Justin patted Peter's back, trying to help him stop coughing. "Hey... your hair will be back to normal in six months. I promise. You're just losing it from stress." He almost said, "Even if you go bald it will come back normal in six months," but decided against it. Justin whispered, "Hey, the verse says to cast all your anxieities on God because he cares for you."
My book on Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Crowded-Deep-Rive ... 572&sr=8-1
Peter nodded and took a breath. "Cast all my burdens upon Him...and lay all my cares at His feet." He nodded and bit his lips remembering how he had begged God over and over to have his hair stay in. "Justin can you pray with me please....pray for me hair, and for the stress to stop!?"
Loyal supporter of Caspian/Susan.
NW Family: Aunty Vi, LadyC, Rose, Chloe
Secret Order of the Swoosh.
Keeper of the Secret Magic
L6
Susan, Miley and Justin's sister, came in the house and gasped when she saw short brown curls on the floor. "What's that? Did Peter finally get a haircut? He needed one bad!"
~~~~~~~
At the sound of Susan's voice, Justin covered Peter's ears with his hands. He could tell Peter was stressing, because a huge clump of hair fell from the top of his neck. "Let's pray."
My book on Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Crowded-Deep-Rive ... 572&sr=8-1
Peter just nodded and began praying. They both prayed together.....prayed for peace. Prayed for Justin's hair. When it was over Peter sighed. "I feel better...a little bit" he said to Justin
************
miley gasped when Susan said those words about Peter. "Don't say those things!! He'll hear you! you don't have any idea what he has been going through!" she cried.
Loyal supporter of Caspian/Susan.
NW Family: Aunty Vi, LadyC, Rose, Chloe
Secret Order of the Swoosh.
Keeper of the Secret Magic
L6
Susan laughed, "Oh really?" She picked up a few pieces then walked towards the stairs pushing Miley out of the way. She overheard Justin and Peter pray that Peter's hair would grow back and stop falling out. Laughing, she said, "Why waste a prayer on that?" She smirked at her pathetic, whiny little cousin. "What's the matter, Peter?"
Justin could feel his blood boil, as he stood up. "Leave him alone." Peter did not need more stress.
He glared straight ahead, as his older sister laughed, "I am so glad it finally happened. You deserve it Peter, you know why? Because you are a loud, obnoxious little brat!" Then, Susan picked up a manual razor from the bathtub. "I say we shave you bald and get it over with."
Justin helped Peter to his feet, holding him close. "You will do no such thing."
Susan grinned, "Come on, it's inevitable. Even if his hair does grow back, which I doubt it will, he's going to be bald before then anyway."
Justin held on to Peter, trying to walk him out of the bathroom. He lifted Peter's hair above the ear. "Ignore her." Then, said to Susan. "The doctor said it will grow out and it's just from stress." He made sure Peter's body was in front of his and could feel it shaking, as another clump fell out.
Susan saw the clump and groaned, "Come on, shouldn't we had least cut it or take dad's manual razor and shave his hair into a buzzcut? "
Justin turned around. "You don't live here, so why should it matter?"
Susan asked, "Doesn't Miley get grossed out easy?" Then, she put the razor back in the bathtub and washed her hands. "Don't know what I'm doing touching my kid sister's icky razor anyway." She walked closer to Peter, fingering one of his curls. "You really should cut your hair or shave it. It's pretty selfish of you to want to keep it while it's falling out." She looked as his curl, as it fell into her hand. "Do you honestly think Miley and my parents, your aunt and uncle, really want to see a bunch of this laying around?" She cupped it in the palm of her hand, shoving it in Peter's face. "Even if the doctor says it will grow back."
She smiled inside, as Peter's cheeks started to grow red and harshly raked her other hand through his hair. "That is, if you truly have changed."
Justin held his grip on Peter tight. "Susan, leave him alone, please. He's not feeling well."
Susan snorted, "Does that give you two and Miley an excuse to be impractical about this? Peter's hair is falling out, get it? It's falling out and it will not stop anytime soon." She sighed, as another clump of Peter's hair fell out. Picking it up, she asked, "How much more is going to fall out before his hair gets back to normal in six months?"
