baby love

“Oh c’mon, it couldn’t have been that awful! I heard worse today.” The boy exclaimed, believing that it wasn’t the worst, but not the best as well. Fletcher had a short attention span, so staring straight into the sky didn’t exactly catch his attention like the other people standing around. “Why?” He asked, glancing over at his pal, ignoring his daughter tugging on his shirt, yanking it in every direction possible.

“I’ve been lucky enough to avoid all of the puns up until now, so the bar is pretty low for eclipse puns at this point. I was expecting more from you, Fletch...” Teddy feigns disappointment, shaking his head and letting out a deep sigh. He hadn’t interacted much with other people today, so he had managed to fly under the radar of hearing any bad jokes. But, he had plenty of them up his sleeve, and Teddy might’ve as well used them on Fletcher. Teddy cracked a full smile as he gave the punchline, “Because, the dog was too Sirius. Get it?” Okay, so maybe that was more of a general space pun. But, Teddy was glad he finally had the chance to use the joke on anybody.

Kordillia couldn’t help but snort softly through her nose in laughter at Teddy’s comment, glancing over at him and grinning. This job was actually way easier than she had expected it to be, which was a shame considering it was a one time gig. All she had to do was watch the arts-and-crafts table and make sure nothing too out of hand happened. The parents did most of the work, the biggest sacrifice was that she got covered in glitter, and there was free yarn for her to mess with.

 So here she was, perched on a stool and knitting away, throwing Teddy a look.

 “Well, it takes a paste-eater to know a paste-eater,” she said, smiling a bit. “But I think he’ll probably be okay. They make that stuff non-toxic nowadays. I mean, I can kind of see the appeal. Glue is fun. Did you ever do the thing where you covered all your fingers in it, let it dry, and then peeled it off?”

Teddy continued to observe the child, who seemed quite pleased with the glue and flour mixture that they were chewing. Just thinking of the texture and taste made Teddy a bit nauseous, it had been a hot minute since he’d even thought of tasting something meant to be inedible. “Very true, in my day I was definitely eating glue that was toxic. Maybe the flour in the paste mix balanced out the toxicity?” He suggests, shrugging his shoulder. “I mean, I hope he’ll be okay, he seems to be mighty hungry. I would be willing to buy him something from one of the glue trucks if it would keep him from eating that stuff. He really should learn the wonders of real food.”

Sometimes it was a good thing to be fairly invisible and not know many people. It made it slightly easier to walk around places like fairs. Though the crowds made her anxious, she also enjoyed visiting them. As a child, Orion has always been creative, both in her crafts and simply her imagination. She spent hours making up stories to tell to her younger brother – allowing him to be the main character in most of them. She could also often be found with a box of crayons or with paint, usually drawing cats and flowers and rainbows. She’d been a happy and careless child, until the age of four. After that, she’d tried to stay that person, but she’d never found them again.

The smell of paint still comforted her and part of her wanted to get back into either drawing or painting or something that could keep her hands busy when she was feeling too fidgety to read books. So she’d found herself at an arts and crafts fair, where she could feel incompetent and small just by looking at other people’s talent, but also get lost in worlds those people had created on paper and from various other supplies. 

She wasn’t even particularly paying much attention to the rest of her surroundings – which was a good thing, because at least she wasn’t aware of how many people were around her or possible strange looks. That was, until a voice sounded from beside her and her attention shifted to the child the stranger appeared to be talking about.

“… Do you think we should find the parents?” She wondered out loud, a frown on her face, before she realized she was actually talking to someone. Her cheeks flushed a dark red color and she pointedly kept looking at the child. “I– I mean, that stuff could be… poisonous, right?”

Teddy took another lick from his popsicle, keeping it from melting, as he listened to the other’s comments on the paste-eating culprit. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to decide if maybe it would be the best option to find the kid’s parents. But ultimately, he decided that the paste couldn’t do much harm here.

“Eh... I think that he’ll be alright. I mean I ate tons of paste when I was, like, four. And look at me, I’m a Harvard graduate now.” He laughs, “I think it’s just that non-toxic Elmer’s glue and some flour. It should be fine if someone doesn’t eat the entire jar on their own. Then we call the parents. If it’s just a handful... or two.”

