Fellas, it’s Tumblr Trivia Time!
I meant to post this for Father’s Day but…uhh…life.
About a month ago, I put together a Mother’s Day post for Rosie and Craig, so it’d be kinda weird to not make a Father’s Day post for Ray and Craig…r…right?
Ray has absolutely no idea what he’s doing.
None of this was supposed to happen; not to him. He was supposed to spend the rest of his days in Devil’s Domain, gathering seeds for the deer he’d given names to. He was supposed to live in the tiny little treehouse he’d made out of twigs and mud. He was supposed to wait until some brave hunter found his home and shot him dead. He was supposed to be a trophy on a wall by now!
But, instead…she found him. She brought him into her life, into her family; she gave him the second chance he’d never asked for, one he desperately tries to refuse because, unlike them, he knows what he is! He knows…what he’s done.
And, as if all of this wasn’t enough, she gave him…a child.
None of this was supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to have a family! He wasn’t supposed to be a father! How could he?! How is he supposed to guide a soul, one so youthful and bright and full of potential, when his own has been cold and broken and lost for years?! Well, the answer is simple: he can’t.
The best thing Ray could do for Craig is stay as far away as possible…so why can’t he? Why can’t he just rot in his cage or, better yet, why can’t he…fly away?
Since Rosie brought him there, he’s asked that question: why can’t he leave? If he could, he could fly off into the distance before the Fristolbaums or, worse, the Freaks could ever have the chance to stop him. He could wait until the sun went down, He could be miles away in minutes. They’d all be better off without him...so what’s taking so long? He’s thought it all thing out, so…why can’t he.
Craig’s daddy can be real silly sometimes.
Not like Unkie Lesty or Auntie Daisy’s kinda silly. He’s a different kinda silly.
He’s always super quiet, he likes saying he’s not hurt when he is, his face gets red when Mommy picks on him too much, and he sleeps upside down, which is super duper silly! But, by far, the silliest thing about Craig’s daddy…is the game he’s always playing. That game is one Craig likes to call “Daddy Doesn’t Know.”
The rules go like this: Daddy pretends he doesn’t know how great he is and Craig has to find ways to remind him. For example, if Craig climbs up the tent, Daddy’ll fly up to get him; if he hides in a crate, Daddy’ll hear him wiggle and blink. But all that’s the outside stuff. That’s easy. The inside stuff’s a lot harder.
Like, what’s he supposed to do when Daddy pretends he doesn’t know how smart, or goofy, or gentle, or kind he is? What’s he supposed to do when Daddy pretends to think he doesn’t deserve to be a daddy? He…is pretending…right?
Sometimes, Craig can’t tell, especially when he’s up late at night, upside down, wide awake, and staring at nothing. Honestly, he hasn’t figured out what to do at those parts, so he stops playing. He climbs into Daddy’s metal box, gets his attention, and tells him that he won. Then, he asks for uppies, and Daddy holds him til he falls asleep. Most of the time, he wakes up in his crib…but not always.
That’s why Ray can’t leave: they won’t let him go.
It’d be better if they did, but they won’t…and never will.
Happy Father’s Day, fellas.
Tune in…tomorrow…maybe…for more Tumblr Trivia Time!
