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.
I know Christmas has just passed, but in the spirit of the season, I wrote a little bit of fanfic featuring the YouTube gamers, the Game Grumps. I hope you like my little Danny and Arin story. Don't forget to visitt the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
The halls were decked, the mistletoe hung, the Christmas
tree fabulous with sparkling ornaments and glittering tinsel, and yet the
Hanson-Avidan household wasn’t exactly stuffed with good will to men. Danny
sighed for the thousandth time. He paused in curling a bright gold bow to go on
another present for his spouse, Arin. This would be their first Christmas as a
married couple, although they’d celebrated many such occasions together in the
past as single friends. Danny had had such high hopes for this holiday, but
Arin was throwing up his yearly fuss. And what was the cause of such
perturbation on the part of one half of the popular Youtubers, the Game
Grumps? What else – Jingle Grumps, of
course.
It’s not that Arin had no desire to play the Christmas-oriented
games which Danny so looked forward to every year. It’s just that he always had
to complain about the hidden object games which Danny loved, referring to them
as stupid and childish. Danny had once suggested – off camera, of course – that
Arin didn’t like them because he wasn’t as good at them as other games. And
hadn’t that caused a kerfluffle!
Danny hadn’t meant it to come out as harshly as it sounded.
But to compound everything else, he was feeling ill. It’s hard to keep your
spirits bright when you find yourself upchucking first thing every morning and
half the day.
The front door opened. At the sound, Danny hurriedly affixed
the bow and set the completed present beneath the tree in their LA living room.
He did love LA but there were times when he missed the white Christmases he’d
known in New Jersey. He scrambled to his feet and fixed a smile upon his face
to welcome his husband, who had run to the bakery to get the doughnuts Danny
had requested.
“Hey, Arin, you’re back!”
“No, my front,” Arin replied and quickly spun around,
grinning.
Danny couldn’t help but laugh. Even though he’d heard it a
zillion times, the joke never grew old. “What’d you do, buy the place out?” he
asked at the sight of the boxes piled in Arin’s arms.
“Just about, I think.” Arin headed to the kitchen, Danny
trailing behind. “I wanted to make sure you had what you wanted. Whatever’s
left, I thought I would give to the shelter.” Danny and Arin were arden
supporters of a homeless shelter about twenty minutes away from their home, and
often donated their time and energy to the people who stayed there, including
food and clothing. This time of year was especially hard on the homeless, and
the two Game Grumps realized how fortunate they were, not just to have
successful careers but to have one another. And they liked to give back to the
community.
Once they had eaten their fill of the delicous baked goods,
and were starting to relax by the tree, Danny suddenly sprang to his feet and
rushed to the bathroom. Oh no, not again! By the time he had finished
worshiping before the porcelain altar and returned, Arin had his cell phone in
hand and was saying good-bye to someone.
Danny gave him a quizzical look. “What’s up?”
“I made you an appointment with Dr. Rumack. I told him
what’s happening, and he said to bring you in as soon as possible.”
Danny gave an exasperated sigh. “Arin, we don’t have time
for that nonsense, I told you—”
Arin shushed his protestations with a firm but gentle kiss,
and Danny knew the argument was lost before it had even beguns. Fifteen minutes
later, he was being ushered into Dr. Rumack’s office while Arin waited, rather
nervously, in the waiting room, the latest copy of Highlights in hand.
Dr. Rumack was a tall, distinguished-looking gentleman with
silver hair and a blinding but friendly smile. He’d been their doctor for ages,
and they didn’t trust anyone else with their medical needs.
“So, Arin tells me he thinks you’ve come down with
something,” the doctor began. Danny sat on the exam table, wearing only a thin
paper gown which barely covered his gangly frame.
“He worries too much.” Danny laughed, although the sound
lacked its usual mirth. He just hoped he wouldn’t get nauseous here. That would
be so embarrassing.
“Well, newlyweds. I know how that is. Why don’t you lie down
and let me take a look, hmmm?”
Ten minutes later, Danny was dressed once more and sitting
in the doctor’s office in a state of shock, having heard his diagnosis. Even
with Arin beside him, Danny couldn’t believe what he’d heard.
“Surely you’re not saying that I… I mean me… I mean this
guy….” Danny stammered.
“Yes, you’re pregnant,” Dr. Rumack confirmed. “And don’t
call me Shirley.”
Danny turned to Arin, who seemed as delighted as he was
shocked. But how was this possible? Last time he checked, Danny was a male, and
men just didn’t get pregnant.
“Dr. Rumack, does this mean the baby will have to come out
Danny’s poop chute?” Arin asked.
At that rather painful image, Danny screamed.
Danny bolted upright, shaking like a leaf. Wait, where was
he? As he began to calm down, he recognized his own bedroom. And beside him,
sound asleep was his own wife, Ashley. He began to breathe a little more evenly
as he’d realized that had been nothing but a dream. But wow, what a dream. He’d
have to tell Arin about it tomorrow as they worked on the latest episode of
Jingle Grumps.
As he lay back down and drifted off to sleep, though, he
couldn’t help but wonder what being married to Arin might really be like.
to be continued
Now go see what's up with the other Briefers!
Cia Nordwell
J Ray Lamb
