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

 

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #38 (8.5)

 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.

Evan watches as Chan breaks the news to his sister and brother about their parents. As the three siblings grieve, Evan wishes he could do more to help. 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 #38 (8.5)

Evan felt helpless in the face of so much grief. He continued to softly stroke Chan’s back, unsure what else to do, as the siblings cried together over the loss of their parents. Evan’s own parents had died when he was a teenager. Murder/suicide the police had called it. Evan hadn’t been witness to what had happened—they’d kicked him out of the house when he was seventeen, and their deaths had occurred just a few weeks later. He’d only found out from reading the front page of the local newspaper. He’d often suspected that had he says, he would become just another part of their gruesome story. He couldn’t find it in himself to mourn either one of them. They’d both made his childhood a time of terror and cruelty. At lease he had survived them. What was that saying?

What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.

But this… this was loss such as he’d never seen before. He had to do something to help, but he didn’t know what he should do, or even could do. He’d been the bearer of bad tidings before in the course of his time as a State Trooper, but this was different.

At least he could help Chan take care of the practical side of things, such as planning the funeral, checking to see if his parents had left a will, and so on.

And just be there for Chan for anything else he needed Evan for.

He was struck by a sudden thought, something that had not occurred to him until that moment, as he watched Chan and the children express their grief… what was going to happen to the children? They were orphans now. Had Chan’s parents made any allowance for such an occurrence? Had it ever occurred to them to set up a contingency plan in the event of their deaths?

While he knew they had to figure that out, he also knew it wasn’t a subject he cared to raise in front of them, either. He and Chan needed to be alone for that, so they could sort things out. First things first. All he wanted right now was to help them get through this horrible night.

“Chan,” he began softly, touching his arm.

Chan turned toward him, and Evan’s heart broke at the sight of his large tear-filled eyes.

“You should stay with them tonight,” he said. “They need you.”

“I will,” Chan readily agreed. “Will you please stay too?”

Evan hadn’t even considered that an option, and he wasn’t sure how the children would feel about his presence. But he understood that Chan needed him… needed him very badly… how could he do anything else but stay with him?

“Of course,” he promptly replied, glad to see some of the tension drain from Chan’s face. Staying was the least he could do for the man he loved. “Is there a guest bedroom?” Somehow he didn’t feel right about sleeping in Chan’s parents’ bed, not when the wound was so fresh. That just didn’t feel right.

Chan didn’t seem to question why he asked, so perhaps he felt the same way too. “Yes, there is. Maa keeps everything ready, in case of unexpected guests…” His voice broke for a moment but he quickly brought himself under control with a sniffle, before turning back to his siblings.

“It’s getting late,” he said. “Time for bed. There is much to do tomorrow.”

“I don’t want to go to bed,” Kamal protested. He folded his arms across his chest and glared at Chan and Evan both, as if defying either of them or both of them to make him go to sleep. “I want to stay up with you.”

“Kamal, behave,” his sister chastised, probably out of habit. Her tone held no real bite.

“We’re going to bed too,” Chan assured the young boy. “So there’s no reason for you to stay up. Everything will be dark in here. Much better for you to be in bed. We’ll be right in the guest room if you need anything, okay?”

Kamal grumbled a little more. “What about my story?” he said, as if looking for an excuse to argue. “Who will read to me?”

“I will,” Laksha quickly volunteered. “Go wash up and brush your teeth, then pick out a story and I’ll be in when you’re ready.”

Kamal mulled her words over, and for a moment, Evan thought he would complain about something else, but instead he nodded and jumped up from the couch. “I’ll be super quick,” he said before he raced out of the room and out of sight.

“Thank you for staying with us,” Laksha said in a small voice.

“Of course, I’m your big brother,” Chan said. “I’ll always be here for you.” He hugged her against him, and for a long moment, nothing was said. Finally, Laksha drew back.  “I-I’ll see you in the morning, Chan. Sleep well.” She turned large liquid eyes toward Evan. “Sleep well,” she repeated with a formal bow before she slid off the couch and scurried quickly out of the room. He hadn’t expected a hug, so wasn’t surprised or disappointed at not receiving one.

Once the girl was out of sight, he felt Chan relax back against him, his muscles going limp, as if he couldn’t maintain his strong façade any longer. Evan wound his arms around him and held him close.

