Meet the Howlters

It's Gonna Be Okay

YEAR: 2054

[Delilah's POV]

"Happy birthday, to you," everyone sang.
"Thank you guys," dad smiled.
"Who's birthday is it?" Bear asked. "Oh! Today is my boyfriends birthday! I wanna know where he is,"
"Papa-" Katherine started.
"Honey, no," I hushed.
"But-"
"Let it go," I whispered.
"So, dad, you're sixty-seven," Winston said.
"Yeah," he laughed. "I am. Time just flies, doesn't it Dan?"
"Stop talking to me, weirdo,"
"Dad, why do you even bother anymore?" Winston asked.
"Because," he sighed as he stared at bear. "I know my Dan is still in there..."
"Dad, the doctors said he was gone," I whispered.
"What do they know?" he said. "I know my Dan, and I know he's still in there somewhere,"
"He hasn't been lucid is a good month," I said.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore," dad said. "So, um... Dil,"
"Yeah?"
"D-Did you find out the gender of your baby?"
"Yeah, it's a girl," I said.
"Oh, yay!" Jenny exclaimed. "What are you going to name her?"
"If I were a girl, my name would be Yazi," bear mumbled. "My boyfriends would've been Fiona," he smiled. "I miss him! Mr. Howlter, when can I see my boyfriend?"
"I don't know," dad sighed.
"Ugh, what do you know?" bear spat.
"Stop being mean!" I yelled.
"Excuse you!"
"Delilah, stop," dad said.
"No, I will not stop!"
"He's 'sick', he doesn't know any better..."
"I'm what?"
"Dad, he's 'eighteen' years old! He should know how to act around adults! He shouldn't be a dick-"
"Language!"
"Oh, blow me!" I hissed. "I... I'm sorry..." I whispered.
"It's fine," dad said. "Your hormones are all outta wack... I get it... You're under a lot of stress with the baby, and you know who dying... it's a lot to deal with,"
"Yeah..." I mumbled. "I'm, uh, gonna go in the kitchen for a bit..."

I got up from my seat on the couch, and rushed into the cramped kitchen. I placed my hands on the counter and started to sob; I didn't even notice Evan walk in.

"Mum," Evan started. "Mum," he continued saying as he followed me to the kitchen. "Mum,"
"Yeah?" I asked.
"What's wrong with papa?"
"Nothings wrong," I lied.
"Please don't lie to me," he pouted. "He's sick, isn't he?"
"What? No, he-"
"That's why he's acting all weird, huh?"
"Evan-"
"Mum, please stop lying to me..."
"I'm sorry, honey," I sighed as I hugged him. "Yes, you're right... he is sick,"
"With what? Can I catch it?"
"No," I giggled. "No honey, he has a mental disorder called Alzheimer's,"
"What does that mean?"
"It means," I sighed. "It means he forgot all of us,"
"I don't understand,"
"Want me to explain it?" Jenny asked, joining us in the kitchen.
"I guess..."
"Okay," Jenny started. "As he continues to get older, his hippocampus begins to shrink-"
"There's a hippo in him?"
"No," she chuckled. "It's this part of your brain," she said. She tapped two fingers against Evan's right temple. "That's your hippocampus. It's the 'gatekeeper' of the brain; once you get past it, you reach all your memories. And, once the 'gatekeeper' starts dying, so do your memories,"
"And that's what's happening to papa?"
"Yes," she nodded. "He doesn't know who he is anymore. Therefore, he is refraining to the last thing he remembers, and that thing just so happens to be the day before your grandparents met,"
"That's so weird," he gawked.
"Mum," Fiona said, storming in. "What the hell is wrong with papa?"
"Fiona, wait for me!" Katherine called.
"Guys, you know I love you, but I came in here to be alone,"
"Tell us what's wrong, and we'll leave," Fiona said, folding her arms across her chest.
"Have Evan explain it," I said.
"He has a hippo in his brain!"
"No dear," Jenny corrected. "His hippocampus is shrinking,"
"Oh..."
"What does that mean?" Fiona asked.
"Papa has Alzheimer's," I mumbled.
"He what?" Fiona whispered. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"He didn't want me to... He didn't want anyone to know,"
"Why not?"
"He didn't want us worrying about him all the time," I sighed. "He actual doesn't want you here right now... he doesn't want any of us here..."
"Why not?" Fiona asked again.
"Doesn't want us to see him like this," I said.
"Are our hippos gonna shrink, mum?" Katherine asked.
"Maybe one day, when you're really old," I shrugged.
"Do you think my kids will get it?" Jenny asked.
"I can't speak for Lydia, but-"
"Why not?" Katherine asked.
"Because her mum was adopted, and her parents died, so there's no way of testing them,"
"Why don't we just ask her mum?" Katherine said as she faced Jenny.
"Me?" Jenny raised a brow.
"Yeah..."
"Oh, no honey, I'm not Lydia's birth mum,"
"You're not?" Evan and Katherine asked.
"Oh yeah... you're not," Fiona said. "What ever happened to Lydia's mum? Auntie Stef, right?"
"She died," I said.
"How?" All the kids asked.
"I'll tell you when you're older," I murmured. "Anyway, did anyone in Josh's family have Alzheimer's?"
"Not that I know of,"
"Your family?"
"No..."
"Then your kids should be fine,"
"Wait, why would we be at risk, but not Auntie Jen's kids?" Fiona asked.
"Honey, Uncle Winnie and I have different fathers,"
"So we're not related to them?"
"Yes, we are. We have the same 'mother', just not the same father,"
"Who's your father?" Fiona cocked her head to the side as she spoke.
"I don't know," I lied.
"Wait, then how do you know-"
"Guys, leave your mother alone," Jenny said, guiding the kids back into the lounge.
"Thanks," I smirked.
"No problem," she replied. "Be honest, do you know which is your father?"
"Of course I do. It's not exactly rocket science,"
"You're Dan's?"
"Yeah," I nodded.
"I can tell," she smiled.
"Is it really that obvious?"
"Little bit," she said. "Hey, um, random question, but do you know when your dad is supposed to... y'know..."
"March..."
"Wow... that's so-"
"Soon? Yeah, I know..."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be," I whispered. "It's just life being a bitch... What can y'do?"
"But-"
"No! Shut up! I don't want to talk about it anymore!"
"Delilah, I'm-"
"No, I'm just... I'm sorry... I-I need to go home..." I cried.
"Dil, did I say something-"
"No, no, it's me," I sobbed. "M-My hormones are-"
"It's not your hormones," she hushed as she rubbed my back. "You're sad... Okay?"
"I'm not s-sad..."
"Yes, you are," she said as she hugged me.
"I don't want him to leave," I sobbed into her shoulder.
"I know..."
"Why are you calling me that?" Bear yelled. "Get away from me! Don't ever talk to me again!"
"Shit," I grumbled.
"What?"
"Bears yelling at the kids... I should get them home..." I said, collecting my things.
"Hey..." Jenny called.
"Yeah?"
"It's gonna be okay..."
"You don't know that," I sniffed.
"But I do," she beamed.
"I'll see you around, Jen... Have a safe trip home..."
"We will," she said.
"It kills me to think that the next time I'll be seeing you, is at my father's funeral," I started tearing up again. "I'm gonna go," I chuckled as a tear rolled down my cheek.
"Good luck with the baby. Y'know, just in case you have her before I see you again..." Jenny said.
"Oh, thanks," I whispered as I held a hand to my stomach. "Bye Jen,"
"See ya..."