“yes, the waitress” eva chuckled softly, afraid she had interrupted something “i am from dixon bend” the blonde bit her lip lightly trying not to take it as an offence since it was true either way “i want to move out my mother’s place” eva added, trying not to give too much information about her reasons, she didn’t need the judgement. “i was looking for somewhere else, maybe?”

“Then the next place I’d suggest to get away from Dixon Bend is definitely Cohen Point. It’s a lot less like old Hickory Creek, though. If you’re looking for someplace with the small town charm, then you could maybe find someplace special in Dixon Bend,” he suggests, it was a strange thing to remember when Cohen Point was nothing but an older beach area of Hickory Creek. Now, it had the most bustling business of anywhere else in the town. “It might be a nice place to start if you don’t think you’re ready to take on the full rent of a house in Hickory Square...” Teddy ponders a moment, feeling like he’s being unhelpful right now, “How far away are you trying to get from your mother’s place?”

“Red, white. Sweet or dry. That’s about all i’ve got ta’ offer the world as far as wine knowledge goes. I think it’s interestin’ at least, all the talk a’ undertones and notes. The aroma. Aging, an’ all that. It’s just never been my expertise. Ten bucks says though that if I go out ta’ eat and take a bite of a burger I can tell you every spice used in it’s preparation.” Ashton laughed, smiling with some genuine relief that he was far from the only one oblivious on the matter. Though, that might be slightly rarer of a pool of people if he began asking other chefs. “Revoltin’? Can’t say I agree with ya’ there. Everyone has their own tastes though. Can’t anyone fault ya’ for that. Especially when it comes to alcohol, yeah? One of the better things ta’ not have a taste for i’d say. There’s too many people that can’t hardly function without the stuff.” Ashton wasn’t much of a drinker himself, but socially he did like to sit at the bar and have a few craft beers now and then. 

“Oh, I know food, especially burgers. Set a plate of fries in front of me and I can tell you the exact farm the potato came from... Well, maybe not that specific... So it seems you and I have similar tasting talents, except you’re a bit more advanced than me in the wine department. Do you know what kind we’re drinking right now? I mean, am I supposed to be tasting undertones of something or other?” Teddy asks, swirling his cup around as he’d seen others in the wine tasting group do earlier. The liquid was still as uninteresting as it had been before, even with the added effect of the whirlpool gathering in the center. “It’s too bitter, y’know? Even when I’m trying champagne which is supposed to be sweet, all I taste is the bitterness. Perhaps, I have a sensitive pallete,” Teddy, in the last couple of words, imitates a french accent. “I agree with you, man. I don’t really go to any of the local bars, or drink much at all.”

“Do you think that kid knows that you really shouldn’t eat that stuff?” He asked aloud, eyebrows knitting together at the sight. “You know what, I probably shouldn’t even ask that, I was a kid once, I’ve had my fair share of eating art supplies and sand.”

Fletcher nodded his head, listening to what his pal had to say. He took an occasional glance at his baby before smiling at his baby girl. A thought popped into his mind, perhaps he should tape the glasses to her face–but on the other hand that might make him a bad father and look a bit odd on a baby. Fletcher didn’t see much interest in the moon–other than what they did for the ocean with tides and what time is great for reproduction, but that was it. Astrology never tickled his peach in the way that it must of struck others. “How did the space man cut his hair? Eclipse it.” Fletcher gave Teddy a cheeky smile, knowing that the joke was awful. Linden started to laugh, it always made Fletcher feel better–even if he knew she never understood a word he spoke. 

Teddy slaps his forehead with his palm, a groan, and an agonized smile tugging at his lips. “That... That was horrible, Fletch. Terrible!” Teddy exclaims, removing his hand from its spot covering his eyes. Nonetheless, Teddy still chuckles a bit at the horrible joke. Looking back up at the sun, of course through his glasses, and choosing to pretend as if the joke hadn’t phased him a bit. The sun is now almost completely covered by a shadow, a sliver of orange light peeking out. After seeming completely awe-inspired by the eclipse, he turns slightly to the side and mumbles, “I’ve got one for you...” His lips forming a smirk, “Why did the dog constellation never laugh at a joke?”