My book on Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Crowded-Deep-Rive ... 572&sr=8-1
Peter trembled in Justin's arms and felt his lower lip quivering. "I have changed..." he whispered to Susan and felt like hiding his face in Justin's shirt. Reaching out his hand he snatched his hair from Susan, looking at her through watery eyes. "Why are you so mean?? Aren't you ever nice!?? What did I ever do to you?" he suddenly realized what he said and looked down. He had done something to her....
********
Miley heard loud talking, and Justin's voice, than more talking. She wondered what sort of horrible things she was saying about Peter and his hair. "what does she have against him" she sighed wondering whether she should go up there and see what was happening.
Loyal supporter of Caspian/Susan.
NW Family: Aunty Vi, LadyC, Rose, Chloe
Secret Order of the Swoosh.
Keeper of the Secret Magic
L6
Justin knew exactly what Peter was talking about and stroked Peter's short jaw lenght curls. "Come on, Pete. Let's go."
Susan laughed, "You always take Peter's side! Why would you choose him over your siblings? First it was your stupid girlfriends in middle and high school and now it's Peter? Come on, SHAVE HIS HEAD or at least give him a haircut!"
Peter mustered all the strength he could to yell, "No!" then ran out of breath, feeling like he was falling and held on to Justin for support. He put his head in Justin's arms. He tried to say something else, but couldn't. His voice was too weak.
Justin could hear his cousin's voice getting raspy. He turned to Susan. "Please leave."
Susan retorted, "You don't live here anymore."
Justin answered, "Neither do you and I think you should leave."
Susan rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll leave. Give the brute a haircut while I'm gone."
With that, she took off downstairs and said to Miley, "How can you handle that thing upstairs and treat me like dirt? Remember when he used to be mean to you before he supposedly became a Christian? How I rushed to your defense?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin helped Peter to his room, laying him on his bed. He rubbed his cousin's back. "Did that take all your strength?"
Peter propped his head on his hand. His voice still small. "Yeah." He looked down at the mattress, then back up with Justin. "Is it my fault, Justin?"
Justin wondered if he was tlaking about Susan or his hair falling out. Well, if it's about your hair falling out I guess you could try not to get so worked up over things."
Peter felt his eyes tear up. "So it is my fault?"
Justin bit his lip. I reap what I have sown "Peter, I stress out too much too..."
Peter whispered, "You have all your hair." He sighed, as he looked at the clump that was in his hands from earlier. "But this is where mine is. Why is God letting this happen to me? Is He angry at me?" Peter lay flat on his back, taking in a deep breath. "So, it just is falling out because of stress?"
Justin swallowed, "When you allow stress to take over, hair loss cna be one thing. You lost teh ability to be with two friends in one day. One of them because of your past and the other because his mom thought it was your fault he got shot. and you're sick."
Peter mumbled, because that was all his voice could do at the moment. "Brian called and said his mom changed her mind."
Justin smiled, "That's good. That should reduce some of the stress."
Peter let go of the hair in his hands. "Why would he want to hang outwith me? I'm losing my hair. I'm going to be a laughingstock wherever I go."
Justin said, "See, there you go again. You're worrying over something that may not even be possible. Your hair wil stop falling out in a few months and by six months, will have grown or will grow back to normal."
Peter whispered, "I hope it grows back soon. How does it look?"
Justin stroked his cousin's curls, searching around his head. "Like you still have the best hair of all the guys in the family."
Peter tried to smile, but couldn't. Even if it was only temporary, it was still too sad that he was losing his hair. And something else was on his mind. "Is it my fault Susan no longer belongs to God? I was the one who convinced her Christainity wasn't real after she came home from youth group upset that nobody would talk to her."
Justin rubbed his back. "I know you did, Pete and I know you're sorry for that and it was washed away when you were baptised into Christ."
