SimGrump

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Nine ❦

KJ had a book report due that morning that he had yet to finish, so Felix helped him out a bit. He knew the book To Kill a Mockingbird from his own time in school. It was easy to help KJ with the report, but it was hard to do so without simply doing it for him. KJ appreciated the support, even if Felix seemed to get distracted halfway through the report.

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Nine ❦

All the noise from KJ's bedroom caught Felix's attention. He and KJ had a serious talk about the tooth fairy and whether or not she existed. Felix was very adamant that if KJ put his tooth under his pillow, there'd be some money in it for him. KJ was skeptical. He'd never believed in Santa or the Easter Bunny and especially not the tooth fairy. But in the end, he was convinced to leave his tooth under his pillow.

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Nine ❦

KJ had been doing really well sleeping through the night, not wetting the bed anymore, thankfully. But when one of his teeth got a little loose, it was bothering him enough that it would wake him up in the middle of the night sometimes. He decided the best course of action would be to just pull the dang thing out.

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Nine ❦

Having a kid meant gym days were getting fewer and further between. Charlie did not want to neglect his fitness and decided that the best way to keep it up now that they had KJ was to go to the gym when he could, but also to get up every morning for a nice, early morning jog.

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Eight ❦

As if the tryptophan from the turkey wasn't enough, KJ had to get a glass of milk before bed time so he could sleep. He hadn't had a problem with bed wetting in weeks now and was hoping that a glass of milk wouldn't be the thing that broke that streak of good luck.

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Eight ❦

A lazy night was in order. While Felix and KJ watched a movie in the living room, Charlie took some time to get on one of his favorite games on the laptop. All in all it was a good way to wind down their first Thanksgiving as a family. KJ and Felix both fell asleep during their movie, to which Charlie had to come out and wake them up if only to go to bed. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Eight ❦

After Thanksgiving dinner, KJ was on dish duty. He didn’t mind it one bit, since he had a full belly and hadn’t been involved in cooking at all. Despite being on dish duty, Felix helped him as well so they could make it through all the pots and pans and wrap up their night early. That turkey was starting to settle in, making everyone sleepy for an afternoon nap. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Eight ❦

“Yum!” KJ proclaimed as he dug into the meal Charlie had made. The family all sat down in the kitchen for dinner, enjoying the turkey and fixings Charlie had slaved over the stove all day for. For his first Thanksgiving dinner, Charlie had done a great job of cooking. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Eight ❦

As Thanksgiving rolled around, Charlie got to work on the turkey dinner. He’d never made a turkey before. When it was just him and Felix, they’d usually go out and get something for Thanksgiving or have just a normal meal. But now that KJ was in the house, they wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving properly, which meant a full on Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, yams, the works. Charlie was having a blast getting everything ready. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Eight ❦

The vacation had done the family a lot of good, relaxing them and allowing them to get ready for the holiday season. Thanksgiving was coming up and it was going to be the first one that KJ spent with his new parents. They wanted to make it the best holiday season they could for him. KJ was off from school and Felix had the day off from work, allowing them to spend some quality time together. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Eight ❦

Before heading out to the airport to head home, the family took one more dip in the water to mark the end of their vacation. KJ swam around while Charlie and Felix waded up to their chests, a little miffed that the last day of vacation was going to be sunny the entire day, when they’d had to contend with rain the entire rest of their vacation. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Eight ❦

The last day of their vacation, KJ met the homeowner, who straight up asked if anyone had experienced the spirits. KJ jumped for joy that someone knew about them and talked for a good long time with her about what the spirits were, what they gifted him, and how he could commune with them in the future. He was intrigued and validated all at the same time. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Seven ❦

“I don’t want to go home,” Charlie whined when he came back from sailing. KJ was in bed and Felix chuckled at his husband’s forlorn look. He finished washing the dishes, stacking them back into the cupboards for the next renters to use before he came over to Charlie and snarled playfully against his neck. Charlie chuckled, ticklish. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Seven ❦

While Charlie was out sailing, Felix and KJ were watching tv in bed, some cartoon show that KJ liked. The two of them sat there quietly before KJ looked over at his Pops and smiled. “I really did have fun on this vacation,” he said, like it was up for question. 

Felix smiled back at him. “Me too.” 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Seven ❦

While Felix and KJ headed inside to start getting ready for bed, Charlie headed out one last time to the water to get some sailing in before they had to go home tomorrow. He liked the water, the open waves and the breeze on his skin. He was going to miss this place, just the same way he missed Mt. Komorebi after moving back home. He didn’t want the vacation to be over, wished he could stay here forever. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Seven ❦

“So? Did you end up having a good trip?” Charlie asked KJ as they played on the swings after the pizza was gone. 

KJ didn’t even have to think about it before he told his Dad, “I sure did!” Charlie couldn’t tell if his son was still hyped up about the pizza or if he actually had a good vacation, but he was just glad that KJ was happy. 

❦ Zest Household, Day Sixty-Seven ❦

Ah, pizza.