Started now, Lydia couldn’t stop laughing, especially once Lucy started patting her face like she thought Lydia was upset. 

“Oh my god,” they gasped. “That was beautiful. Prize winning performance, truly. For a second there, I was sure you were going to quote Twilight.” They laughed again. “I have no idea how you’ve managed to convince all those Town Hall people that you’re a serious person.” They were joking, of course. Teddy had shown them time and time again his passion for law and politics. 

“You better be. I might bring notes so we can do it for real. Maybe even discussion questions,” they told him, only partially kidding. “I mean it would only be fair considering I accidentally spoiled part of Big Little Lies for you.”

They rolled her eyes a bit. If Teddy wasn’t there, it wouldn’t be because he didn’t wake up. They were both such morning people, it was how they had bonded after all. Morning after morning, they’d sat a couple tables away from each other  until the morning they’d caught each other’s eye while they were both laughing over their poor barista. Every couple of seconds the poor girl, slumped against the counter, would fall asleep and then jerk back awake. Lydia had been trying to smother their giggles when they saw the boy across from them laughing too. Ever since then, they’d been sharing a table. 

Teddy holds his abdomen once he starts bursting into laughter as well. He takes a moment to bow at the Palmers a great big smile across his lips. He’s trying to hold in the laughter as he feigns a stereotypical high-class actor voice, “You know, I never thought I would be here, getting this Oscar. I’ve come a long way from the child I once was. I’d first and foremost like to thank Lydia Palmer, for encouraging me to only take up roles in vampire films. It was my dream to become the next Dracula not just some teen vamp-dream-boy.” Teddy’s speech concludes with him bursting into laughter again. His temptation to laugh finally urged by Lucy’s little hand patting at Lydia’s face. A gesture too funny to hold in even the smallest giggle. Once he’s stopped cracking up and clears his throat he gives a very serious look, tipping his head to the side a bit.

“Oh, I can be so serious. Whenever I want to be. I’m like the most serious person in this entire world.” He adds, his voice blank and monotone. Though he could act like it, most of the people in the town hall knew that he wasn’t as serious as he made himself out to be. In fact, so many of the people grew up with him and knew what a goofy little kid he once was and what a flirt in high school he used to be.

“Please, please bring discussion questions. I kid you not, I will prepare a notebook of discussion points and symbolism I think need to be addressed. This is so happening, dude!” Teddy responds excitably, his hands waving around as he talks. “I still have yet to finish what’s there. You spoiled it so hard that I don’t think I can bring myself to watch it. The surprise feels ruined, my raw moment of reaction is no longer possible,” he pouts after the reminder that the show’s been spoiled for him. Teddy, although not a TV watcher, was prone to catch up on the things that Lydia had suggested for him. He never had many suggestions for him, mainly all he would talk about is the latest season of Hell’s Kitchen.

Charlie hadn’t been expecting anyone to answer, so when another voice spoke up and he heard the sound of someone rushing over, he looked up with a start. “Oh, uh, thanks,” he said, lifting the crate with the other man’s help and standing back at his full height. The comment about his oxfords made Charlie smile a little, glancing down at the shoes in question. “Seems like you’ve got some lucky shoes. I could’ve used a pair of those about thirty seconds ago. –You didn’t actually get hurt, did you?”

“Yeah, they were my grandpa’s. They keep my feet protected from most dangers. Probably wouldn’t help if there was a bomb blast or if someone deliberately stabbed into my toe. But, I don’t know of any toe-stabbers or shoe-bombers in Hickory Creek, do you?” Teddy jokes, his smile becoming wider. “You can’t tell me you don’t have a lucky... something. It doesn’t have to be shoes, but you’ve got to have something that gives you luck, right?” The crate was heavier than Teddy had expected, even for having some of its contents lost to breakage. He held on being careful not to be poked by some remaining glass shards on the bottom. He had a very low pain tolerance when it came to getting cut or pierced, so if he had been hurt at all by now, he would’ve been whining like a baby. “I’ve been left unharmed, can’t say the same for you, though. Did anything happen to you? I mean, you were in a closer proximity to the glass in question when everything happened.”

