Good morning, Happy Hump Day and Happy St Patrick's 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.
Things seem to be going more smoothly for the new family, to Chan's delight. He is unaware of what is being cooked up for his birthday. Evan and Laksha have everything in hand. Until one morning when the babysitter can't make it, and Chan has already left for work. See what's going on in this week's chapter of Super Trooper. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
Only a few more days until Chan’s birthday. Evan was
pleased at how well his plans were progressing. He took advantage of times when
he worked nights and was home during the day to continue his cooking lessons
with Laksha. He enjoyed her company, and had learned a lot about her in the
time they spent together. She was very
intelligent, an avid reader. Someday she wanted to work in the Tucker Falls
library and work with children, so they would enjoy reading too. No wonder Chan
was so proud of her. Evan was too.
Together, they shopped for the ingredients for Chan’s
dinner, and for the cake which Laksha planned to make. She wouldn’t even tell
him what kind, just smiled at him and said he could be just as surprised as Chan.
He laughed and didn’t argue.
With everything else covered, that left only the
matter of a gift. What do get Chan? When he confided his concern to Laksha, she
told him not to worry, she had him covered. A couple of days later, she told
him that Chan was interested in a particular brand of headphones, and some
music CDs. Perfect. He stopped by Tucker Falls’ only mall on the way home from
work and bought everything, then stored it in Laksha’s room, where Chan would
never find it.
Everything was certainly looking up, at least as far
as Laksha was concerned. He still had Kamal and Madhu to contend with. Kamal
had become less contentious, didn’t argue over everything Chan or Evan asked
him to do. But he also tended to ignore Evan unless he was asked a direct
question, or needed something and Chan wasn’t around. Then he grudgingly spoke
to him.
As for Madhu, she seemed to avoid him, and on the
whole was a very quiet child, which worried Evan. She must miss her parents
terribly. He wished he knew what he could do to ease her pain.
Wednesday morning, Evan was surprised to find Laksha
alone at the table, eating breakfast. Chan was at the stove, making pancakes.
An apron covered his work clothes to keep from getting them dirty.
“He’s going to be late for school,” Evan said,
worried.
“Not today. His school has a teacher work day,” Laksha
said. “Lucky him.”
Chan turned from the stove, laughing. “But you like
school.”
His sister shrugged. “I know. I like days off too.”
“I can’t argue with that. Madhu’s still asleep?” He
sounded surprised.
Laksha nodded. “She had a rough night.” She pushed
back her chair and rose, taking her dishes to the sink. Chan intercepted her
and took them from her.
“I’ll get those,” he said. He rinsed them and set
them into the dishwasher, then glanced at his watch. “I have to go in a few
minutes early,” he said.
Evan knew what he was thinking. Denise wasn’t there
yet and he wasn’t about to leave the children alone.
“I’ll stay,” Evan offered. “I’m not due yet. I’ll
wait here for Denise.”
Chan seemed greatly relieved. “Thank you, that’s a
huge help.”
Just then a pajama-clad Kamal appeared, yawning. “Mmm,
what smells so good?”
“Pancakes,” Chan replied. “You’re just in time.” He
set two big cakes on a plate and set them in front of Kamal. “Want me to cut
those for you?” he offered.
“I’m not a baby.” Kamal sounded indignant.
“No, of course not. My bad.” He turned to Evan. “Can you ask Denise to
make sure Madhu eats when she gets up? There are extra here.”
“Of course, don’t worry about it,” Evan assured him.
“Go on. I have this covered.”
As Chan removed the apron, Evan took it from him and
embraced him. They kissed briefly before Chan stepped back, giving Evan an
admiring once-over.
“Damn you look so good in your uniform,” he said. “And
out.”
“I appreciate the compliment, and may I say you look
very fine yourself.”
Chan was so pretty when he blushed. Evan reached
down for a kiss and for a moment they stood together, joined at the lips. Until
the clatter of a knife broke the mood.
“Oops!” Kamal said, diving for his fallen utensil.
“I have to go, see you tonight.” Another kiss and
Chan grabbed his lunch from the refrigerator and headed toward the door.
Evan took the dirty silverware from Kamal and gave
him a clean replacement. “Sure you don’t want some help with that?”
“I have it,” Kamal said. Evan shrugged and turned
back to his own breakfast, but he was interrupted by a knock at the front door.
He wondered if Chan had forgotten something? But he wouldn’t knock, so that
didn’t make sense.
He opened the door to find Mandy standing there. “Hi
Evan, my mom asked me to come by and let you know she can’t come today and she’s
sorry but she really doesn’t feel well and she doesn’t want to get the kids
sick. She’s sooo sorry. I can stay with them, if you like.”
Evan was tempted, but seeing the backpack Mandy was
carrying, and the way she was dressed, he realized she was on her way to
school. He couldn’t very well ask her to skip class just to babysit. What sort
of example would that set?
“No, no, that’s fine. Tell your mom to get better
soon.”
“I will. See you later.”
Once the teen had gone, Evan closed the door and
leaned against it. Okay, what was he going to do now? He knew if he called
Chan, his lover would come home immediately. But they were in this together,
this was his problem too.
Looked like he was going to stay home and play Mr.
Mom today. He just hoped Kamal and Madhu wouldn’t mind.
to be continued
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