Some hours gone, the lads gone and the dog fight race finished, Allen, Skryl and the Small Man were sitted around Cassey who was lying in the bed unconsciously, Allen had been blaming himself for what happened to Cassey.
They had put some herbal medicines on his wounds and have tied the bitten area with a cloth.
They sat like they were mourning, until Cassey waked up. They were happy but sad that such thing happened to him.
"Why do I feel so weak uhh" he tried to get up but he couldn't so he slumped back on the bed.
"Easy … easy. Don't stress too much please" Allen said.
"Cassey I'm really really sorry for what happened, is all my fault, if I didn't bring it up , it won't had happened" Allen pleaded.
"I know what happened, and no one pushed me in, I voluntarily pushed myself in, knowing what it will cost… how's Macy?"
"She's hanging on, she won't survive it, but let's pray she gets out those puppies first, she will be due in two weeks time, so she can last till then" said the Small Man.
"Dammit. Wait how long have I been out?"
"A few hours …"
"Huh? It's really getting late. Allen I need to go, we should go home" Cassey said, trying to stand up again
"Help me up, can't stay here for a few hours more. Already stayed for long"
Allen and Skryl helped him up.
"Drink this, it is a quick energizer" The Small Man handed him over a glass. He took a shot and dropped it.
"That will do".
As they got ready to leave, the Small Man presented to Cassey a small sackcloth wrapped together, with money inside.
"Ummm what's that?" Cassey asked
"Money of course"
"Huh really? But we didn't win…" Cassey said surprised, looking at his friends
"Yes, however the winner has a good heart, lad split the money in two and asked that you have one half"
"Wow…"
"I know right. And me being generous, added even more, making it the normal big price. Come on, have it"
But Cassey didn't want to take it. He looked at his arm and the money over and over again.
"No. I'm afraid I won't be taking it, please give it to Allen, him and Skryl can have it."
They were all astonished by his decision. At first, the Small Man thought he was just joking, but he proved him wrong, by walking out of the room, without taking it the money. He was in utter disbelief.
He handed it over to Allen.
"Thank you. We really appreciate, your hospitality and generosity, you're really a good man."
"Thanks" he said with a smile.
"And if there's anyone who needs this money the most, is Skryl. You can have it all"
He handed it over to Skryl. He was surprised, he couldn't say a word, he never thought that Cassey and Allen would do something so big to him, it meant that his life was changed, of course.
"Oh come on! What's with you and your friend?" The Small Man asked.
"That's a story for next time. Oh, and after all what could be more valuable than the good time we had together? And what we learnt from you, and coming down here, after all it is our first time, and knowing the truth about you. That's something bigger than the money." They shook hands and soon, they were on their way home.
****
Cassey reached home in the evening, and was afraid to enter into their house, but he gathered much courage, as much as he could, and made the move. He found Mama sitting down on the chair, looking directly at him, with a sad face.
Cassey was going to say something, but she said something first…
"Look I know everything was too much on you, and I'm really sorry. I want nothing but the best for you and I hope one day, you make the right decision, I'm not going to say much, but I will really be the happiest if you continue with school…"
Cassey didn't believe she wasn't talking about the Small Man Downhill. He was puzzled, his mind was running helter skelter, maybe it was just a trick to let him let down his guard, and face a very bad punishment.
"Ummm I will think about it…"
Mama smiled.
"Oh and don't worry about the vegetables and the animal dumps, I have had it taken care of, I had to employ the help of a young man, although I'm still suffering the pains of lifting such heavy stuffs, but is okay really, I drank some pain relieving tea, and I will be good."
"Wait! That's true, the vegetables we harvested , and the animal dumps, you said someone wanted to buy 'em… um was that why you were calling me in the morning?"
"Yes"
"Oh my… I'm really sorry… I thought…"
"Knock it off already, is okay. The woman that came in the morning was who connected me with the buyer, and she called you to give you some directions when you bring in the stuffs."
"Ohh wow, umm then um, I need to have some rest, Is been a long day…"
"Oh sure. Of course, talk to you later"
He left her and went straight to his room, locking the door as he entered.
"Damn why was I so wrong. She didn't even come because of the dog fight race. Oh well, thank goodness she don't know. What a relief… I guess that's all about it… life continues"
He jumped on the bed, and slept.