Peter felt a glimmer of hope, just by hearing Justin speak. Maybe his hair would grow back and he really should relax and do better with trusting God with it. He would eat the right food, take the right vitamins and pray and it will grow back. "I really do wish I hadn't said those things, then she would still follow Christ."
Justin felt like his heart would break over Peter's brokeness, but at the same time was glad Peter could see his past actions and words as wrong. "I know you do. Just like I wish I never made my ex girlfriend get rid of our baby." He shook his head. "But you know what? I think alot more influenced her than just what you said to her. I really do believe that, Pete." Justin gave his cousin a hug and a kiss on the forehead. "I gotta pop in my office and gotta go home to my wife and our baby. You be good for Miley and our parents, okay?"
Peter gave him a hug. "I will." He yawned. "I think I'm going to sleep for a little bit."
Justin rubbed his back. "Okay. See you at church sunday?"
Peter answered, "I hope so, if my fever is better. Seems I'm like Samson. When I lose my hair I lose my strenghth."
Justin laughed at his cousin's statement. "I doubt it. See ya."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Susan was demanding an answer from Miley, who was lloking at he rin stunned silence. How dare she forget? "Come on, Miley. Am I right or wrong? Didn't I defend you when Peter was mean to you before he supposedly became a Christian? That brute is now tracking hair all over the place and you won't at least cut it. You honestly think that our parents want to see his hair laying around. Sure, it might stop and might grow back in six months, but look at the floors!" Her voice softened. "I know he loves his hair, but we have to be realistic here . At least cut it or shave it while he's asleep. Let him cry. He will never know it was you. He would just assume it fell out if you leave it on his pillow."
My book on Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Crowded-Deep-Rive ... 572&sr=8-1
Miley found her voice, and also tear in her eyes. "I would never cut Peter's hair!" she said "For anything!!" she sat at the kitchen table and looked at her older sister, hurt showing on her face. "Yes, I remember all those time...and I thanked you for them. The only reason we don't like you is because your mean! If you were nicer like you were back then....then...oh.." she looked away remembering how Jesus said that they were to love their enemies and people that were mean to them. It's not like she didn't love Susan, but it was hard to stand her when she was so mean.
Susan huffed and glared at miley. "Fine, if you just won't listen I'll leave! But mark my words one of these days you'll regret trusting that brute upstairs! You should cut his hair....and and..." with a lose for better words she flaunted out and slammed the door.
Miley stared after her then rushed up the stairs, meeting Justin at the top "How is Peter!?" She wasked urgently
Loyal supporter of Caspian/Susan.
NW Family: Aunty Vi, LadyC, Rose, Chloe
Secret Order of the Swoosh.
Keeper of the Secret Magic
L6
Justin was relieved when Miley said she wouldn't cut Peter's hair. He looked behind him to see his little cousin's door closed. "He's asleep right now... or should I say for right now. He seemed pretty tired. Why don't you go on in and check on him? I have to get to work." He hugged his sister goodbye, then walked outside."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter had fallen asleep, before he heard Susan yell, "You should cut his hair and..." then left. That brought him back up. Was his hair really worth all this tension? it would grow back and if it didn't, it would have been bound to fall out anyway. He sat up and looked in the mirror, running his hand through his hair. Nothing came out and nothing was on the bed. Well, if nothing was coming out, then there would be no need to cut it. Still, we was going to see what Miley and his aunt and uncle wanted to do and be strong. He looked awful when most his hair was above the ears and tears came to his eyes when he tried picturing himself bald. He dried his eyes when a knock came to the door. He didn't want his hair cut, shaved, or shaved bald. Still, he had to do what they wanted. "Come in." He ruffled a hand through his hair, wondering if this was going to be the last time he would feel his jaw lenght curls. When Miley came in, he sat up. Swallowing he said, "If you and Aunt Helen and Uncle Frank want, you can cut it." His eyes widened the second he said it, but there was no going back. "The scissors are in my desk." He would only be the ugliest and dorkiest kid in school with less hair, but if that was what his family wanted...He tried to look emotionless, while waiting for Miley to answer. He shut his eyes. "Not that I want it. I don't. But it's not worth tearing our family apart. Just cut it all off if it makes things better for everyone. I'll manage. It will grow in six months."
