The two little girls are ushered into the hall by a slightly less little one, who pulls a bright blue wagon with a couple of raincoats patched over it to shield its cargo. The little girls have umbrellas - tattered ones, now - and rain slickers. Bridgette's doesn't exactly fit. Phoebe's does.
Parker's really regretting not taking the truck, now. She drops the handle of the wagon and ignores the shallow tear on her neck where a bit of hail struck at just the wrong angle and crouches next to her kids.
Phoebe launches herself at her and squeezes her in a hug, not sniffling because she's a brave girl and she doesn't sniffle (and you be quiet when bad things happen so those bad things don't happen to YOU).
"Now, hush, hush, 'sall right now," Parker murmurs, looking at Bridge as she pushes Phoebe's hood down and begins stroking her hair. There's enough room for Bridge to hug her too, if she needs it.
Bridge looks around, obviously holding a heavy invisible something in one arm which she gratefully lets down. She reaches down and holds onto Marie's hand thin air as she looks around. So many people. She hasn't seen this many people since (the bad men came with guns)....
She folds up her umbrella - or tries to. It's at the state where it won't fold. "I like thunder storms," she says, and if the slight quaver in her voice denies her words, well, that's easy to ignore. "They're like fireworks, except only of one colour. And we got to stay inside and play games. Remember, Mar--" Marie is tugging her closer to Parker. Bridgette looks up at the older girl solemnly.
Phoebe's shaken enough to not say something biting (or as biting as a four year old can manage, at least) and Parker's not even grateful. She can't make a storm stop; she's praying, sure, but storms run their course as God intends and there isn't much His children can do about it.
"Better bring her over here, then," Parker says, opening her arm wide to accept the little invisible girl.
Bridgette needs to nudge Marie a little, but she watches her friend - her best friend, she told the sheriff, and she reflects that it doesn't matter what age Parker is - hug her sister. The hug Marie gives is very long.
She nods once, then quickly turns her attention to her backpack and taking stuff out of it.
"Nuh-uh," Phoebe says, bouncing back enough already to be getting lippy again. "I've got my sister helping me."
"Not for much longer with that mouth of yours," Parker mutters, kissing the top of her head as she keeps her arm curled around nothing for awhile longer before releasing it and making as if to direct a small child back in Bridge's direction, letting go of Phoebe and straightening up to go claim a corner and a couple cots for them.
She unpacks what they need for the now, bandaging her neck with practiced hands before setting up their little encampment. She fishes a picture book out of her own bag and settles on one of the benches.
If perhaps Marie doesn't let go of Parker and only lets go when she goes to claim cots - if perhaps Parker's hands go right through Marie - well, only Bridgette would know for sure. And she's not telling (thinking), just watching Parker's face.
"Feel better?" she asks her sister, reaching out and holding her hand nothing. Marie nods and smiles shyly. "Parger good." "Parker is good," Bridgette corrects, like how Ariel used to do with her.
She approaches, gives Parker a concerned look at the bandage, then claims a cot while saying, "I want one!" A pause to confer. "And so does Marie!"
Parker smiles briefly when Bridge corrects 'Marie', a flicker of expression that goes almost before it has time to be seen at all, and she pats the seat besides her as Phoebe takes the initiative to claim the coveted lap seat.
"Well, that's good, 'cause you were gonna get one any which way," she teases, gently, holding the book out to be visible to everybody. "Let's see...we got some options here. Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, The Seven Swans, Cinderella...Jack in the Beanstalk?"
-- then closes it and shrugs. "I'm up for whatever." There's a quick glance beside her. Marie cuddles up to Bridgette, head on her sister's shoulder. Bridgette puts her arm around Marie's shoulder the air beside her.
"Jack." Phoebe says this very firmly. Parker inches closer to Bridge, clears her throat, and begins.
It's a well worn rendition, and one that clearly holds no surprises for Parker or Phoebe. Parker has this story telling thing down to an art, and holds every pause just so. She even does all the voices.
