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Vinny sniffed again.
He hated being sick.
His head hurt and his nose was runny and his blanky was too hot but his mommy had tucked him in cause he needed to be in bed.
He gently traced the little cartoon mice on his sheets.
He liked the little mice.
Some had on little birthday hats, others were astronauts, doctors, and some even steered little boats.
He imagined his Daddy's rats on little boats. Maybe sailing on the big lake past his Zio's garden.
Vinny let out a little giggle that turned into a wet cough that seemed to go on and on.
He wished his Daddy was here.
Vinny knew that his Daddy had a very important job, he was Papa. Which was kinda like being daddy to everyone in the ministry.
He had to do lots of writing and talking and meeting people.
Still, if Daddy were here he would cuddle with him and tell him everything was going to be OK.
Vinny felt his lip wobble and he sniffed and rubbed his eyes.
He tried not to be sad about Daddy not being there. Mommy was in the next room and she was taking very good care of him.
She had stayed up the whole night with him as his head hurt and he coughed. She wiped his nose and gave him lots of kisses.
But she was sleeping in the living room right now. That's why he was all tucked in, the medicine had made his head stop hurting and he was supposed to be sleep but he just couldn't. He wanted his mommy and daddy. Didn't want to be alone.
Little tears rolled down his cheeks when he suddenly felt the tingly feeling again.
This wasn't from being sick, he'd felt this before.
When it first happened he made a little ball of light float above his hand. He had been so excited to show his Zio Primo he could do magic too.
But this time it was different.
This time his whole body felt tingly, a white light started shining from his bed.
Actually it was shining right from where he had his head on the pillow.
Vinny put his hand infront of his face and the light was on his hand now.
The light kept getting brighter and brighter and his head was hurting really bad now.
He squeezed his eyes shut and covered his head with his hands.
The pressure and pulsing kept building and building and building and -
It stopped.
Vinny wiped the tears away from his face and opened his eyes.
A ghoul stood in the middle of his room.
It wasn't one of his daddy's ghouls, or his Zio's. Not even one of his ghost grandpa's either.
This was a new one.
"Hey boss." The ghoul knelt down by him. He gently reached out and placed the back of his hand on his head.
"Woah, got a bit of a fever huh? I'd almost think you were a fire ghoul."
Vinny stared at this new ghoul.
"Hello." He said softly, his voice still all weird from all the coughing and stuffiness.
The ghoul smiled kindly.
"Hello."
"What are you doing here?"
"You summoned me."
"Oh....I did?"
"Yep."
Vinny wiped his nose on his arm. The tingle was all gone and he was so tired now.
The ghoul spoke again, softer.
"How can I help you?"
Vinny sniffed and thought for a moment.
"Hug." He whispered.
The ghoul smiled kindly before standing back up. He gently turned down the covers Vinny was under and reached out to pick up the boy.
Vinny held out his arms and let himself be lifted up. The ghoul held him close to his chest, gently rumbling purrs soothing the young boy.
He closed his eyes and relaxed into the comforting embrace.
The ghoul covered them both with the blankets and Vinny rested his head on the creatures chest.
"What's your name?" He asked sleepily.
"Alioth"
Vinny tried saying it until he gave up feeling the ghoul chuckle under him. His head was all fuzzy and tired.
"That's a nice name." He mumbled.
"Thank you."
Before he fell asleep whispered again.
"Can I call you AJ?"
AJ rubbed Vinny's back as his new boss started snoring.
"Sure thing boss." He murmured.