My book on Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Crowded-Deep-Rive ... 572&sr=8-1
Miley's eyes softened when she saw him upset, then tears came when he told her that it was okay to cut his hair. She shook her head and came to him, hugging him. "Oh Peter....never never...I'd never cut your hair. Even if you really did want it. I know it's special to you, and I'd never cut it off. Please don't upset about what Susan said to you, she's just mean..." A tear ran down her cheek and fell onto his hand. "I'll never cut your hair, now, later, tomorrow, next week, next year. Never!"
Loyal supporter of Caspian/Susan.
NW Family: Aunty Vi, LadyC, Rose, Chloe
Secret Order of the Swoosh.
Keeper of the Secret Magic
L6
Peter gave his cousin a hug, relieved she wasn't going to cut it. Still, he had to make sure if it was okay for him to keep his hair with his aunt and uncle. "It does mean alot to me. But, Aunt Helen and Uncle Frank have to deal with seeing it everywhere too. maybe you can ask Aunt Helen?" He didn't look her in the face because the tears forming would show he didn't really want it cut. "I just want to make everyone happy. When it comes back, if it ever does, then I can be in control."
Miley's mom could hear her oldest nephew crying and walked in the room, to hear him talking to Miley. She made her way into the room. "Peter, Your hair isn't too much for me, I promise." She rubbed his back. "Why on earth would you think that?"
Peter didn't want to get Susan in trouble, but he tearfully told her what she said. He mentally kicked himself for crying, for letting them see him cry once again but that only made him feel worse. "I'm sorry." He took in a deep breath. "I really don't want you to cut my hair. I want to keep it. Of course, I don't want it past my shoulders and to start looking like a girl's but I still want to see if it could get the back of it to the middle of my neck again. I miss it." His eyes filled up wiht fresh tears. "And the hair that's fallen out." Wiping his eyes, he said, "When will it stop? Will it stop before I'm bald?" He hated bringing so much attention to himself, but everytime he was able to finally suppress his fears they would resurface. He really didn't deserve to have them love him so much. I deserve to have it fall out and watch it in agony. Everything that's happened to my hair is punishment for all I've done.
She could tell Peter was stressing out again, because another clump fell to his bed, causing him to cry, "My hair! No please not my hair! Not again!"
She rubbed his back. "Hey. Calm down."
He tried to calm down, for her and Miley and for himself. His hair would stop if he would stop, maybe. God I know I deserve to have my hair fall out, but please make it stop and don't let me be bald. Jesus Name amen. He took a couple deep breaths and was finally able to stop crying. "I think I am ready for a snack." He got out of the bed and pain seeped through his legs as he stood to his full height, 5'5, but managed to hide the pain with a smile that felt more like a grimace. He fingered the dresser. Sure, he stumbled towards the door but insisted tha the try walking to the stairs and down the stairs by himself, with his aunt and cousin close behind him.
Miley saw him walking towards the refridgerator, when he tripped, fallling to the ground. She rused to his side. "Peter, are you okay?" She helped him up. Peter smiled at her assuringly, "What's a couple bruises compared to losing my hair?" He looked determined. "But I'm going to fix that."
She held his arm, as he walked towards the fridge. "I'm still going to hold on to you. I don't want you hurting yourself. You're sick."
He shrugged. "Okay." Then he opened a door and pulled out half a block of cheese and started eating it.
Miley wondered, "You don't always eat the cheese that way or drink milk straight from the carton...do you?"
Peter suddenly realized what he was doing. "Oh. uh sorry. I better cut the rest of it."
Still, his cousin insisted he let her do it and he allowed himself to be sat down in a brown chair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen had finally arrived at Peter's, hoping his fever went down. She wanted to give him her support and was suprised to see Brian there too. This could only mean one thing. Her eyes lit up. "You can hang out with us again?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chrissa was walking, when she decided to stop by the church. She had to ask Justin how at least Miley and Peter were, since he was related to them both. she walked in, looking around and carefully opened the door to his office. "Justin?"
