"We should go away."

[indiana_j]

"We should go away."

I looked up from the cramped kitchen table that held court in the middle of an equally cramped kitchen. It was an island of bills, text books from classes that ended at the start of the summer, a plate of donuts and three cats.

"What?"

"Go away.  Us.  Somewhere."  He scrubbed at the side of his head and I watched as the cowlicks made a determined run for freedom.  My hands itched to smooth it back down but they were sticky from pen ink and kitten tongues.

I had a billion reasons to say no.  I had work.  We had projects half-started and forgotten on the apartment.  My mother had forgotten who I was just last week.  The cats would form a cabal and eventually take over the world while using the petsetter as their puppet.  Money - god, always money.

But I found myself saying yes because of the smile that peeked around the carton of milk as he carefully drank from.  Because the city had been stifling me for weeks.  Because my mom had forgotten my name just last week.

"Just us?" I asked, sitting back in my chair, all long legs and arms that I'd never grown into but for some reason that he adored.

He crinkled at me and I knew he'd age into his father.  A thousand wrinkles and adorable as any baby.  "Just us."

Comments

[thatpalebluedot.livejournal.com]

I like the descriptions here...

[indiana-j.livejournal.com]

Thank you! This is going to be the start to a slightly longer piece, I think.

[frito-kal.livejournal.com]

I love how real all of your characters always are.

In this case, I could change a handful of words, just little tiny things and it'd be a scene from my life.

[indiana-j.livejournal.com]

*beams* Aww, thank you - that's something I never really noticed was a strength but something I've always aimed for, you know?

[frito-kal.livejournal.com]

Change cupcakes for donuts and cats for "Gracie" and I think that's basically the conversation Twiller and I had (more or less) before our trip to San Fran last winter.