Jimmy went back to his room to wash up, and when he came out, he found his mother and Sheldon talking about arithmetic. Soon after, they all headed together to the Cooper house.
Yes, Jimmy truly considered Judy someone worthy of his respect. After all, besides himself, he hadn't met anyone so intelligent in his surroundings—until he got to know Judy better.
Of course, few knew that Jimmy had inherited his intelligence from his mother.
"Is Dad still watching that soap opera?" Jimmy asked as he followed behind Sheldon.
"Yes, he's excited to see how it ends," Judy replied, knowing full well that she couldn't pry her husband away from the TV.
When they arrived at Sheldon's house, compared to the misery of the night before, the atmosphere inside the Cooper home was much brighter and livelier.
Missy was running around the house in a flowery dress. George Jr. was sitting in front of the television, excitedly watching a recorded football game.
In the kitchen, Mary was busy preparing a sumptuous meal.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, thank you for having us," Judy said as she entered, smiling warmly at the hosts. She then walked over to George to inquire about his health, showing genuine empathy.
George, still surprised by all the love he'd received over the past hours, joked, "I'm feeling better. Maybe I should get sick more often so everyone worries about me."
He couldn't deny it—it felt nice to be the center of so much sudden attention. Even Connie, who usually reproached him for everything, seemed a little sweeter than usual.
"I hope that won't be necessary," Judy replied with a smile, sincerely wishing health to the man who seemed so kind.
"Don't get confused, this won't last forever," Connie said calmly.
Although George seemed gentle and kind now, he had been quite the troublemaker when he was young. He had married Mary after little George Jr. arrived unexpectedly.
Because of this, Grandma Connie had always harbored a bit of resentment toward George.
Now, however, the conflicts between them seemed to have faded in the face of George's serious illness.
At that moment, Sheldon began to search for meaning in his existence: "I prayed fervently to God and asked Him to bless my father with a safe recovery."
"Yes, my little one is the best," Connie said, pulling Sheldon into a hug. Sheldon, caught off guard, didn't quite know what to do.
Meanwhile, Missy, seeing Jimmy arrive, quickly composed herself, sitting at the dining table like a proper lady.
Seeing the happy family scene, Mary smiled and said, "Alright, let's pray before dinner and thank God for all the blessings we've received."
This time, little Sheldon prayed more seriously than ever.
Jimmy could vaguely hear him muttering: "Almighty God, please bless our family with good health! Also, bless Jimmy... help him succeed so he can pay me properly for all the overwork he's putting me through. And make Missy pick up her dirty clothes and make sure George Jr. bathes at least four times a week."
"Sheldon seems to think God is some kind of all-powerful wish-granting machine," Jimmy thought, amused by his friend's sincere prayers.
"Amen."
When Mary finished her blessing, little Sheldon still hadn't finished listing all his requests.
"Try my stew—you'll be surprised!" Mary said, proudly promoting the dish, which was her own interpretation of her mother's classic recipe.
Jimmy wasn't picky about food. As long as it filled him up, he was happy.
The atmosphere at the Cooper family table was very relaxed. There were no strict rules about not talking or sleeping during meals.
Noticing George opening a beer out of habit, Jimmy pulled George's medical report from his pocket and advised him seriously, "George, your medical report shows high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and high blood sugar. You should stop drinking alcohol and cut down on greasy foods…"
Seeing that Jimmy was serious, Mary took the report, looked at the dense medical terminology, and couldn't make much sense of it. She had no choice but to ask, "Is it really that bad?"
"It's more serious than you think," Jimmy said. "If you want to prevent a relapse, it would be best for George to start doing some moderate outdoor exercise and maybe lose a little weight."
As the one affected, George understood deeply how dangerous things had gotten the day before. He touched his growing belly and looked at the cold beer in his hand with a conflicted expression.
It's really hard to suddenly change your lifestyle after getting used to a life of ease and comfort.
"George, if you'd like, you can work out with me in the future. Don't worry—you'll only need a little exercise, plus some supplements I'll prepare for you..." Jimmy offered again, seeing George's hesitation.
"Well..." George looked at the beer in his hand, still a little reluctant.
"Daddy, don't worry. I made a deal with God, and He'll bless you with good health," said Sheldon, dressed in his believer's white outfit, as if he could hear the Lord's call at that moment.
"Thanks..." George smiled, feeling comforted. After a moment of hesitation, he set the cold beer aside.
Mary, who knew her husband's character well, also tried to encourage him: "George, we all know moderate exercise is good for your health. You can adjust little by little. We believe in you."
"Well, I'll just stop drinking and do some outdoor exercise. I'll think it over..." George said, a bit reluctantly.
Although George hadn't made any firm promises yet, it was still a good start.
Then everyone happily enjoyed Mary's stew in peace.