Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #61 (14.4)

 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!

Super Trooper #61 (14.4)

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

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

 


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