-Danielle             

 It’s a light spring day-the first they’d been able to sneak out to Demeter’s little farmhouse since the snow had melted from the ground. Melody’s feet slip within her red rubber rain boots-a hand-me-down from Junie. She sloshes up mud as she braces herself, hands coming to soggy earth with a thud. Orpheus gasps but Eurydice holds him back. She watches as Melody’s eyes blink, her nose crinkling as she wiggles her butt, wobbles her way back to a standing position. She holds her chubby hands in front of her eyes, turning them to examine the fresh coating of mud. Then, she laughs. The squeaky, enthused sound fills the space around her, infectious as Orpheus and Eurydice laugh along with her.

              Melody laughs, giggles and claps her hands, sending mud flying in the space around her. It lands on her ruddy cheeks, her bright yellow rainjacket, and her big brown eyes widen in delight. She babbles on, the sound of mamamama as she toddles on unsteady feet toward an amused Eurydice. Her heart lights as Melody stretches out her arms to her, reaching. Bending down the young mother calls her name, coos as her baby makes her final steps to her. Then, with those same chubby hands, Melody reaches her hands up to grab Eurydice’s cheeks. The mud is wet and cold and coats her cheeks with a grainy sort of discomfort as the baby’s smile doubles in size. Orpheus chokes back his chuckling, stands and watches as Eurydice wipes a sleeve across both cheeks, looks upon their daughter in shock.

              “If you think this is funny?” Eurydice teases. She scoops Melody up in her arms, reaching down for a handful of sodden earth and meeting Orpheus’s gaze with a wicked shimmering in her eyes. He isn’t fast enough; before he can realize what is happening Eurydice has placed the mud in Melody’s hand, chasing after Orpheus with a mischievous “let’s get daddy.” She holds Melody’s chunky little arm gently, moving it to rub a thick line of mud from his chin to his ear. His wide eyes and dirt-covered face only egg the baby on, and she babbles happily as she flails her arms out, up and down, attempting to cover Orpheus’s face again. He shakes his head in surrender, shrugging.

              “You win,” He admits. Eurydice smiles in triumph, bounces Melody on her hip as Orpheus moves to them once more.

              “See, you can’t pick a fight against the two of us-she’s a mama’s girl, she won’t let you,”

              Her words are cut off by Orpheus’s hand against her cheek-across her forehead-lines of chilled, sticky mud that immediately cake to her skin. She bites her lip, narrows her eyes at her husband as he doubles over with laughter at the success of tricking her.

              “Mm, what your daddy doesn’t know is that he’s going to get it.” She turns to talk to Melody and suddenly, her own vendetta is forgotten. Her little button nose is covered with the tiniest smudge of mud, just barely covering its tip.  Melody stares back at her, rosy cheeks lifted, tiny splatters of mud from when she had fallen like an array of new freckles. Her dark eyes, identical to Eurydice’s, are wide and loving as she pats Eurydice’s muddy cheek, reaches out for Orpheus with one hand. He leans over, kisses both of their foreheads gently, lovingly as he holds them both close.

              “I really, really love you.” Eurydice cups his cheek, kisses his lips and lingers there. He can feel her smile against him before she moves to his ear. Then, she whispers. “I really think you should run, though.”

              Putting Melody down, she grabs her hand and fills the other with mud as Orpheus runs-just slow enough for their baby’s toddling steps. She giggles, watches Orpheus feign fear as he stumbles about the soggy field while she attempts to waddle over to him. Eurydice helps, holding her hands and goading her on.

              “Come on, let’s go get him!”