13 Griffin Way, Saturday Morning

[tyler_back]

Tyler was (surprise) awake early the morning after prom, and, when he stepped onto the porch with his coffee, he noticed the back yard was starting to look like a science experiment in how many weeds could be grown in how small a space. Feeling the need to actually do something about it, he yanked on some old clothes and set to work gardening.

[

Comments

[sincegradeskool]

Estella Denise Singer had been walking along for hours and hours trying to find daddy or mommy, or so it seemed to her five-year-old brain.

So when she finally spotted her father (on his knees, with his bottom in the air) she squealed and launched herself at him.

"DADDY DADDY DADDY DADDY!," she said, then paused for another hug. "I thought I losted you!"

[tyler_back]

Tyler had the appropriate reaction to a small child throwing herself at him.

He fell backward into the mud, and came up sputtering. "What the -" he asked. "I don't have kids. Sorry."

He didn't sound sorry; the sorry was courtesy only.

[sincegradeskool]

"Don't be silly, Daddy," Estella frowned. "You have me! And I'm gonna stay with you aaaaalllll weekend!"

She bit a nail. "Mommy said I could."

[tyler_back]

"Did Mommy say anything else?" Tyler asked, distinctly skeptical. He lifted himself to his feet.

[sincegradeskool]

"She called you some bad words again," Estella shared. "And said to call 911 if you were making soap."

She drifted over to pick some dandelions. "Daddy, can I have pamcakes for breakfast?"

[tyler_back]

Tyler took a good look at the girl, surprised by the answer.

More than he was already surprised.

"Is Mommy's name Marla?"

[sincegradeskool]

"I'm s'posed to run away if you forget things," Estella said, hesitating. "Are you forgetting things again, Daddy?"

[tyler_back]

"My memory's fine," Tyler said, irritated but trying not to show it. "Your mother forgot to tell me you were coming, is all.Tell you what, you can watch cartoons while I give her a call and tell her you ... got here okay."

If her mother wasn't Marla -- and, really, who else had that hair? -- he didn't mind giving her a nice heart attack this morning.

[sincegradeskool]

"... 'kay," Estella said, frowning just a little. "Cartoons then pamcakes?"

[tyler_back]

"Cartoons then pancakes," Tyler promised, ushering the girl inside. He went into the kitchen to dial a familiar number. It rang ten times; he dialed again.

[sincegradeskool]

"This is not a civilized hour for a phone call," the sleepy voice on the other end said. "Who is this?"

[tyler_back]

"Who do you think it is?" Tyler half-exploded at her, hissing so the little girl wouldn't hear. "Jesus, Marla, what the fuck? Whose kid is she?"

[sincegradeskool]

There was a long pause, then Marla chuckled dryly. This was interesting.

"Durden. Congratulations, you called me out of the blue and you still don't make any sense." She hesitated, and Tyler knew she was lighting a cigarette. "Say it again, not in crazy?"

[tyler_back]

"There's a little girl here," Tyler said. "Your hair, my eyes, said Mommy sent her to stay with Daddy for the weekend and that Mommy called Daddy bad words -- don't say it," he cautioned, to stop her from interrupting to point out a lot of people wanted to call him bad words. "My thoughts turned to you. Where'd you find her?"

[sincegradeskool]

"Oh, nice, Tyler," Marla seethed. "You hate me, you divorce me, and then you call me to, what, to taunt me about the kid you never wanted? Well, I have to give it to you, you really do get more nuts every year."

[tyler_back]

"You divorced me," Tyler pointed out, because that was clearly the relevant question on the table. "Moved out, remember?"

He sighed. "So you didn't send the kid. Swear to me?"