005 - Seeking Solace
Title: Wisdom of the Young
Rating: K
Series: Jones
Characters: Bella Lemont; Terrence Jones; Parker Jones
Prompt: 100 themes - 005 - Seeking Solace
Claimer: Mostly mine. But shared with SuperSpecialAwesome!Lori.
Authors Note: Parker likes trying to be useful, and father-hating isn't a full time job.
Parker looks interestedly at the rosary beads sitting on the bench of the shed. “Dad, what’re these?”
Terrence doesn’t look around, instead continuing to rummage in a low cupboard for something. “They’re rosary beads.”
“Oh,” says Parker. Then, “What’re rosemary beads?”
“Rosary,” Terrence corrects gently, and “Rosary,” Parker echoes.
“What’re they?”
“They’re special beads you use when you pray.”
“Pray?”
“Talk to God.”
“Oh,” Parker falls silent, mollified. Then, “Why do you want to talk to God?”
“Many reasons.” Terrence is still rummaging around in the cupboard.
“Oh,” Parker frowns, and sticks his thumb in his mouth to chew on. Then, “Like what?”
Terrence finally pulls himself out of the cupboard, straightens up, and swings Parker up into his arms. Parker gives him a serious look. “‘m not a kid you know. I can walk.”
“I know you can,” Terrence replies with an equally serious look. “I just want to carry you.”
“Why?”
“Because the ground is muddy and it’d be terrible if you fell over.”
“Oh,” Parker says, digging his fingers into his father’s shirt as they start off towards the house. Then, “Why would it be terrible?”
“Because then you’d have to have a bath, and Adam would raise too much of a fuss. It’s like he’s channeling your mother’s spirit with the way he worries, amused snort.”
“Channeling mum,” Parker echoes, and glances curiously at the laughing specter of his mother who is walking along behind them. “But mum’s just there,” he points. Terrence stops and turns around.
“Where, Parky?”
Parker scowls a little at the nickname, but points again. Bella gives him a sharp look. He stares defiantly back, before swinging his gaze around to his father. Terrence looks at him with the same serious expression as before.
“Parker,” He says, brushing a strand of hair behind the boys ear. Parker immediately puts it back where it was, and Terrence gives him a crooked smile. “Parker, your mother is dead. You know the meaning of that, yes?”
“Yes,” Parker echoes dutifully. There’s a pause, and then he adds, “Eel and Leech are dead too.”
Terrence nods slowly, hand drifting to the rosary beads he had put in his pocket upon leaving the shed. “Yes.”
“And all the people whose names are in the graveyard.”
“Yes. But Parker, when you die, it means you aren’t here anymore.”
“Oh,” Parker says, forehead wrinkling in confusion. Then, “So, where is mum supposed to be then?”
“In heaven, with God.”
“Oh,” Parker says, and comprehension dawns on his face. Then, “Is that why you wanted to talk to God? You didn’t answer me before.” His tone is accusatory and Terrence smiles a little more sincerely.
“Yes.”
“Oh,” Parker says again, looking from the amused smile of his mother’s ghost to the soft and rare smile of his father, and tilts his head to one side. Then, “What do you think of that, mum?”
Terrence’s smile fades. “Parker-”
“Shh,” Parker silences him. “It’s rude to talk when someone else is.”
Reluctantly Terrence lapses into silence for a few moments, until Parker speaks up again. “Mum says... What?” He goes quiet for a few more seconds, then says slowly, “‘You’re being ridiculous, bon. Never had religion in my life, and neither did you. What’re you teaching our son?’ He’s teaching me to garden, mum. Oh. Sorry. ‘I’m going to have words with Adam.’”
Terrence looks in amazement at Parker, who is a little distracted by the fact that his mother is doubled over laughing, her bare feet hovering millimeters above the muddy grass.
“Come on,” Terrence manages at last, turning towards the house once more. “Let’s get home. You can have a bath.”
“If I need a bath anyway, can I run?”
“I suppose so,” Terrence concedes, lowering the boy to the ground. “But if you’ll be the one explaining to Adam why you’re so dirty.”
“‘kay,” Parker yells, because he’s half way up the hill now.
Terrence watches him a moment, then pulls the rosary beads from his pocket, running them thoughtfully between his fingers. “Bella,” he murmurs, and the ghost watches him mournfully. “Bella, I miss you so.”
The ghost reaches out and takes his hand.
The rosary beads fall to the muddy earth, and Terrence leaves them there.
