The Garden

Gotta participate in my own week here, eh?

“Rize, look!”

Four-year-old Souta picks up his rubber duck and squeezes it. Water shoots out into Rize’s mouth.

“You’re mean!” Rize stomps her foot as Souta doubles over, cackling. She grabbs his hair and pulls.

“Ow!” Souta gulps when several of their mommies looked towards them. “Act calm so they don’t bother us.” 

Rize nods. She looked wistfully at Souta’s favorite toy. “I want a real ducky…”

An idea occurrs to Souta. But for now, he squeezes more water into her face. “He’s not real enough for you?!”

—————————————————–

Two weeks later

Souta hates waiting for his mother. She’s always gone with his Father, whom he’s not allowed to call dad, and then when she returns she cries and he doesn’t know why. 

Especially since she brings him presents. He likes presents and doesn’t know why Mommy doesn’t.

“Souta?” calls her mellifluous voice at last. 

“Mom!” He leaps out of bed into her arms. 

Mom smiles down at him, though her eyes are red again. She places a box on the floor. “Hey, I got something for you. Bring Rize here.”

Souta squeals with excitement, then races off to find his best friend.

When both children re-enter the tent Mom and Souta share, Mom waves. “This will be our little secret.”

She opens it to reveal two soft, fluffy duckings.

Rize shrieks.

“Shhhh. Secret,” Souta corrects her. 

“They can stay here for a little while, okay? Your father doesn’t mind.” Mom nods, and Souta squeezes her, and Rize hugs him, and the ducks make a quacking noise, and he thinks himself the happiest person alive.