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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Aug 24, 2008 4:34:18 GMT
It may be a mark of how long it’s been since I’ve been outdoors that I immediately flinch back from the sun, throwing up an arm and blinking away protective tears. Or maybe it’s just really bright today….
I look back at the house I’ve just left, with large black garbage bags literally nailed into the windowframes to keep out all light. Maybe, now that I’m thinking about it, I should take a few of those down. Or at least venture out of doors on at least a daily basis, before Melody and I develop vitamin D deficiencies or turn into mutants with oversize eyes.
Shaking my head at myself, I almost forget to lock the bloody door – odd, for someone so paranoid; stupid, for someone who’s left his infant daughter sleeping in the house. I’m not even sure if it’s a good idea to leave her, come to think of it… but it’s just a quick trip to the post office, and it’s not like she can walk, so what could possibly happen? Or, more to the point, what could possibly happen that I could prevent just by being in the house?
So you shouldn’t second-guess. The kid’s not going to die in the next ten minutes just because you’re not in the house. She was fine with Lacey, wasn’t she, who was doing god knows what? So the odds are pretty good that she’ll be fine now, too.
The monologue continues up until I actually reach the post office, growing more convinced each second that you’re not supposed to leave small infants by themselves for even twenty minutes. Not that I’d know. But it’s just a quick trip anyway.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Aug 28, 2008 3:14:37 GMT
"Okay hold these for mum James."
Shell was opening the door for her four year old son. He still always wanted her to carry him but he was getting to the point where he was too heavy. James nods and takes the letters before Shell leaned over and picked him up balancing him on her right hip as she shut the car door.
Walking inside she noticed the line and sighed lightly as she walked to the beginning watching James read slowly the names, where it was going to be sent to, and everything else that was written onto the envelope. "Think we should bake cookies when we get home?" she asks softly before noticing the bobbing of his redhead taking it as a yes as he continued to focus his similiar blue eyes on her handwritting.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Aug 28, 2008 3:27:03 GMT
It was supposed to be just a quick trip, anyway. And would have been if not for the line. Has everyone in the bloody neighborhood decided to go get their mail at the same time? Did I miss the announcement about free donuts?
I sigh near-silently, scowling at the front of the line and then deciding to read the advertisements posted up near the ceiling. I don't take much in due to the growing anxiousness and nagging feeling that you really shouldn't leave a baby by herself for half an hour... and so I'm almost grateful for the distraction of somebody else entering the building - until, that is, I notice who it is and my head snaps forward again. There's no particular reason for this reaction; it's not like we're on bad terms. Or any terms. There's just something unnerving about seeing an old friend when you're not expecting it.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Aug 28, 2008 3:38:03 GMT
Shell sighs, looking up at the clock a few minutes later, noticing that they only moved maybe three or four people position in line as she noticed someone looking at her. Looking around a bit she locked eyes with a former friend. Well he was still a friend, just hadn't seen him in... what was it now? A few years ago? Shell sighs a bit, running a hand through the tangled hair of her son before smiling faintly at Fitzy as a way to say hello.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Aug 28, 2008 3:49:08 GMT
Maybe I'm just feeling extra twitchy today due to the nagging anxiousness, but I can't seem to stop shooting Shelby looks every few seconds. Naturally, at some point she would have to notice... and, inexplicably, smile at me. I smile awkwardly back, debating whether or not to budge from my place in line. Normally it wouldn't be a hassle to decide, of course.... But she'll be fine anyway, remember?
The voice is probably right, so I move back a few places in line until I'm just behind Shell, nodding at both her and the small redhead as I do so. "Hey... lo. Long time no see," I mutter, shrugging - and then quickly clear my throat when I notice how raspy my voice is. How long has it been since I talked?
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Aug 28, 2008 4:11:25 GMT
James continues to read the letters until he looked up at Fitzy as well just staring at him curiously before looking back up at Shell. "Mum, who is he?" She sighs a bit before glancing down at him. "Just an old friend is all sweetie." Shell tells him as she noticed how many looks he was giving her in the line.
