Spoiled by Eight Uncles (Lily)

Levitating in a corner, Pablo followed Lilly's line of vision and said, “Come on. It’s just a spatula. So what if they don't take it away? It's dirty and nasty now.” Lilly pursed her lips. Fine...

I'm sorry, spatula...

She did not mean to ditch it.

The Crawfords mistook the bleakness on Sweet Pea’s face as grief.

It was not a pleasant experience for a child to witness a blatant kidnapping. Hannah had been taken to rest just now.

“Are you alright, Lilly?” Feeling sorry, Bettany held Lilly.

Lilly shook her head. “It's okay. Hm... Out with the old and in with the new.” The Crawfords were at a loss for words.

Liam burst into laughter.

There would not be someone new. That was it for him.

With the matter finally put to rest, Liam felt relieved. It was a feeling away from anxiety and distress like never before.

“Come on, Lilly. Let's get you something to eat.” The gentle sway of the shadows among the trees went unnoticed. A dark silhouette rustled along the grass, lifting its head to reveal a face full of blood...

It reached its hand out in the Crawfords’ direction, making a grabbing gesture. Eerie blue-violet veins were popping out of its hand...

This was the Crawfords’ first camping trip with the whole family. Hugh did not want the special family moment to be ruined by Winona.

“What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you.” Wearing an apron, Bryson held a plate up and tenderly ran his fingers along Lilly’s hair.

Lilly gulped at the smell of barbecue. Still, her enthusiasm was reflected in her sparkling eyes.

“So | can have anything? Even barbecue?” She asked.

Bryson curled his lips. “Yes, anything.” After a word with Liam, Bettany wheeled herself over and said, “You can only have a skewer. Too much barbecue isn’t good for you.” Lilly's face fell. “Alright...” She longingly glanced at the barbecue grill.

There were chicken, sausages, and shrimp on the grill.

Not to mention, steaks and lamb chops too...

“Goodbye, chicken.” Lilly bade the meat farewell.

“Goodbye, shrimp.” “Goodbye, grilled meat.” The pitiful look on her face amused and stumped everybody.

Bryson tenderly uttered, “Mom, just let her eat. Gilbert's here if she eats her way to a bellyache.” The mention of Gilbert triggered Polly into shaking its head and cawing, “Gilbert, Gilbert, pinked in the behind!” On his way to the riverbank to collect his fishing rod, Gilbert slipped and fell on the grass.

His bottom was pink for sure.

Speechless, he shot an angry look at the parrot.

The parrot flapped its wings, “Run, run, as fast as you can!” Lilly immediately ran with the parrot amid the chuckles.

It did not take long for the child to turn her frown upside down.

The little girl raced ahead the luscious field while the parrot chased after her, squawking behind.

Drake and Josh were reading in the tent while Zachary was lying on the air mattress on his phone.

Zachary was so immersed in the game that he was yelling profanities.

There was not a sound coming from Hannah though. She nestled and was asleep on her air mattress either from crying her eyes out or recovering from the shock.

The beautiful and homely moment took everybody away from the earlier nasty experience.

Tina soon arrived.

“A strawberry cake for you, Lilly!” Tina appeared harmless. “My mom made it. It's tasty and better than the ones sold in cake shops.” Since her family saw the whole thing unfold, Tina’s mom told Tina to deliver the cake and get some inside scoop.

Tina smiled sweetly. No one could resist her charms in this world.

Plus, she doubted any child would say no to a strawberry cake.

To her surprise, Lilly turned her head away. “I don’t want it.” Tina thought Lilly was rude to put her in a spot.

Biting her lip, Tina looked hurt. “Lilly, don’t you like me?” Lilly looked her in the eye and nodded firmly. “That's right.” Did she not make it clear before? Why did it not register in Tina's head? Tina had not faced such a blatant rejection.

Her eyes welled up as if Lilly had done her injustice.

Pursing her lips, Lilly made a run for it.

Tina did not even have a chance to play the victim as her sobs had not been released. Rage overtook her! Lilly ran to Bettany and sprawled on the grass.

Bettany smiled and said, “Don’t lie on the ground, Lilly. It's cold.” She then got the air mattress sent over. Lilly crawled onto the mattress like a caterpillar.

Bettany uttered, “Stay there. I'll bring you some food.” Grandmothers always made sure their grandchildren never go hungry.

Believing that Lilly must be hungry after running around, Bettany went to grab the little girl some food.

There was Pablo’s chance. He levitated near Lilly.

“Lesson time, Tulip!” Lilly quickly covered her ears.

Pablo did not know when to quit. He wanted to impart knowledge to her every chance he got.

Nothing Pablo said made sense to Lilly. It was something about the fundamentals.

Still, her hands over her ears did nothing to stop Pablo’s nagging.

“I'm going to talk to you today about the five practices of spiritualism.

“They are cultivation, medicine, destiny, prophecy, and observation.

“We can include the training of the mind and body, spells, incantations, and battle strategies into cultivation.

“It's not hard to get the concept of medicine. It's anything to do with medicine, healing, and even witches’ brew.” Lilly perked her ears. “Witches? Do | have to perform a chant or a dance to make potions?” Pablo was speechless.

“Where did you get that from?” Lilly shook her arms in the air. “I don’t want to learn that! People will take me away!” She went on an outing with her father once and stumbled upon a lunatic who said she was a witch. She was dancing and praying to the gods for rain.

The woman looked like she was having a seizure. In the end, she was taken away.

Lost for words, Pablo said, “That sort of movement calls a lot of unwanted attention, but it only takes the snap of the fingers for the advanced spells...

“Never mind that. | will show you when it's time to learn that. Next.” Lilly was puzzled.

A huge question mark was written all over her face.

Pablo added, “All you need to know is that you can treat your grandmother’s illness with those powers.” Lilly sat upright like an attentive student right away.

She got to help Granny! Mommy told her to take good care of Granny.

That was why she must learn the spell and save Granny! Lilly was finally on her best behavior.

Pablo curled his lips. Now | got your attention.

“By destiny, it means numerology, horoscope, fortune-telling. Prophecy involves dream interpretation...” Lilly raised her hand. “Fortune-telling and dream interpretation? | know. | was caught by the police officer too.” It was also during the same outing with her father. A blind man wanted to read her fortune.

However, the blind man made a quick exit when the police officer showed up.

She looked conflicted. “Master, can we learn something that won't get me taken away?” Pablo was at a loss for words.

Where did Stephen take her? The place seemed to be ridden with all kinds of people.

“Lilly, where did you and your father go?” Lilly tilted her head to one side. “I don’t know. Daddy said that he was going to get cigarettes. He told me to stay put and wait for him.

“I waited and waited, but he didn’t come back. It was dark. The police officer had to take me home in the end.” Pablo was speechless.

He wiped off the nonchalance on his face.

Oh, | got it. Stephen wasn't taking her out for an outing.

He was trying to dump her somewhere.