Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.
Following the unexpected death of Chan's parents, decisions have had to be made, including where they will all live, now that they are to become on big family. See what's going on in this week's chapter of Super Troopers. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
True to his word, Chan kept Laksha and Kamal out of
school for two days. But he did make sure they received their homework
assignments, and apprised the school that he was their guardian now. The lady
he spoke to in the office was very nice and very sympathetic, and told him she
would let their teachers know. He gave her his contact information, and Evan’s
as well. Better safe than sorry.
Mandy wasn’t available to babysit Madhu full time,
Chan learned to his chagrin. But luckily, she told him her mother Denise was.
Chan didn’t want to impose on her, and told Mandy he would find someone. But
mere minutes after he hung up, a knock came at the door and there was Denise.
She was in her early forties, with red and blue highlights in her brunette hair,
and a wide smile. She assured him that she would be happy to watch Madhu, and
the other two when they got out of school, and not to worry about anything.
Turned out she had actually watched the kids before when Mandy couldn’t, and
they all knew and liked her. Chan relented and accepted her offer. One less
worry off his mind.
“She seemed nice,” Evan commented once they’d seen
her to the door, having settled on various details to everyone’s satisfaction.
“She does,” Chan admitted. “And she doesn’t mind
coming here, which is good. That way, she’s home when Laksha and Kamal get out
of school.” He’d been worried about that too, not wanting them to come home to
an empty house. Now they wouldn’t have to.
Even contacted the apartment manager, who told him
she might have someone willing to sublet for the remainder of his lease, she’d
let him know. Meanwhile, they had to decide what to keep and what to get rid
of. They took the children to the apartment so they could be a part of the
decision-making. Chan wanted them to feel comfortable with the choices they
made, not feel as if they had no voice in anything.
They’d seen everything before, when visiting their
brother. But this was different. Now they were to decide what was going into
their home. Chan couldn’t help but feel nervous as Laksha and Kamal took inventory
of what was essentially Evan’s furniture. He wasn’t sure what they might be
thinking.
“Here, sit on the couch,” he beckoned to Kamal,
patting it in what he hoped was an inviting manner.
Kamal sat on the very edge, looking as if he was ready
to fly up at any moment.
“What do you think?” Evan asked from Chan’s other
side.
The boy shrugged. “I guess it’s nice,” he said. “I
like ours better.”
And that’s how he answered every question put to
him. Laksha was more polite, but Chan could see that she too preferred what
they had to what was in Evan’s apartment.
“I have an idea,” Evan said. He took Chan’s hand in
his squeezed it.
Chan was trying not to convey his disappointment. He
wished to please Evan too, and he didn’t want to hurt his lover’s feelings by
rejecting everything he owned. The children had even turned up their noses at
Evan’s lovely bedroom set. He couldn’t help but feel a little frustrated, but
then admonished himself for having such uncharitable feelings.
“This is only stuff,” he said. “Your parents house is
filled with loving memories. Maybe I can leave it for the next tenant, at least
some of it?”
Chan’s heart expanded at Evan’s generosity. He must
understand how much the children were clinging to what they knew. They’d been
through so much already, how could he tear their familiar surroundings from
them? He was relieved to hear Evan echo his thoughts.
“Thank you,” he said, then leaned over and kissed
him softly. The beautiful smile he received in turn more than made everything
worthwhile.
to be continued
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