The Last Few Days of Fall
I merely meant to make a post about how my game works with Pets. Instead, this happened.
--- --- --- --- ---
I always get nostalgic
in the last few days of fall
the trees and I are both exposed
revealing all
scarlet leaves and golden sky
the sunset of the season
earth and I prepare for sleep
and pray we shall awaken
--- --- --- --- ---
"Jin, you can't play with the cat all day, you know."
"Well, animals wouldn't come near me when I was a vampire, so..."
"Don't worry Nutmeg. I know Clover got you since she misses having the kids around."
"Hey!"
"I haven't had time to be lonely lately! Gosh, with Noah here last Saturday, Rhyme Sunday, Row and Seth the day after that...I've been cooking nonstop! And with Abel and Amy coming over today I have to pull out all the stops!"
"You always do, dear."
"Hmm. Do you think one pie is enough?"
"Cloves, there's only nine of us, and four of them are under ten."
"But-!"
Jin chuckled to himself. Clover was always so crazy about these things.
Clover snuggled contently into Jin's arms. "Hey Jin?"
"Mm?"
"You don't regret it, do you? Becoming human and getting old like me?"
"Like I could ever regret being with you."
But before long, it was go time! Abel arrived with the whole crew in tow.
"Here comes the circus." Jin laughed as his grandchildren bounded up the steps, arms outstretched.
"Grandpa!"
"Grandpa, Grandpa!"
"Hey shortstacks, how are you?"
"We're good!" Jude responded enthusiastically.
"Grandpa, guess what?!?!"
"Calm down Phee, I'm listening."
"My hair's short now!! See?!"
"I certainly see that. What happened?"
"Sen and I dyed our hair! 'Cept I only got the tips and Sen's was already blue, so it was kinda a failure! And then Mama cut all the blue out. :("
"I t-told you not to do that, Sophie."
"Have you forgotten your kids in favor of your grandkids old man?" Abel joked.
Jin rolled his eyes. "Old? You seem to be graying a bit there yourself, kid." He laughed when Abel's hand flew self-consciously to his hair.
The kids, however, had spotted something much more interesting. "ICE CREAM!"
"Alright, go get your diabetes then." Jin said, giving them a dollar each. "Then come right inside, okay? Abe, Ames, Kira - c'mon inside, Clover's been anxious to see you all day."
Late November weather is a good a time as any for some ice cream!
"Aw man, everything looks pretty good! Umm..."
"Hurry up Jude!" Sophie whined.
"Quit it Phee, I'm choosing!"
"Ah, the rainbow pop! That's the best one."
"Oh yeah. This is the tops."
"Can I have the one with the most sugar?!"
"Aaaaaaaargh!! Brain freeze!"
"Sprinkles too! :D"
"If it's not entirely edible it's a waste of my time!" Sophia declared. "Efficiency is the key!"
"Um...can I have the bunny one? :3"
A fruitful endeavor for all.
"All jokes aside, it's good to see you Abel." Jin said, giving his son a hug.
"You too Dad! Geez, it feels like it's been ages, huh?"
"It does, doesn't it? Good to see that you're still surviving your brood."
"Ha ha, somehow!"
Jin turned and pulled Amélie into a hug. "Don't think I forgot you, Ames. That Lyle kid still treating you well?"
"Don't worry Daddy. I'm sure the voicemail you left him will keep him on the straight and narrow forever."
"Smart kid. Now go on, onto the living room - your mom's waiting."
"There you are Kira! I was wondering if you got lost!"
"We're only half an hour late Mom! You worry too much."
"Well, you can't blame an old woman like me for being anxious to see her family! Now c'mon, give your mom a hug."
"It's so good to see you dear."
"You too Mom."
Clover grinned. "Can I note how thrilled I am that you've finally taken to calling me Mom? Honestly, even Isis was keener to it than you!"
"Ha ha! Sorry. You know that I'm a little weird about that."
"But no one deserves that title more than you. It's nice to have a real mother now."
Clover then bustled over to Abel and Amy. "Oh Amy~! You just get prettier and prettier. How was France?"
"Oh, you know. Exotic and such. Honestly, I'm glad to be back home. Ever since I moved out of here I've been missing you and Dad!"
Abel chuckled. "So much that you spent a week at my house?"
Amy punched his shoulder. "Hey, I hadn't seen Alex since he was born! I had to spend a little time with my nieces and nephews."
"But don't worry Mom. I don't think I'll be straying too far from here."
"That's wonderful, sweetheart!"
"And don't think I forgot you, Abel." Clover said emphatically, hugging her oldest son. "You're still my baby."
"Your thirty five year old baby?"
"Yep."
"Heh. Love you too Mom. And I think I heard the kids sneaking in the back, so go on and harass them."
"Oh don't worry, I will~! After I go dote on little Alex."
There's no way that Clover couldn't be fond of Alex - he looked just like Jin with black hair! What more could she want?
"Here you go! Let's try out this new swing."
"Swing, Gramma?"
"Don't worry, it'll go slow. Like a rocking chair!"
"There!"
Alex giggled delightedly and kicked his feet. He was fascinated by the colorful parts, grasping at the moving ones.
"Alex! Peek-a..."
"Boo!"
"Eee!"
"Okay Alex, be good! I'm going to go bother your older siblings now."
"Otay Gramma!"
"Oh where, oh where have my grandchildren gone? Oh where, oh where could they be~"
"Grandma?"
"Grandma!!"
Ember rushed up, hugging Clover tightly. "Grandma~! Happy Thanksgiving!"