Rating: K
Series: Jones
Characters: Bella Lemont; Terrence Jones; Parker Jones
Prompt: 100 themes - 005 - Seeking Solace
Claimer: Mostly mine. But shared with SuperSpecialAwesome!Lori.
Authors Note: Parker likes trying to be useful, and father-hating isn't a full time job.
Parker looks interestedly at the rosary beads sitting on the bench of the shed. “Dad, what’re these?”
Terrence doesn’t look around, instead continuing to rummage in a low cupboard for something. “They’re rosary beads.”
“Oh,” says Parker. Then, “What’re rosemary beads?”
“Rosary,” Terrence corrects gently, and “Rosary,” Parker echoes.
“What’re they?”
“They’re special beads you use when you pray.”
“Pray?”
“Talk to God.”
“Oh,” Parker falls silent, mollified. Then, “Why do you want to talk to God?”
“Many reasons.” Terrence is still rummaging around in the cupboard.
“Oh,” Parker frowns, and sticks his thumb in his mouth to chew on. Then, “Like what?”
Terrence finally pulls himself out of the cupboard, straightens up, and swings Parker up into his arms. Parker gives him a serious look. “‘m not a kid you know. I can walk.”
“I know you can,” Terrence replies with an equally serious look. “I just want to carry you.”
“Why?”
“Because the ground is muddy and it’d be terrible if you fell over.”
“Oh,” Parker says, digging his fingers into his father’s shirt as they start off towards the house. Then, “Why would it be terrible?”
“Because then you’d have to have a bath, and Adam would raise too much of a fuss. It’s like he’s channeling your mother’s spirit with the way he worries, amused snort.”
“Channeling mum,” Parker echoes, and glances curiously at the laughing specter of his mother who is walking along behind them. “But mum’s just there,” he points. Terrence stops and turns around.
“Where, Parky?”
Parker scowls a little at the nickname, but points again. Bella gives him a sharp look. He stares defiantly back, before swinging his gaze around to his father. Terrence looks at him with the same serious expression as before.
“Parker,” He says, brushing a strand of hair behind the boys ear. Parker immediately puts it back where it was, and Terrence gives him a crooked smile. “Parker, your mother is dead. You know the meaning of that, yes?”
“Yes,” Parker echoes dutifully. There’s a pause, and then he adds, “Eel and Leech are dead too.”
Terrence nods slowly, hand drifting to the rosary beads he had put in his pocket upon leaving the shed. “Yes.”
“And all the people whose names are in the graveyard.”
“Yes. But Parker, when you die, it means you aren’t here anymore.”
“Oh,” Parker says, forehead wrinkling in confusion. Then, “So, where is mum supposed to be then?”
“In heaven, with God.”
“Oh,” Parker says, and comprehension dawns on his face. Then, “Is that why you wanted to talk to God? You didn’t answer me before.” His tone is accusatory and Terrence smiles a little more sincerely.
“Yes.”
“Oh,” Parker says again, looking from the amused smile of his mother’s ghost to the soft and rare smile of his father, and tilts his head to one side. Then, “What do you think of that, mum?”
Terrence’s smile fades. “Parker-”
“Shh,” Parker silences him. “It’s rude to talk when someone else is.”
Reluctantly Terrence lapses into silence for a few moments, until Parker speaks up again. “Mum says... What?” He goes quiet for a few more seconds, then says slowly, “‘You’re being ridiculous, bon. Never had religion in my life, and neither did you. What’re you teaching our son?’ He’s teaching me to garden, mum. Oh. Sorry. ‘I’m going to have words with Adam.’”
Terrence looks in amazement at Parker, who is a little distracted by the fact that his mother is doubled over laughing, her bare feet hovering millimeters above the muddy grass.
“Come on,” Terrence manages at last, turning towards the house once more. “Let’s get home. You can have a bath.”
“If I need a bath anyway, can I run?”
“I suppose so,” Terrence concedes, lowering the boy to the ground. “But if you’ll be the one explaining to Adam why you’re so dirty.”
“‘kay,” Parker yells, because he’s half way up the hill now.
Terrence watches him a moment, then pulls the rosary beads from his pocket, running them thoughtfully between his fingers. “Bella,” he murmurs, and the ghost watches him mournfully. “Bella, I miss you so.”
The ghost reaches out and takes his hand.
The rosary beads fall to the muddy earth, and Terrence leaves them there.