#youthkept

             SHE’S GOING TO ignore the comment; very pointedly in hopes he would revise that greeting–but she would answer the question. “ if you must know…it’s the yearly visit I dread from this guy I know; just you know…stuff…& things.” Kinda left her in a bad mood.

any semblance of sunshine downcast on his face.  he already notices the shift in her typical mood and to have it affirmed worsened his concerns.   ‘   is it a family member?  a friend?   who?   ‘   there’s a light rub on her shoulder,  both to mend and to console.   ‘  hey,  c’mon.  at least it’s just once a year.    i mean.. you don’t have to worry about him after it’s all over.   ‘ 

       “AHH COME ON, you should be more confident than that. You’re not the worst person ever. I mean… I tolerate you, & my standards are higher.” Who was she kidding–no they weren’t, her standards were absolute garbage. The point stood however, he should have more confidence.

  Irene pinched his cheek. “You’re a good kid, Danny.”

a little pick - me - up goes a long way for him,   the grandiose of gestured kindness over mere shun or a grunt to acknowledge.  he feels he can open up to her :    a good thing or bad is purely subjective. he feels the downward curl of his mouth raise,  though he had to try and wave her hand away from the playful pinch. 

‘   uh !    wow !!     you didn’t hear that did you?   ‘        the sound of his noncommittal self-depreciatory commentary, that is.   so easy to let it jokingly slide by.  there’s a silence ill-fitting for his need to know.     ‘  please tell me.  ‘

           ❛            huh,  really ??  ❜   heat rises on cheeks in rose hip smatterings,  over his nose & to the tips of his ears  //  a constellation of color upon gentle peach,  shocked smile quirking at lips & starry eyes alight.   it’s been so long  ( too long,  perhaps ;   a bittersweet reminder of better times )  since he was related to stars shining bright ;   sun’s rays,  shooting stars with fading trails.   his heart thrums a staccato beat,   ❛  i was always told i was like a shooting star           it’s what my name means,  actually !   but sunshine is still nice.   really nice.  ❜