Bridgette listens, enjoying the story even as she remembers Mommy reading it to her.
When it's finished, she compliments, "That was very good," like a master judging a student. Another glance to her side. "And Marie liked it." Marie is actually dozing.
"Why, thankya, sensei." Parker's either in a good mood or trying to keep everyone's minds occupied; Phoebe giggles, at least, so something good comes of either explanation.
Parker smiles a little, hugging Phoebe close and nuzzling the back of her head.
"Marie's kinda sleepy," Bridgette says in a stage-whisper, before laying Marie nothing down on the cot, head on the pillow - a big step up for Bridge, who used to just leave Marie dumped wherever she wanted to sleep. She goes over to her backpack and takes out the teddybear, which she puts beside Marie.
Phoebe watches this worriedly, squirming into Parker's lap so that she has to put the book aside and hold her with both arms just to keep her from tumbling to the floor.
"Sure, love to," Parker says, and then looks around. "I spy...something that is...red."
Parker's really regretting not taking the truck, now. She drops the handle of the wagon and ignores the shallow tear on her neck where a bit of hail struck at just the wrong angle and crouches next to her kids.
Phoebe launches herself at her and squeezes her in a hug, not sniffling because she's a brave girl and she doesn't sniffle (and you be quiet when bad things happen so those bad things don't happen to YOU).
"Now, hush, hush, 'sall right now," Parker murmurs, looking at Bridge as she pushes Phoebe's hood down and begins stroking her hair. There's enough room for Bridge to hug her too, if she needs it.
Reply
She folds up her umbrella - or tries to. It's at the state where it won't fold. "I like thunder storms," she says, and if the slight quaver in her voice denies her words, well, that's easy to ignore. "They're like fireworks, except only of one colour. And we got to stay inside and play games. Remember, Mar--" Marie is tugging her closer to Parker. Bridgette looks up at the older girl solemnly.
"I think Marie needs a hug," she announces.
Reply
"Better bring her over here, then," Parker says, opening her arm wide to accept the little invisible girl.
Reply
She nods once, then quickly turns her attention to her backpack and taking stuff out of it.
"Need some help?" the subdued girl offers Phoebe.
Reply
"Not for much longer with that mouth of yours," Parker mutters, kissing the top of her head as she keeps her arm curled around nothing for awhile longer before releasing it and making as if to direct a small child back in Bridge's direction, letting go of Phoebe and straightening up to go claim a corner and a couple cots for them.
She unpacks what they need for the now, bandaging her neck with practiced hands before setting up their little encampment. She fishes a picture book out of her own bag and settles on one of the benches.
"Anybody want a story?"
Reply
"Feel better?" she asks her sister, reaching out and holding her hand nothing. Marie nods and smiles shyly. "Parger good." "Parker is good," Bridgette corrects, like how Ariel used to do with her.
She approaches, gives Parker a concerned look at the bandage, then claims a cot while saying, "I want one!" A pause to confer. "And so does Marie!"
Reply
"Well, that's good, 'cause you were gonna get one any which way," she teases, gently, holding the book out to be visible to everybody. "Let's see...we got some options here. Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, The Seven Swans, Cinderella...Jack in the Beanstalk?"
Reply
sister stealer
-- then closes it and shrugs. "I'm up for whatever." There's a quick glance beside her. Marie cuddles up to Bridgette, head on her sister's shoulder. Bridgette puts her arm around Marie's shoulder the air beside her.
Reply
It's a well worn rendition, and one that clearly holds no surprises for Parker or Phoebe. Parker has this story telling thing down to an art, and holds every pause just so. She even does all the voices.
Reply
When it's finished, she compliments, "That was very good," like a master judging a student. Another glance to her side. "And Marie liked it." Marie is actually dozing.
Reply
Parker smiles a little, hugging Phoebe close and nuzzling the back of her head.
Reply
"Wanna play I Spy?" she asks the two of them.
Reply
"Sure, love to," Parker says, and then looks around. "I spy...something that is...red."
Reply
Leave a comment