"September, have you gotten even bigger? Goodness, you get taller and cuter every day. Who braided your hair?"
"Amy!"
"Grandma!!" Sophie yelled, almost tackling Clover with the ferociousness of her hug.
"Oof, you're Sophie alright." Clover chuckled. "I see you have matched socks today!"
"Yeah, because these ones are awesome! Mom said they were 'psychedelic', and that sounds like a cool word!"
"Do you like my shirt? I picked it out myself!!"
Clover chuckled. "Oh, I certainly do. Cute animals in orange slices?"
"Yeah!!"
"And don't think I forgot you, Jude! You're not too cool for your old grandma, are you?"
"Grandma, I love you and all, but I can tell what you're thinking and it's not going to fly."
"Nonsense! Your cheeks are just as pinchable as they were the day you were born!"
"Ugggghh."
"Who's my little grandson?
"Me."
"Who's my baby with my golden eyes?"
"Sigh...me."
The image of tolerance right here.
"I only do it 'cause I love you kiddo. If you were affectionate like your sisters we wouldn't have to do all this!"
"Yeah, yeah. Love you too."
Peaceful chats, autumn afternoons. A warm atmosphere.
Alex had already tuckered out from all the swinging, snoozing lightly in the chair.
Even Jude couldn't muster up the evil to tease him when he was sleeping like this.
Jude was surprisingly talkative at his grandparents' house, rambling on and on about his school adventures and latest plans.
Sophia, meanwhile, was trying to train Nutmeg into a sleek hunter.
"Yeah!! Get it Nutmeg!!"
"Perhaps I could train you to hunt nargles. Or ear pixies!! They have been a problem lately, whispering their gobbledygook and whatnot."
"Cute and deadly!! That's the best!!"
September spent some time in the kitchen, baking alongside Clover.
"Hey Grandma? Do you think everyone will eat a muffin?"
"I'm sure they will, dear."
"Maybe I'll make extra for Grandpa~!"
"Ooh, I'm sure he'd love that!" Clover chuckled. Even when Jin was a vampire, he endured many a burnt pastry from his well meaning daughters.
"Alright everyone! Dinner's ready!"
It was a full house indeed!
Nothing like turkey, mashed potatoes, and green beans to make you feel at home.
"Tickles for Alex!"
"Eheheh~!"
"Oh, look at you! So cute. I'm gonna pass you off to your grandpa now, okay?"
"Kay~"
"Grampa?"
"Well, aren't you cute."
"Grampa, Grampa! Zoom~"
"Oh, you wanna play?"
"Oh no! A dramatic angle change can only mean one thing! The vampire claw has come for you, Alex!"
"Oh noooooooo!"
"It's too late, I'm afraid!"
Poor Alex, always getting tickled. He just had that sort of look to him, I guess.
"Grampa, yous silly."
"That doesn't mean much coming from my toddler clone."
And then, tired from food and fun, it was bedtime for the kids. Ember and Sophie fell asleep right away - Abel wasn't surprised, since they were chasing after their imaginary friend most of the evening.
"Okay, bedtime for the half pint."
"See yew in da mowning?"
"Of course. Where would I go?"
"Promise Grampa?"
"Do I look like the lying type to you? I'll always be there for you, Alex."
"You ready for a totally awesome story?"
"Yeah!"
"Good, 'cause this one is the best! It's called A Very Potter Musical. They made this at a pretty cool university, so you know it has to be awesome."
"Why, it even has sound!"
"Neat!"
Of course, silly musicals involving sillier wizards can only lead to sleep.
"Goodnight Jude. I love you!"
"You know Grandma's always here for you, right?"
"You..."
"Ember..."
"Sophie..."
"...and Alex. We love you so, so much."
"Amy, do you really need to check it again?"
"I need to check it three times!"
"Okay Abel, spill - what's bothering you? You've been looking pensive all evening!"
"I have?"
"Sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."
"There's nothing you can't tell your mother, dear."
"It's silly, really."
"It's just...sometimes I worry that I'm not raising my kids the right way. It's so weird! Why would I think that when I had such great role models?"
"Oh stop the bullshit, Abe. You're doing a hell of a lot job better than me, kid. You're an excellent father."
"So subtle."
"Give yourself credit. You and Kira are doing a great job with the kids and Amy."
"I know I'm a little taciturn when it comes down to it, but I'm so proud of you, Abel. You've grown into a great man."
"I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there to see it."
"Wh...what? Dad, you're right here."
"Abel, we're sorry."
"But it's time to wake up."
And there it was. That odd, dream like feeling was tearing, ripping at the holes in this reality.
Why was he so worried about parenting if he had them?
Why would Amélie live with him if they were here?
Why did their proud, loving smiles make his heart ache?
Reality shifts and the truth is revealed.
And his heart broke for what seemed the millionth time.
"Of course." Abel said softly. "Of course it was another goddamn dream."
"We're so sorry, Abel."
"No...don't be. I should've known."
"I should've known."
--- --- --- --- ---
"So that's why I'm here guys. Crazy, huh? Seth's normally the one with dreams."
"But I know. I know that's how you'd act if you were here. I know that you'd dote on the kids and be proud of me. I know that, if you could, I'd be getting a pretty epic hug right now."
"And that's enough. It's enough that you loved me."
"So this is just a visit! A greeting. A 'hi, how are you, I'm doing fine'."
"...Yeah. I'm doing fine. Happy holidays, Mom, Dad."
remember me when leaves are falling
and when birds no longer sing
sleep now, dear, for all the winter
may we meet again in spring
--- --- --- --- ---
...
;^;