Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #62 (14.5)

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. 

After seeing Chan off to work, Evan learns the babysitter is sick, so he decides to stay with Kamal and Madhu. Is he biting off more than he can chew? 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 #62 (14.5)

Evan’s request for a day off was quickly given, luckily. Otherwise, he wasn’t sure what he would have done. After getting off the phone with his supervisor, he slid it into his pocket and returned to the kitchen. Kamal was just finishing his pancakes. He looked up from his plate, giving Evan an inquisitive glance as he searched for something or someone.

“Denise can’t come today. She doesn’t feel well,” Evan explained.

“Oh,” Kamal said. “Is Mandy coming then?” He dragged his fork through the remnants of syrup on his plate, his brow furrowed.

“No, I’m going to stay here with you and Madhu today.” For a moment, Evan wondered if maybe he’d made the wrong decision, if maybe he should have called Chan after all. Judging by Kamal’s expression, he was none too pleased at the turn of events.

“Is something wrong?” Evan slid into the seat across from Kamal. He’d found that people responded better if you weren’t towering over them.  Not to mention, he hadn’t eaten yet.

“Nooo.” The way Kamal drew out the single word told Evan that wasn’t exactly the truth. Was it because he didn’t want Evan there on his day off? Or maybe he had other plans. The boy’s next words confirmed his suspicion.

“Um… well…” Kamal hemmed and hawed before finally bursting out with, “Some of my friends are coming over to play with me today.”

Evan felt relief at those simple words. Nothing horrible, just plans seemingly gone awry for their free day. Probably something Kamal had been looking forward to.

“No problem,” Evan said, offering Kamal a smile. “They can still come over if I’m here, can’t they?”

Kamal mulled this over for a moment, scratching his temple. “I guess so,” he said. “You mean, it’s okay with you if they come over?” He sounded hesitant, as if he hated to ask. Evan wondered if the boy thought of him as mean or menacing in some way. He hoped he didn’t come across that way. There was such a fine line between being watchful and being strict, though. And he wasn’t sure of himself yet with Chan’s siblings.

“Of course it’s okay,” he assured him. “Are you full? Maybe you can find room for another pancake or two?”

He watched Kamal fight some kind of inner battle with himself, as if he didn’t want to ask for Evan’s help with anything. But his stomach won that round.

“Yes, please,” he replied.

“Here, take mine, I’ll make some more.” Evan slid his plate across to Kamal, who happily accepted them. He knew Chan always made extra batter, so it was no problem to reheat the skillet and make himself some more.  Just as he finished, Madhu toddled into the room, rubbing her eyes and clutching her stuffed wolf. She glanced between Evan and Kamal.

“Chan?” she asked hopefully.

“Not today,” Kamal said. “He’s at work. Evan’s going to stay with us.”

Evan noticed that Madhu was shuffling from one foot to the next. He recognized the signs immediately. “You want me to take you to the bathroom?” he offered.

Madhu tugged at Kamal’s hand. “Kamal take,” she said.

Evan wasn’t surprised. He was usually her last choice for that particular duty. He tried not to read into that. She was just a baby, and she didn’t really know him very well.

“Kamal, do you mind?”

“No, I’ll do it.” He slid from his seat and took his sister’s hand. “Come on, Madhu. We have pancakes for breakfast.”

Madhu smiled and let her brother lead her away. Evan decided to warm her pancakes and have them ready when she returned. Now, how was he going to keep her occupied and happy all day?

 to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #44 (10.2)

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.

On the day of the wake for his parents, Chan isn't sure what to do about his little sister, what to tell her. Death is difficult to explain at best, but to a child who isn't even three? 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 going on with them. Their links follow my tale!  Enjoy!

Super Trooper #44 (10.2)

The next day, Chan was conflicted about what to do about Madhu. She had to be told the truth about what had happened, but he wasn’t sure what the best way to do that was. He and Evan did a little research on the Internet, and what they read suggested she was too young to truly understand death. He felt as though if he took her to the funeral home with them, she would just be confused by what she saw, especially when Maa and Pita didn’t move or respond to her entreaties. So he decided to tell her what he could before he left her with Mandy for the short time they would be gone.

Madhu was very bright, and she’d already realized something was wrong… she just didn’t know what. She wandered from room to room, calling for her parents, until one of her siblings distracted her with a toy or a book or something to eat. But Chan knew that couldn’t last forever.

Chan made pancakes for breakfast, covering the cakes in thick fruit jam, the way his mother had. Naturally, Madhu became a huge sticky mess, but he’d expected as much. While Evan sat with Laksha and Kamal, Chan washed his littlest sister and then took her into their parents’ room. On the nightstand beside the bed were framed photographs of the family. He picked up one that contained Maa and Pita when they were just married. How happy they looked. How young. He showed Madhu and she took it from his hands. “Maa,” she said in a confused voice, so pitiful that Chan wanted to cry. But he held himself together for her sake.

Madhu glanced around the room. “Want Maa,” she said, a requested she’d been repeating frequently.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Chan said softly. He pulled her onto his lap, still clutching the photograph. “I’m afraid Maa and Pita are gone. We won’t be able to see them anymore, because they have died.” He knew that the concept of death would be an alien one to her, but someday she would understand. He just needed to lay the foundation for that understanding now.

“See this picture?” He pointed to the photo in her hand. She nodded mutely.

“They were so happy that day because they got married and promised to love each other forever. And they were happy because they knew they were going to have babies to love too. Lasksha and Kamal and you. They loved you so much. Never forget that.”

She gave him a quizzical look. He was sure this words had gone over her head for the most part. Hopefully she would understand and retain the love message.

He kissed her cheek. “Love Madhu,” he said.

“Chan love Madhu?” she echoed. Chan nodded.

“Very much. Maa and Pita love Madhu too. Forever.” He had brought one of her favorite books with him, keeping it out of sight until the right moment. Now he reached for it. Her frown turned into a radiant smile. “Read story?”

“Yes, I’m going to read the story,” he assured her. The book was about an elephant named Babar, and it was one of her favorites. She snuggled into his arms, holding the photo securely, as he began to read.

 to be continued

Now see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

Carol Pedroso