Chapter Text
- Daf's masterpiece-ing (09/01/09, Koffiefontein) -
The afternoon sun is warm on Karla's skin as she and Deedee and Manny sit on the grass in the backyard.
Manny flaps his wings, points, announces, „Bock!“
Deedee holds up the red block. „Which one is it, Manny?“
„Bock!“
„That's right! Now, what colour is it?“
„Bock!“
„Is it the blue block?“
Manny says nothing, focuses on something above and behind Deedee.
„What do you see, Manny?“
„Fa.“
Deedee twists.
Karla whips around, heart hiccuping in her chest.
Father glares at them, mouth set in the hard line that means he's disappointed.
Karla and Deedee cower.
But Father doesn't yell, instead he sits down with them, very carefully, frowning at the creases forming in his trousers, and picks up Manny's shirt. He folds it neatly and sets it aside.
Karla worries the hem of her skirt.
„There are—“ Father takes a deep breath. „There are people in the world who, if they knew about Hermann, would hurt him to better understand his body.“
„Hurt him?“ asks Deedee quietly.
„Subject him to tests and possibly dissection, as they would a laboratory animal.“
Manny grabs the green block.
„They'd really kill him?“
Karla's stomach flops.
„Yes, they would.“
She wipes her eyes.
Manny toddles around, gathering up blocks, wings shifting to help his balance.
Karla sniffles.
Father rearranges his legs, making himself more comfortable, but doesn't say anything further.
Karla looks to Deedee.
Deedee looks to Manny.
Manny drops an armful of blocks in front of Father, wings fluttering, and chirps, „Wed bock?“
Father makes a confused face.
Karla laughs behind her hands.
„Manny,“ giggles Deedee, „this's the red block.“
„Wed bock!“