the firm command and sighed; she didn’t continue with more scolding and left her son’s bedroom with a quiet click from the door.
            Her husband was waiting in the hallway, his expression sour. He had heard the commotion but didn’t dare to walk into it. ‘Lucy, we need to be firmer with Austin,’ he advised. ‘He’ll never listen if you act like a doormat.’
            ‘David, please,’ she begged. The bowl in her hand tilted when her shoulders drooped in defeat, letting two sweets fall onto the carpet floor.
Neither of them cared to pick them up.
            ‘I’m trying,’ Lucy reasoned, but her husband gave her a doubtful expression.

A week passed and Austin began to complain of pain in his stomach, he’d whine all day and all night. His mom made all kinds of comfort food to soothe him, yet nothing worked.
After one horrible evening that ended with a trashed kitchen from an induced tantrum, Austin’s parents brought him to the hospital.
            ‘Alright,’ the doctor said, flipping papers in their hands. ‘Austin, correct?’
            ‘Yes.’ Austin’s mother answered, making the doctor frown, puzzled.
            ‘And how old are you, Austin?’ the doctor asked.
            ‘He just turned twenty-one years.’