~~~~~~~~~~
Just then the door openedand Jen gretted Mrs. Thomas. "Hello, Mrs. Thomas." She notices Peter sitting at the table. The red lines on his face and his puffy eyes told her he had been crying earlier. She rushed to his side, giving him a big hug. "Oh Peter!" She didn't care he had a fever of 102, she wanted to show him her support. She wanted so badly to stroke his dark curls, which were staying in place for the moment but was afraid to. She didn't want to add any stress to his hair. She held his hand comfortingly. "You look very handsome." It was true.
~~~~~~~~
Miley finished slicing the cheese and set it in front of Peter. With a playful smirk, she said, "Handsomely stubborn. Tell her what you did." She gave him a teasing smile, a mischevious sparkle in her eyes.
My book on Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Crowded-Deep-Rive ... 572&sr=8-1
"Alright, alright so I started eating a whole block of cheese!" He said almost with a chuckle in his voice. "I stopped!" he said and took a slice popping it into his mouth. He put his hand on one of Jen's and looked over at her. "Thanks for the compliment....though I can't say I look handsome with less hair..."
Brian came limping in and looked at his friend with a sympathetic expresion. "Hello Pete..." he said and entered coming to sit at the table. "How's it going?" He was concerned for him.
********
Justin jerked up from a stack of church papers "Hu what?" he stood and smiled as Chrissa came in "Hi Chrissa....have a seat would you? I know my office is un-tidy. It's because I don't have Maralyn as a house keeper here"
Loyal supporter of Caspian/Susan.
NW Family: Aunty Vi, LadyC, Rose, Chloe
Secret Order of the Swoosh.
Keeper of the Secret Magic
L6
Jen's heart melted, the way Peter's brown eyes did. He did look different with less hair, but still handsome. At least he still had more than he did when her dad..."What did the doctor say?" She searched his eyes, concerned. She had been praying for him ever since she heard the news.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chrissa smiled, feeling awkward. At least she was able to be around Jusitn still. "How are Miley, Jen and Peter?"
My book on Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Crowded-Deep-Rive ... 572&sr=8-1
Justin's expression changed and he plopped back down in the chair. "Well...." he didn't want to worry her, but the truth was what needed to be told. He couldn't sugar coat the story, and play it up as better than it was. "Peter's sick. His hair is falling out, and he's running a rather hi-temp. He went to see the doctor, and found out it's nothing serious. Just the stress. Peter's been stressing out lately, your Mother got angry at him, Brian's Mother blamed him for Brian being shot." tapping his fingers nails on the desk, he stared into her face. "Things just added up. My older sister Susan came and said a bunch of means things about his hair. Just wasn't a good situtation. Miley's doing fine, she's just worried for him like me. Jen's concerned, and slightly freaked-out, but other than that physically fine"
********
Peter sighed again, his eyes shifting around the room. "Well.....the doctor said I was stressing to much. That's why my hair is falling out..." he chocked down a sob, and ran a hand through his thinning curls. Nothing came out, luckily and he retracted his fingers. But when he did there was a curl stuck on his finger. "Oh...." he whimpered shaking it off in horror.
Brian sighed taking from him "You poor guy....when will it stop falling out?"
"I don't know" Peter said, let out a shaky sigh.
Loyal supporter of Caspian/Susan.
NW Family: Aunty Vi, LadyC, Rose, Chloe
Secret Order of the Swoosh.
Keeper of the Secret Magic
L6
Chrissa gasped. "Peter is losing his hair? Will it grow back? How is he handling this?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen wiped a tear she saw go down his cheek. "Come here." She wrapped her arms around him, feeling how vulnerable and shaky his usually strong athletic build felt. "it can't be gone forever, Peter. It just can't."
My book on Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Crowded-Deep-Rive ... 572&sr=8-1