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“Mom! Mom!” Lucy turns at her eight year old son’s voice. Levi is running towards her with June behind carrying both their backpacks. She frowns as Levi comes crashing into her, her son buries his face into her chest.
“Hi buddy.” She says kissing the top of his head. She turns to June who drops the backpacks in lieu of hugging Lucy too. “Why is your sister carrying your backpack?”
Levi looks up and he grins at her as he wiggles away from her and pushes up his sweatshirt sleeve. She looks him over and realizes he is a lot dirtier than when she dropped him off this morning and he has new rips in his jeans. Lucy just shakes her head in amusement this really is a everyday thing with Levi.
“Cause I’m hurt mom!” Levi says enthusiastically. Lucy raises her eyebrows at her son, she kisses June on top of the head and then turns back to Levi.
“How did you get hurt bud?” She asks. She looks him over again and sees a long cut on his elbow. It looks like it’s been cleaned up and at one point had a bandaid on it but it’s long gone by now.
“Oh bud.” Lucy says softly running her finger over it.
“Yeah!” Says Levi. “Isn’t it cool mom? Dad says its these are battle scars!”
“I bet he does.” Says Lucy rolling her eyes a little. Tim always manages to show her his booboos whenever he got hurt on the job. It was cute and somehow endearing and clearly it rubbed off on Levi.
“Okay next question.” Says Lucy picking up the twins backpacks. “How did you get hurt?” June pipes up this time and gives her brother an unimpressed look. “He was playing with a stick with his friend and got cut.”
Lucy raises her eyebrows at Levi who was still grinning clearly not feeling bad about playing with a stick.
“We were playing police.” Says Levi proudly puffing out his chest. “I got hurt like dad does sometimes.”
“Okay but bud you can’t play with sticks.” Lucy says gently nudging Levi forward so they can wait for Daisy to get out. “It’s dangerous and you can get hurt.”
“I know.” Says Levi. “It was fun while it lasted.” Lucy just shakes her head June is still giving her brother an unamused look. Out of the two of them, June is the more careful one and she also tries her best to keep her brother on his two feet although Lucy knows it’s hard sometimes.
Daisy comes running up and Levi jumps in front of her. “Sissy!” He squeals. “I got a booboo!” He shows Daisy his scratch.
Daisy just shakes her head and gives his hair a ruffle. “That’s neat buddy.” Daisy says gently. Levi beams at her and Lucy is amazed her kids know exactly what to say to each other. They all clamber in the car.
“Do you think dad will like my cut?” Levi asks from the back. Lucy looks in the rearview mirror at her son. Unlike his sister, he’s not in a booster seat. He’s getting tall for his age just like Tim. Lucy swears they are just raising a mini Tim in Levi.
“I think dad will be happy you didn’t poke anyone’s eye out.” Lucy tells him. Levi’s eyes go huge.
“How cool would that be to be one eyed?” He asks. “I could wear an eye patch! Like a pirate!”
“I don’t want a pirate brother!” June says. “You are fine the way you are LeeLee!”
“You are no fun June!” Says Levi. “I’m gonna steal all your toys!”
“Mooooom!” Says June.
“Levi isn’t going to steal your toys June!” Says Lucy giving her son a look. June huffs out a breath and so does Levi.
Lucy just shakes her head as she pulls up to the middle school. Ava clambers in and like her brother she looks a lot dirtier than this morning. She had paint all over clothes and skin.
“What happened to you?” Lucy asks.
Ava shrugs. “Art class.” She says.
“Ava!” Says Levi from the backseat. He leans forward and pokes at his sister, Ava swats his hand away. But Levi isn’t deterred, he leans forward and still pokes at her. “Guess what?”
“What?” Ava asks.
“I got cut by a stick today!” He says. June and Daisy groan in the backseat. Ava looks back and Levi is already shoving his arm in Ava’s face.
“Wow buddy.” Says Ava calmly. “I got paint thrown at me today.”
Lucy gives her a look and decides she’s going to ask later. She can only deal with one crazy story at a time.
“Did it get in your eyes?” Levi asks her. “Then you could be a pirate like me!”
“No.” Says Ava looking thoughtful. “But that would be hella cool.”
“Ava!” Lucy scolds.
“Sorry! That would be super cool.” She says. Lucy sighs. One crazy child at a time.
***
They get home and Tim isn’t home, Lucy hears Levi make a disappointed noise as they pull up. “He will be home soon.” Lucy tells Levi as he drags himself inside. Ava and Daisy go upstairs to go upstairs and June goes to the table to color.
Levi however bounces around the kitchen until Lucy kicks him out to play with June. He calms after that until the door opens and he’s running to the door. Lucy hears Tim grunt in surprise, as he comes around the corner with Levi attached to him.
“Dad! Dad!” Levi says jumping away from Tim. “I got a cut today!” Tim freezes as he looks at Levi with concern in his eyes. No matter how rough and tough Levi is, Tim still worries about him when he gets hurt. He worries when the girls get hurt too, he just wants to wrap them up and keep them safe. Just like he does with Lucy.
“He’s fine babe.” Lucy reassures Tim coming over to Tim and giving him a quick kiss. “He’s actually quite proud of it. Calls it his battle scar.”
Tim huffs out a laugh, “Let me see your battle scar bud.” Tim says. Levi pushes up his sleeves and shows Tim the cut. Tim ohhs and sees and Levi beams at him.
Tim looks at Lucy and then bends down to Levi’s level. “How did you get hurt Levi?”
“A stick!” June calls from the other room. Tim looks Levi for confirmation and he nods.
“Buddy you know not play with sticks.” Tim says.
Levi nods. “I know. I learned my lesson.” He says. “At least I got a cool battle scar.” Tim nods and ruffles his hair and then Levi dashes back to June.
“He’s just like you.” Lucy tells Tim grinning. “He wanted to show me his boo-boo.”
Tim grumbles something and brings her closer and kisses her. “Kid in room!” Ava voices announces. They both look over and Lucy sees she hasn’t changed clothes or washed any of the paint off of her.
Tim raises his eyes at her. “What the heck happened to you?” He asks her.
Ava shrugs. “Art class got kind of crazy today. I was caught in the cross fire.” She replies reaching up in the cabinet to grab her Oreos.
Tim opens his mouth to speak and then shuts it. Lucy laughs putting her hand on his arm. “One crazy kid at a time.” She says. “It will keep you sane.”
Tim laughs and plucks an Oreo from the package causing Ava to protest loudly. Lucy shakes her head as Lucy walks quickly from the room and Tim follows after her.
Her kids were crazy, and something happened usually everyday but she wouldn’t have it any other way.