first_in_time | The Half Happy Family [For iselldrugstothecommunity]

A seven year old John Chesterton shared the task of setting the table with his father. Unfortunately, a child with a love of games should probably not be given any kind of responsibility which involved sharp objects. And neither should their father.

"Avarst! Ye matey!" Ian Chesterton cried at his son, brandishing a butter knife like a sword.

"Arrrr!!" John replied with one eye closed as though he were wearing an eye patch.

"Submit to me, matey, or I'll gut yer through!"

"NEVAAR!!"

The butter knives clinked once before Barbara managed to catch them at it; "boys!" she called from the doorway into the dining room. "That's quite enough. One of you will literally skin the other and I am not in the mood to drive over to the emergency ward."

Unfortunately, neither boy was paying much attention. To begin with they looked suitably shamed, but all it took was a quick exchange of looks and they lunged at Barbara, who screamed. And then giggled as the tickling fingers of John and Ian found her most ticklish spots. She managed to wriggle away, and ran for the kitchen, the hall and finally the lounge where they tackled her onto the sofa and tickled her until she managed to cry for mercy between fits of laughter.

Now breathing heavy, all three Chestertons sat on the sofa a moment, contemplating who to tickle next when the doorbell rung.

"I'll get it," Barbara said and pushed herself up to walk to the front door. Her hand reflexively went to her hair, double checking that everything was still in place. When she opened the door, flushed in the face from the giggling, hair didn't matter. Even dinner didn't matter. Nor sword fighting, or anything else.

"...Howard," she gasped.

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From:

first_in_time

John shook, scared for Howard. He'd never felt something like that before. John's teachers had told him that sometimes people feel sad, and that's okay, but it's a friend's job to make them feel better again. Howard was John's friend, so in his mind he thought that it was his job to make Howard feel better again.

The child got down from his seat to slowly walk toward Howard. His mother had explained to him that Uncle Howard was special and sometimes didn't want to be touched, but that didn't mean he didn't like John! He just liked his space. The only problem was that John thought hugs were the best way to feel better.

He reached out to climb up on Howard's lap and give him a hug.

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iselldrugstothecommunity

Howard stiffens, stifling the urge to shove John away. Instead he just puts a hand up, quickly, between them. "No. Don't. It's okay."

From:

first_in_time

"But you're sad," John replied. He stopped on the spot and eventually let his arms fall to his sides. "You should always make your friends feel better when they're sad."

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iselldrugstothecommunity

Howard bites back the urge to say that he's not John's friend. An odd guardian, maybe, but not a friend. That's a term he reserves for people who no longer exist.

That thought reminds him of what a lonely life he lives.

"I don't like hugs. I just, I don't, okay. It's not you, it's me, and I'm not upset right now, I'm just telling you why you should be grateful and not scared."

From:

first_in_time

John stood in front of Howard for a moment longer, looking a little lost as to what to do.

"But you're my friend, aren't you? We're friends?" he asked almost desperately. As far as John was concerned, everyone was his friend and if they weren't his friend? Well...that had never happened before. John was friends with everyone. He didn't know what he'd do if someone wasn't his friend.

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iselldrugstothecommunity

"We're related. Sort of." Howard dances around the question, turning his attention back to his hot cocoa. "I don't have friends. I don't want them. Are you done drilling me with questions?"

From:

first_in_time

John shied away and went back to his seat where he ate more cookie dough. He dipped in a finger and took out a little bit which he slowly sucked away.

"...how can you not want friends?"

From:

iselldrugstothecommunity

"I don't have good experiences with friends." All of his body language screams that he wants to be left alone; his shoulders hunch and his gaze averts and he grits his teeth.

From:

first_in_time

If John had a better awareness of body language and more complex communication skills, he'd be more aware of Howard's want for solitude. As it were, however, John was oblivious.

"But friends are good to have. Everyone has friends. They play with you and make you feel better when you're sad."

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iselldrugstothecommunity

"Or they break your nose and ditch you when they get bored." Howard's well aware of how much he sounds like his teenage self right now. He doesn't care. "Are you ready to go back to bed?"

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first_in_time

John looked at the cookie mixture (or what was left of it), then back up at Howard. And shook his head.

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iselldrugstothecommunity

Howard wrinkles his nose. "What, does Your Majesty want a magic carpet to take him back to bed?"

From:

first_in_time

John's legs swung a little above the floor and he licked some more batter out of the bowl. "I want to know if I'm your friend."

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iselldrugstothecommunity

"And I don't want to get yelled at by your mom, so I'm not answering any more questions. I don't have friends, Einstein. Put it together." He stands up and recovers the bowl.

From:

first_in_time

John tried to grab on to the bowl but Howard was much stronger, and he lost quickly. He frowned and scowled at the newest person in their house, then stomped up the stairs to his bedroom.

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iselldrugstothecommunity

"Finally," Howard says, throwing a scowl John's direction before hiding evidence of the cookie crime and returning to the kitchen. A cat hops up on the couch with him, and he curls up with it and tries to fall asleep, even while the guilt nibbles at his guts.

He's only in a twilight sleep when movement in the house wakes him up again.

From:

first_in_time

In a light dressing gown and soft slippers, Barbara approached the sofa. She sat at Howard's feet and waited for him to at least recognise that she was there.

"Did you help Johnny with his nightmares an hour or so ago?" she asked quietly.

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iselldrugstothecommunity

Howard hesitates for a conspicuous moment before answering. His lower lip twitches slightly.

"Yes."

From:

first_in_time

"He seems to be upset about something. I don't suppose you know what that might be," Barbara ventured, folding her hands in her lap.

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iselldrugstothecommunity

"I tried to cheer him up. I gave him hot chocolate." Howard's better at feigning apathy than innocence.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara hmmmd. "He has a bit of a tummy ache and seems upset about something else." She knew that if she hinted about Howard possibly knowing anything about that, he would shut down on her. She had to be gentle and non-accusing.

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iselldrugstothecommunity

"Was it about his nightmare? Because he was pretty upset about that," Howard says, stroking his thin facial hair and avoiding Barbara's eyes.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara contained a sigh. She didn't to catch his eye or get him to do anything he didn't want to. Instead she replied; "he's upset about some friends and things. Did he say anything to you about it?"