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“Chip no .”
Tom sighed as he watched his son get his hands gently batted away again. Chip’s mouth wobbled with the signs of an oncoming fit as he sat in his mother’s lap, staring at her in confusion as to why he was suddenly scolded. He thankfully calmed down again when Tom handed him his rattle. The steady lull of the porch swing seemed to help too.
Tom stretched his arm just behind his wife’s shoulders. The sun was just beginning to set over the fields as the fireflies flitted about just above their noses. Speaking of noses, one even landed on Chip’s. Tom smiled as he watched his infant son frown in confusion before half haphazardly trying to catch the firefly.
Just as he thought he’d trapped it, the insect flew right out between his fingers.
Tom couldn’t help ,but smile. He looked over at Mallory. “You know he’s just curious.”
Mallory let out a small laugh. “Course he is, he’s a baby, just gotta teach him when to stop.”
Tom sighed. “Don’t really know if you can stop it Mallory.”
A short silence hung in the air, Tom was already cursing himself in his head. Mallory finally turned to face him, her blonde curls covering one eye, as usual.
“I still don’t get why you wear your hair like that all the time, I’m sure it’s hard to see.”
“Yeah well..somethings don’t need to be seen.”
“Tom,” Tom shook his head, snapping himself back to the present. Mallory sighed, subtly scratching the side of her chin in anxiety. “I’m just trying to be different okay, don’t you want your son to grow up happy?”
Before Tom could answer, Chip decided to spit up his breakfast, working himself up into a fit shortly after. “Chiiiip.” Mallory groaned as she shifted Chip to lie on her shoulder as she stood up and headed inside to go clean up.
Tom frowned, his grip tightening on the arm of the porch swing. With a sigh he stood up to go help them, though not before he thought about what he’d been about to say.
‘I think Chip would be plenty happy seeing his mother’s face.’
7 years later
It was getting cold in Big City again, almost winter, which of course meant it was about time for Dad to start laying those too puffy jackets on thick, the worst though was that big dumb wool scarf he’d make him wear, could hardly breathe in that thing. Chip huffed at the thought, his breath coming out in a little cold puff.
“Everything alright sweetie?” Chip almost jumped as Mom suddenly slid her gloved hand into his. He straightened his shoulders under her curious side eye. “Yes Mom.”
“That’s good.” She sighed, her hand sliding up his neck to ruffle his hair before gently sliding it back into his grip. Chip playfully pouted at that, straightening his hair back into place with his free hand as they walked. He didn’t really mind winter all that much actually, not even with the inevitable colds he always came down with, stupid red noses and all.
He didn’t mind it mainly cause of Mom.
Mom always seemed to relax in the winter time.
She wasn’t a high strung person by any means, least not at home, but outside, on the streets of Big City, that was a different story .
She usually kept her head low whenever she walked him home from school, and she walked fast, sometimes a little too fast. Chip almost pouted when he remembered that time he slipped on an empty Splish can trying to keep up with her. Had to have Mom carry him home the rest of the way he was sobbing so hard-though she did make it up to him when she made him cheesy potatoes that night.
Winter was different though. Mom liked winter. She liked the big coats, and the gloves, even the vast array of wacky winter hats everyone started wearing on their way to work. She had a brown turtle neck she loved breaking out this time of year, she usually paired it with a wool beanie that she’d wear crooked so it pushed a big chunk of her blonde curly hair to the side, almost covering the entire left half of her face.
Mom liked it like this. And Chip liked it too. He liked walking at a normal pace, he liked not having to see Mom keep her head down, most of all though….
He liked being able to hold his mother’s hand.
19 years later
Hot, that was his first realization upon waking up after the crash. The second was that he was on the ground, the third…was the pain in his left eye.
The wind was really strong that day, it blew Mom’s hair all out of whack. “Blort!” Mom covered her mouth as she realized she’d cursed in front. “Uh- forget I said that.” She kept a firm grip on the side of her hair, “Urgh where’s my clip?”
He reached out to help her-
“Hm? Oh Chip no, let Mommy handle this. You know you’re not supposed to see them.”
Them….
He kept his head low as he walked, his shaking hands stuffed inside his hoodie as he put one foot in front of the other, his mind was reeling ,but he knew where he was going.
He didn’t know what he’d do when he confronted them, maybe just scream his stupid lungs out,but at least he’d have someone to blame for this, someone to-
Chip’s breath left him in a hurry as he looked up.
Their decrepit old truck was missing from their drive way, they were gone? When were they-
“Um, hello? Can I help you? If You’re looking for the Greens they recently moved back to the country.” Uh oh. Gloria. Chip’s eyes widened and he instinctively tried to run, just to immediately slip on a rock and face plant. Oh the blorting joys of being him!
“Oh my gosh are you-” Gloria cut herself off as he groaned. “Chip?! What are you-You better get out of here now before I….” She trailed off as the summer breeze swiftly pushed Chip’s hood down.
Chip froze, his hands tightened as he tried in vain to keep his head down, but it was too late.
She could see the big jagged scar over his eye plain as day.
Gloria blinked as she stared at him, she coughed into her fist a second later. Chip’s face crumpled and he fought the angry, stressed tears about to prick his eyes as he waited for her to laugh, calling this some kind of comedic karma-
Chip almost reared back entirely when Gloria reached her hand out to him. She averted her gaze. “Need some help?”
3 years later
Chip jumped when he felt little hands brush against his face while he was sitting, his grip tightened on the recliner's arm rests as he looked down. Oh, it was CJ, must've climbed into his lap while he was spaced out.
CJ laughed as he rubbed his palms up and down his father's cheeks like he was Fun-Dough. Figures, CJ was a handsy kid for sure, always grabbing anything within reach. Chip let out a soft chuckle as he repositioned his son to sit on his left knee. What a cuti-Chip's eyes widened and he abruptly jerked his face back when he felt CJ's hand glide over the scar under his eye.
No,no,no he felt his chest tighten as he tried to keep his breaths even. Maybe he should-
Chip blinked as he looked back down at CJ, his son looked more than a little confused, his mouth forming an upset frown as he lowered his head to look at his hands, twisting them every which way like they’d done something wrong.
…..Oh.
Ch felt the world fade around him and CJ.
"...you know you're not supposed to see them."
Chip felt his chest tighten again, this time for something entirely different.
He reached out and cupped CJ's hands in his. His son looked up, perplexed. Chip cracked the smallest smile as he kissed his son's hands and, guided them back to his face, back to his scar. CJ's mouth opened and closed in confusion for a second before he began playing with his father's face again, going right back to his happy go lucky demeanor as he giggled.
The bedroom door opened minutes later, in came Gloria hauling her satchel bag and a handful of sketches she'd obviously done at the park.
"Heh, looks like someone's having a good day." She smiled, coming over to blow a quick raspberry into CJ's cheek before sharing a quick kiss with Chip.
Chip smiled as he held his son. "Yeah, I guess so."