Shell nods a little bit back at him as James just grins up at him as his blue eyes sparkled like hers. "Hey. You okay or is this too awkward for you?" she says softly raising an eyebrow at his voice. It seemed as if she was bothering him for being in the same building let alone the same world as him.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Aug 28, 2008 4:17:09 GMT
"Just having a strange day," I mutter, shrugging and shaking my head at her concern. Yeah, a very weird day. I left the house.
I nod down at the kid, changing the subject. I don't even remember anymore how many she used to have, but he looks a bit too little to be someone I've heard of before. "So where'd you pick him up? Sale at the thrift store or did he follow you home from the park?"
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Aug 28, 2008 4:30:44 GMT
James frowns hearing what he said before clinging to Shell a little more before balling his fist into her shirt. "He's Jay and I's youngest. Turning five soon... There's ten total." she says softly noticing James clenching her shirt a little more. Jay had been gone for a little over a year now but of course things weren't better yet.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Aug 29, 2008 2:43:47 GMT
I raise my eyebrows but decide not to comment, remembering how touchy she always got about her insanely huge family. I can't help but be a bit tactlessly surprised, though, at the mention of Jay... but I stop myself in time from asking, 'so, you're still together?' with too much disbelief.
"So... how've you been then?" I ask instead, glancing up briefly at the head of the line.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Aug 29, 2008 3:51:45 GMT
"Well, widowed." she says softly again before James let go of her now wrinkled shirt and grabbed hold of the pocketwatch around her neck. "And divorced. But okay I suppose. You?"
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Aug 29, 2008 17:43:25 GMT
Figures, I think, raising my eyebrows again but having the sense not to say it.
"Okay as well," I shrug. "Not much. Certainly nothing like that. But is it a bad idea to leave a, ah, infant alone in the house for, say...." I glance toward the front of the line again. "... Not quite an hour?"
Right. Now that really sounds hypothetical when you put it like that, so abruptly.... But if there's anyone I know who might know, it's probably Shell, so maybe this is some sort of fate, that I happen to run into her now after so many years.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 4, 2008 1:54:29 GMT
Shell raises an eyebrow at him and sighs, shaking her head a bit. "Yes, I would say leaving an infant alone in a house for any amount of time besides maybe going out to the mailbox or getting something from the car is a bad idea... why?" she asks, having a feeling that he did in fact leave a baby in his house alone now. She rocks back and forth on her heels for a few seconds, before tucking a curl behind her ear.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 4, 2008 2:13:23 GMT
"Just... a thought." I shrug evasively. She didn't technically ask whether I left my daughter aloner in the house, just why I asked the question. So it's not as though I'm lying.
"What trouble could they possibly get into though, really? I mean... somebody his size, sure, but if they can't even walk yet?" I ask, nodding at the redhead whose name, if I knew it, has disappeared from my head.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 4, 2008 2:23:00 GMT
"Okay then, whatever you say." she says softly before shaking her head lightly. "Well it's not that they'll get into trouble. It's more of they might get hungry, diaper change, need some attention or something else. You should never leave them alone really. Just a parental rule actually." Shell says softly before brushing back the hair on James' forehead. "Mister, did you leave a baby at your house alone?" he asks just as softly as Shell. She had to laugh a little at that. "Well is that the truth Fitzy?"
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 4, 2008 2:25:59 GMT
"Might have," I shrug, actually fairly relieved now that she's said all that. Nothing too urgent then... not like she'll kill herself. "But I will be back just as soon as this bloody line moves at all."
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 4, 2008 2:30:23 GMT
James gasps slightly, causing a broad smile to grace Shell's lips. "So besides leaving children unattended at your house Fitzy, how are you besides that? Married as well I assume?" she asks biting her lip a bit. She did have a small crush on him but seeing as she was a few years older than him and that one kiss was sorta awkward for him then... she never said anything about it.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 4, 2008 2:39:26 GMT
I let out a short, choking sort of disbelieving laugh, shaking my head. "I - no. God, no. Don't know what would give you that idea. Her mother -" I just shake my head before I can say any more and inadvertently violate the 'agreement.' Not that I recall when exactly I agreed, but it's not much to ask, really.
