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.
Chan is just leaving work when he receives a call from his brother, who is bored and wants to play with him. How can he refuse? See what is 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!
True to his word, Kamal was waiting in the front yard
when Chan pulled his car up beside Evan’s cruiser. Whooping with excitement, he
rushed his brother the moment he stepped out of his car and refused to allow
Chan even a minute to take his briefcase inside the house. His Texas Rangers
cap on his head, he was armed with his favorite Frisbee, with a ball and glove
as back-up. Chan couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiastic little brother.
“Here, set this on the porch for me,” Chan said, taking
the Frisbee. He waited until Kamal did as he asked before he flipped the disc
into the air. Kamal leapt for it with all the agility of youth.
Chan had only intended to play for a few minutes but
half an hour passed before he realized it, between throwing the Frisbee and
playing catch. He’d half expected Evan or Laksha to come out of the house, but
that hadn’t happened. Although he had noticed the curtains rustle more than
once, so he knew his presence had been duly noted. Which made him all the more curious
to know what was going on inside.
“Let’s take a break,” Chan suggested at last. “How
about we get something to drink?”
“Okay,” Kamal said agreeably.
Chan was more than ready to sit. He must be getting
soft if half an hour of exertion tired him out. Maybe he needed to hit the gym
or something. He was sure Evan wouldn’t mind, even if with that magnificent
body of his he could utterly put Chan to shame. Chan didn’t care. That
magnificent body was all his. The thought made him smile.
“Think of something funny?” Kamal asked. He was
running circles around Chan as they made their way toward the house. He wished
he could bottle his brother’s endless supply of energy.
“Not really.” Chan laughed as he pushed open the
front door. He half expected to find
Evan and Laksha in the living room, but he saw no sign of them. A sudden
clatter of pots and pans told him he was on the right track. He was halfway
across the room when suddenly Madhu burst through the doorway. She made a
beeline toward him, arms outstretched. Pausing just long enough to swing her up
and onto his hip, he continued toward the kitchen.
“Honey, I’m home,” he called out in a sing-song
voice, anticipating the sight of his lover coming to greet him. Instead, Laksha
emerged, a cup of something in one hand.
“I have tea for you,” she greeted him. “Come, sit
down. Take it easy.”
She shooed him ahead of her, so he had no choice but
to turn and retrace his steps. What warranted such treatment? Surely something
more than his return from work. “Is Evan in the kitchen?” he asked, craning his
neck even as he took a seat on the couch. Laksha set the cup on a coaster
before him. She started to reply, but another clatter spoke volumes. Who else
could be there other than Evan?
“Is something wrong?” Chan asked, concerned. “Is he looking for something?” But if it was
that simple, Laksha would be helping him, wouldn’t she? Not standing here
clearly running interference.
“Of course not. How was your day?” She took a seat
in the nearest armchair. “How is your tea?”
He hadn’t even tasted it yet. Hugging Madhu, he
kissed her cheek and set her on the couch beside him. “Chan home,” she said
with a big smile, which he easily returned before he dutifully picked up the
steaming cup and took a cautious sip.
“Very good,” he said. “Thank you.” He wasn’t sure if
that was an answer to his day or the tea or both. Both worked, as far as he was
concerned.
At just that moment, Evan emerged from the kitchen
looking good enough to eat. If they’d been alone, Chan would have been happy to
do just that.
“Welcome home, Chan.” Evan gave him a most radiant
smile, and suddenly Chan didn’t care what he’d been doing in the kitchen. All
that mattered was he was here, now. “How was your day.”
“Good,” Chan replied. “Better now.” He rose just as
Evan reached him, and they came together for a quick kiss… or two. Kamal was
just coming from his bedroom, having put his stuff away.
“Oh yuck,” he said automatically before turning to
Laksha. “What’s to eat?”
“Nothing if you’re going to be rude,” Laksha said. “But
if you’re good, I’ll make you some lunch.”
Lunch. He never bothered to take lunch with him on a
Saturday. His stomach rumbled, as if to remind him of the fact.
“How about grilled cheese?” Laksha suggested.
“Can we have potato chips too?” Kamal asked.
“Sure,” Evan answered. “Why don’t I help?”
Chan expected his sister to turn up her nose at Evan’s
offer of assistance, and braced himself for the fall-out. But to his surprise,
she said, “Sure.”
Evan kissed Chan again. “I’m glad you’re home,” he
whispered. “I missed you.”
Chan’s heart swelled at the words. “I missed you
too,” he confessed. He had a feeling he was wearing what his mother used to
call his goofy love-sick smile, but he didn’t care. He was too happy to mind.
One last kiss and then Evan trailed Laksha into the
kitchen. Chan seated himself again and took Madhu onto his lap. “Tell me about
your day, little one,” he said.
to be continued
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