“We’ll get through this,” he promised Chan. “Never doubt that.”

“I don’t,” Chan said softly.

 to be continued

Now see what's up with the other Briefers!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #37 (8.4)

 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.

Chan has to tell his younger siblings that their parents have died, the hardest thing he's ever had to do. How will he handle this? Good thing he has Evan by his side. 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 #37 (8.4)

Chan swallowed. And then he took a deep breath. Evan’s hand at the base of his spine was a source of great comfort, as well as giving him the confidence to do what had to be done. He wasn’t surprised that his sister had surmised something was wrong. He must look terrible. He would have to try harder, if he wanted to keep her from falling apart. Laksha was very mature for her age. Already a young woman in many ways. Even so, this would not be easy for her.

He took a seat facing Laksha on the sofa, and felt Evan drop down beside him.  He took her hands in his own, his eyes locked on hers. He could see unease there, maybe even the beginning of panic. He squeezed her hands gently, to help keep her focused.

“Laksha, listen to me, please. I have to tell you something, and it’s not going to be easy, but please… please…” For a moment he blanked. Where was he going with that thought? Please don’t get upset? An impossible request. Please don’t worry? More reasonable, yet still not right.

“Please remember that I love you,” he finally concluded.

“Chan, if you’re trying to scare me, I don’t think that’s very nice of you,” Laksha said, glancing between him and Evan, who remained silent. “Is something wrong with you? Are you ill? Please tell me you’re not dying?”

“What?  Oh no, no, no,” he hastily reassured her. He hadn’t expected her to jump to such a conclusion, but then again, he hadn’t given her much else to work from, either. “It’s not me, it’s Maa and Pita… there’s been an accident… “

Laksha’s eyes widened. “An accident? You mean, like a car accident? Are they hurt? Where are they, Chan?” She began to rise as if she intended to find them, wherever they were, tried to shake off his hands. But he held tight until she reluctantly resumed her seat.

“Yes, a car accident. A very bad one.” Chan felt the tears he hadn’t shed gathering. He struggled to maintain his composure, for his sister’s sake. “Laksha, I-I…. Th-they….” He took another deep breath. “I’m afraid they were hurt very badly. Too badly. The doctor said it was very quick, they didn’t suffer.”

Laksha attempted again to pull her hands away from his grip, her dark brows drawn down in anger. “Chan, that’s not funny. Don’t say something like that. If this is a joke, it’s in bad taste… I’m going to tell our mother and she’ll give you a piece of her mind for being so horrible…” But even as she said this, he could see her dawning comprehension, even as her face screwed up and she launched herself at him, hitting his chest with her closed fists.

“No, no, no, you lie, you lie, you lie….” Her voice rose, becoming shriller.

Chan wrapped his arms around her and held her while she ineffectively flailed at him. “It’s all right, it’s going to be all right,” he murmured, tears raining down his cheeks. He could feel Evan’s hand stroking his back, lending him strength. Still, he’d never felt so helpless in his life. Eventually, his sister stopped struggling against him, her slender frame shaking as she sobbed into his bosom.

“Hey, you wanna wake Madhu?” Kamal burst into the room. He was dressed in superhero pajamas, his phone in his hand. He looked at Chan in confusion, scratched at his head. “What’s going on? Chan, what are you guys doing here? Laksha, why are you crying? Are you hurt?” He rushed to her side, glaring at Evan for good measure, as if he suspected somehow he had caused his sister’s tears.

At Kamal’s entrance, Laksha’s sobbing lessened as she struggled to get her breathing under control, for her little brother’s sake. She pulled back from Chan, turning toward Kamal.

“Kamal, come here.” She scooted back and patted the couch with one hand, while wiping at her cheeks with the other, sniffling. He seemed reluctant, but finally took a seat, casting uneasy glances between her and Chan. Chan’s heart broke all over again.

“What’s going on?” Kamal repeated warily.

Laksha put her arms around him. “There’s been an accident. Maa and Pita…” Her voice broken.

“Tell me, Chan,” Kamal demanded. For a moment, Chan thought he might throw off his sister’s embrace, but he made no move to do so.

As Chan repeated the story he’d told their sister, he watched the little boy’s world shatter into a million pieces… and there was nothing he could do about it.

 to be continued

Now go see what's up with the other Briefers!

 Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp