Chan and Evan are meeting for dinner Saturday night, after Evan gets off work. But in the meantime, Chan has promised to spend some with this young siblings. 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!
Cleaning hadn’t
taken very long—selecting something appropriate from his wardrobe for tonight
had consumed far more of his time. He had waffled longer over what color to
select than anything else, and was dissatisfied with everything he found in his
closet. He wanted to strike just the right balance. Not too formal and not too
casual. Something that made him look good but not overtly seductive. Finally he
decided on a pale peach polo shirt and khaki slacks. He laid his choices out on
the bed for later, in case he ran late, then dressed quickly to meet his
family.
They lived in a
quiet residential area of Tucker Falls, within walking distance of the school
and a short drive from several parks. Chan’s mother taught at the school, and
her husband, Baljiwan—Balji, for short—owned his own insurance agency. Between
them they were able to afford a comfortable life for themselves and the
children. Even before she’d married Balji, Chan’s mother had always made sure
her son lacked for nothing, especially love. Nothing had changed when she
remarried, except for having two parents who loved him instead of one. Balji
had always treated Chan is if he were his own son, not just a stepson, even
after the little ones were born. Chan had loved them from the minute he saw
them, each and every one.
Chan parked in
the street in front of the house and sauntered up the driveway toward the
sidewalk. He could tell it was going to be a glorious day. Warm but not too
warm. The sun was reaching toward its zenith, a warm orange glow in the sky. Unseen
birds chirped merrily, as if to say all was right with the world. Could
anything bad truly happen on such a day?
He reached the
front door, but before he had a chance to knock, it was flung open with abandon
by his brother. Kamal wore a wide grin, excitement mixed with impatience. He
reached for Chan’s hand and tried to drag him inside. Chan didn’t argue and
good-naturedly allowed his brother to lead him, pausing just long enough to
close the door behind him.
“Laksha! Madhu!
Chan’s here! C’mon, let’s go!” Kamal yelled, still dragging Chan along
without pausing.
“Kamal! Mind
your manners. Your brother has only just arrived. Let him catch his breath
before you try to run off with him.” Chan’s mother emerged from the kitchen,
drying her hands on a dish towel. She smiled at both her sons, even as she
admonished the younger one. She threw the towel over one shoulder then held her
arms out toward Chan.
Chan returned
her embrace, once Kamal reluctantly released his hand. His mother’s cheeks
glowed, and her dark eyes sparkled. Chan divined the cause when Balji appeared,
also drying his hands. Even after all these years, his parents were still crazy
about one another and did the household chores jointly.
Chan kissed his
mother’s cheek, then turned toward his stepfather for another hug. His family
was very open about showing their affection for one another, a trait which Chan
greatly appreciated and emulated.
“You’re looking
good,” Balji said before addressing his younger son. “Don’t yell that way, none
of us is deaf. Besides, give your brother a chance to visit with us. The park
isn’t going anywhere, is it?”
“No, but what if
it rains?” the seven-year-old argued. “Then what? We should go now, while the
weather is still good.”
“You always
worry for nothing.” This was from Laksha, who had just joined them. Just
eleven, she was already as tall as their mother, and blossoming into young
womanhood. Chan knew it was only a matter of time until the boys began to flock
about her, but at this age they were luckily still into video games, for the
most part. “Besides, it’s just a park. No big deal.” She tousled Kamal’s hair
as she spoke, and winked at Chan, out of her younger brother’s sight.
“Just a park? Just a park?” Kamal’s voice began to
rise in indignation. “It’s more than that. It’s fried chicken too, remember,
Laks? And Chan! We have Chan today!”
“You make it
sound like he’s never here.” Laksha laughed. “You’re so silly.”
“Am not!” Kamal
insisted. “And you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Not like you play
with us anyway!”
“Kamal!” Maa
said in a stern voice. “You don’t talk to you sister like that. Apologize to
Laksha right now. You know you don’t mean that.”
“Well,” the boy
began, but at a look from their mother he backed down. “No, I want her to come,
of course. But she shouldn’t make fun of me for wanting not to get rained on.
Besides, she always has her nose in a book when we go to the park.”
“And what is
wrong with that?” Balji interjected. “Reading is important. You like to read
too, don’t you?” He swept the child up into his arms until they were at eye
level with one another.”
“Yes, but not at
the park.” Kamal was not about to be deterred in proving he was right.
Another country
heard from.
Chan felt a tug
at his pants leg and glanced down to find Madhu standing there, looking as
though she’d just rolled out of bed. Perhaps she had. Little girls like her
tended to take naps still. She gave him the sweetest smile and held her arms
up. He lifted her up and hugged her tightly.
to be continued
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