120.

“What are your names?” I asked the boy who looked friendlier than his sister.

“Frederick West. My sister’s Freda.” The boy completed it with a crooked smile. His gums were void of teeth.

I nodded glancing at the little girl. She was eyeing the bowls of ice cream her cousins savoured instead of minding her. I gave her a little smile. “Freda? Do you want a bowl of ice cream? Should I get one for you?”

She nods furiously and Fredrick smiles sadly. “She never gets one at home. Only on special days. But they have it here all the time! Grandpa and grandma are cool!”

“Yes, they sure are.” I sighed at his innocence. He probably didn’t hear what was said at the meeting because of the earphones and several toilet breaks.

Some point into dinner, harsh questions were directed at their father. From that little, I learnt that he abandoned the family to leave somewhere off the grid.

It didn’t sit well with Hector and Gaia. He must be the least well to do in the family. I do