Will grinned at the sight of Teddy sipping on his tea – as an Englishman, he appreciated anyone who enjoyed their tea as much as he did. Accepting the other’s offer, Will sat down in the chair across from him, setting down a thick file of papers and his laptop on the table. “Well, I had these papers to grade but,” he looked pitifully at the stack of papers, “they can wait. They’re not due back until next Wednesday anyways.” Turning back to him, Will shook his head, grimacing. “Too much of the same thing. I need to get away or something. Feeling… claustrophobic.” He felt comfortable revealing his emotions with him, even if he was vague about the reason behind it. “How about your internship? Going well, I presume?” 

Teddy was impressed by the stack of papers. He knew he couldn’t be a teacher, especially if they had to read through redundant essays of students. He assumed he might get lazy and give everyone at least an A for effort after a while. “You have to grade all that? It’d give me a headache,” he admitted, giving a dejected look to the folder of papers. “What did you make them write about this time, Professor Cavendish?” Teddy inquired. “Internship is going well, the mayor is a bit intimidating... I almost got employee of the month last week. It was a tight race between myself and the receptionist.” Teddy explains, “I obviously should have one. But, I’m quite sure the employee of the month system is rigged. Otherwise my incredible wit and strength would have taken the win. I’m still shooting for next month. I definitely think I’ll be able to completely remove the competition next time,” Teddy flashes a mischievous grin.

“Oh my god,” they laughed at his terrible vampire impression. “I take it back, you would make a terrible vampire.” Suit or not, he could still make them laugh like an idiot. Most people only got their carefully rehearsed laugh but Teddy had once witnessed them actually spit their coffee while laughing at something he said so they weren’t really worried. It’d been just over a year now that they’d gone from sitting at opposite tables across the diner to using the same table and Lydia had never regretted it once. 

“I’ve only had a chance to read the prologue so far because this one,” she said, tipping her head to indicate Lucy, “kept demanding my attention but I really like the writing. It’s still a bit more serious than I prefer but it’s interesting. A little off the wall.  I hope you’re ready for a whole morning long discussion on it though when I finish it.”         

They tugged Lucy’s hand carefully out of her hair before asking, “You’ll be there tomorrow, right?”

“What? You’re taking it back now, Palmer?” Teddy pouts, his arms crossing over his chest, “I was kinda hoping the vampire thing would work out if I failed with the whole political career.” He laughs along with them, though, a smile taking over the pout. Lydia’s laugh was infectious and it always felt like if you didn’t laugh along you might be missing out on something unknown, like a secret club. “Here, let me try out the vampire thing one more time. I promise this time I’ll prove to you that I am a blood-sucking maniac from Transylvania, okay?” He dramatically cleared his throat, and ran his hand over his face quickly muttering the words, “And... scene.” He put on his best Transylvanian accent again and created a more mysterious look by narrowing his eyes and upturning his lips into a slight smirk, “You are too late. My blood now flows through her veins. She will live through the centuries to come, as I have lived.” It’s one of the only quotes he can remember from the movie, a classic that his grandmother had made him watch when he was young. Although the movie was from the thirties, it still scared him to this day since he was so young when he first saw it.

Teddy nodded along as she spoke, understanding how the book may be too serious for her personal tastes. They often were able to share similar tastes, though. “Hopefully Lucy will allow you to read long enough for you to finish the book,” Teddy jokes, looking to the child. “Oh, I’m absolutely ready for the morning of conversation over it. I can’t wait when you’ve read it all so that I won’t have to painstakingly resist the urge to spoil the best parts of the book.”

“I will probably be there tomorrow, if I can bother to wake up on time,” Teddy jokes again, full well knowing that he always gets up at the same time each morning. A habit he’s harbored since his teenage years.