Bewitched His Soul

Gabriel unpacked his luggage and started to take out all the gifts he had brought for the children.

"Here, take it, and assemble it carefully," Gabriel passed a box to Logan.

The child happily took it and was very pleased with his plan.

"Dad, dad …," a girl standing near the door screamed.

Looking at his five-year-old daughter Esther, brought a huge smile on Gabriel's face, and he opened his arms.

Esther ran and put her hands around her father's neck.

"Dad, I missed you," Esther pouted her lips.

"I also missed you, do you want to see your gift?" Gabriel ruffled her hair.

Esther nodded and asked, "Did you get me the doctor set?"

"Of course, how can I forget you will be a future Dr. Esther Santoris," Gabriel said with a doting tone. This earned a giggle from Esther.

One of the joyous moments in Gabriel's life happened when Esther was born. That day he had sworn that he would do anything to protect both his girls. His wife Violet, and daughter Esther made his life colorful.

Esther had a square-shaped face, her eyes were black as coal, her lips were thin, and her hair was too wavy. She resembled her father and had a cheerful personality.

She was one year younger than Logan and followed him everywhere like a minion. For all the mischief Logan does, Esther was always his assistant. Whatever he said, she blindly believed and followed it.

When both get caught by elders, Esther would show her puppy dog eyes and immediately apologize in a sweet voice, whereas Logan tried to argue and will continue being difficult. This made everyone forgive Esther easily and put all the blame on Logan.

Logan also showed equal loyalty only to Esther. He did not mind receiving extra scoldings and was always ready to protect his sister.

Esther was very close to her Aunt Aurora and looked up to her. She would go to Aurora's office, take the stethoscope and then check everyone's heartbeat.

Esther loved pretending to be a doctor, and all family members should act like her patients.

"Brother, did you get a plane?" Esther went to sit next to Logan.

"Yes, tomorrow we will fly it in the garden," Logan replied.

"Okay, I saw that brother Enzo had returned from school," Esther said.

Logan became alert and said, "Uncle, I have to talk to my brother."

"Give it to him," Gabriel passed some sort of puzzle box.

Logan held Esther's hand and walked in the direction of Enzo's room. Enzo had taken the corner most room so that there would be no disturbance.

The room was painted light blue, all his trophies and medals were displayed neatly on one side, and his walls had posters of all famous football players.

On his large desk, several books and loose sheets of paper covered the surface. Various newspaper cuttings and post-its were on his bulletin board.

Enzo was now twelve years old, and one can easily say that he is the replica of his father, Dimitri. As he started to grow up his soft personality vanished, and he became more aloof and dominating.

He was taller and bulkier than his peers. He was never idle, even for a minute. Studying harder than anyone, practicing karate, and being assigned the class monitor gave him a lot of responsibilities.

He loved playing football, and thrice a week he stayed back after school hours to play football with his classmates.

Logan and Esther's footsteps were light as they approached Enzo since they were a little scared of his temper. Enzo gave them one look and resumed his work.

"Uncle Gabe brought this for you," Logan placed the box on his table. Enzo looked at it for a few seconds and decided to play with it after finishing all his homework.

"Brother what are you doing?" Logan asked.

"Can't you see?" Enzo replied in a bored tone.

"What are you studying," Logan corrected his question.

"You don't even want to study your syllabus, and yet you are interested in mine?" Enzo scoffed.

"Enzo, you are a bully," Logan whined.

"Fine, tell me the actual reason why you two are here," Enzo chuckled.

"Tomorrow can I…", Logan's sentence cut off by Enzo.

"No", Enzo replied sternly.

"You did not even listen to me," Logan complained.

"I know what you want to say, and the answer is no," Enzo was harsher this time. Angrily Logan started to jump on the bed.

Enzo turned around and said, "Logan, stop jumping, you will ruin my uniform, come down".

Logan did not listen and started screaming. Enzo got up and took his ironed uniform, which the maids had just placed on the bed. He was going to use it for tomorrow.

"Logan, you know why I can't take you to my football practice," Enzo snapped.

Logan stopped moving and said innocently, "I will be good and never trouble you."

"Trouble is your middle name. The last time when you wandered off it took us an hour to find you. I got a good scolding from dad for not keeping an eye on you," Enzo stated.

"I informed you before going out," Logan grumbled.

"Ya, you told me you will go to the restroom and then ended up at the ice-cream parlor outside my school " Enzo rolled his eyes.

"It was only one time," Logan justified.

"Before that, you tore pages from my friend's notebook and made paper boats. Poor guy had to rewrite his entire math's notes," Enzo reminded him.

"I troubled you only twice," Enzo showed his fingers and tried to be serious.

"What about the time when you snatched snacks from my friend's sister and made her cry?" Enzo asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"She did not share her lollipop with me," Logan complained.

"She gave you one, but you are too greedy, you wanted both. Even if she did not share, you cannot snatch other people's things," Enzo explained.

Logan became sad, knowing he cannot convince his older brother.

Esther felt bad seeing Logan like this and coquettishly added, "Brother, I want to see you play".

Seeing Enzo standing there silently, Ester went near Enzo and pulled his hand. "Brother, please say yes," Esther asked gently.

Enzo could not say no to Esther and agreed halfheartedly. Logan happily high-fived Esther thinking that at last, his brother agreed.

"If you are finished with your request, then get out, I need to study," Enzo said as they both were chatting loudly.

"Brother, I will be a good boy tomorrow," Logan promised while walking out.

"I should be a fool to believe you," Enzo murmured under his breath.