Besides, what can I say? 'Her mother is just the twin sister of my old best friend... kind of a whore, needed somewhere to stay, things happened and now I have a baby sitting alone at my house'?
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 4, 2008 2:51:00 GMT
Shell frowns a bit, before putting a hand on James' shoulder, almost as a protective way. "I guess not then. One night stand kind of thing and she... um. Didn't want her or him?" she whispers but loud enough that Fitzy could hear it.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 4, 2008 2:59:30 GMT
"More or less," I shrug, frowning slightly. "But... not exactly didn't want her. That would be me. She just, somehow, came to the brilliant conclusion that I can somehow be a better parent than she could."
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 4, 2008 3:04:38 GMT
"I'm sure you're doing fine. Do you think I could come see her and maybe spend some time with you seeing as we haven't seen each other for a while." she says tilting her head to the side a bit.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 4, 2008 3:09:51 GMT
"Well, she's still alive," I mutter under my breath. "As far as I know, anyway. So if you want to count that as doing fine...." I glance down at the floor, forcing a smile by the time I look up, because I've realized how much I've been acting like my old self. This isn't the version of me that I usually am around Arden, for example. It's just hard to relax enough for that when I'm around so many strangers.
"Sure you can come over, if you want." I shrug easily. "As long as you don't mind visiting what's practically a cave."
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 4, 2008 3:21:46 GMT
Shell nods a bit, forcing a smile as well as she moved forward in the line due to the sighs and people getting annoyed behind her. "Oops. I guess it's my turn. I'll wait for you over by the door." she says softly before nodding and walking over to one of the open windows, as James rested his chin on her shoulder, watching Fitzy as Shell talked to the woman behind the counter.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 4, 2008 3:30:28 GMT
I nod somewhat distractedly, noting with surprise that the line certainly has finally moved, and there's already another open window as well.
Nothing. Figures. I sigh very slightly, rolling my eyes and shaking my head. Maybe I should just stifle my own paranoia and get a bloody postbox at my house, so I don't have to come all the way down here just to find there's no mail waiting for me.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 4, 2008 3:39:27 GMT
Shell gives her letters to the woman and walks over to the door, smiling a little once Fitzy was walking over. "So, where to Fitzy?" she asks adjusting James onto her other hip.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 4, 2008 3:44:49 GMT
I hesitate briefly, unused to telling people where I live, but then nod briefly to the south. "If you haven't got anywhere else to go."
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 4, 2008 3:49:14 GMT
"I want to visit you and your daughter so lead the way. Arden told me it was a girl. Her name escapes me though." she says softly as she gave him a smile.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 4, 2008 3:55:32 GMT
"Melody," I shrug, looking at the sidewalk. "So... you've been talking to Arden as well, have you? Happen to know that she left?"
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 4, 2008 4:13:25 GMT
"That's a pretty name." she says with a smile as she looked at him for a second. "Yes andy eah, I know she left... something about a rut. I don't know everything about why though." Shell adds before walking up the sidewalk some.
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Post by Fitzy Patricks on Sept 4, 2008 13:40:35 GMT
"Guess so," I shrug, laughing slightly... then rolling my eyes and shaking my head. "Honestly, you still probably know more than me. First I heard of it she just showed up a week or so ago, said goodbye to Melody, and said something like, 'oh, by the way, I'm disappearing for a bit, but Lilith has promised to check up on Small One; see you in a couple of months.'"
I shake my head again, not wanting to admit it even to myself, but finding that I feel hurt. Sort of. I thought we had turned into family at some point, or at least decent friends.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Sept 9, 2008 4:26:16 GMT
Shell stands there for a few seconds, not sure what to say to that. She remembered when Logan, Nick, Jay and then Draven would say they would be back that night when they would disappear for months or even years leaving her to raise all the kids mostly alone. Of course Briar, Kyra, Riyann, Andra whoever would help but it wasn't ever the same.
"So, uh. Almost to your house yet Fitzy?" she asks as James started to fall asleep in her arms.
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