Coral's first birthday party

[guppy_sandhu]

Outside in a quiet corner of the garden, well away from the lake, a birthday party has been set up.

There's a paddling pool with some toys in, a picnic spread out on a cloth, and a sign saying 'Happy Birthday Coral'.

Comments

Re: Picnic

[guppy_sandhu]

Fry climbs out of the paddling pool and toddles over to Kate. He looks first at her shirt, because the pattern is intriguing, and starts running his wet fingers down the lines.

"Hi Kate!" Guppy smiles. "Fry, aren't you going to say hello?"

"Yes, lookin' at the squares." Fry says.

Coral stays in the paddling pool and looks over at Kate with a smile.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Hello, you two."

Kate is wholly unbothered by the wet fingertips. If anything, any time Fry feels comfortable enough to touch her and let her touch him back warms her heart with appreciation.

"How are things farin' so far?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Well we nearly lost all the food on the floor, but other than that it's going well. And Coral said Fry's name out loud for the first time today!" Guppy says. "Oh, these look exciting, did you make them?" He adds, looking at the peach foods.

"Adults four pounds twenty, children one pound ten." Fry says, following the line down to Kate's belly.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Oh dear! I hope the table's sturdy."

With Guppy involved, who knows what disasters lurk around the corner?

"I did. I hope they're fine; it's different havin' your ingredients provided by a bottomless icebox in a magic bar, rather than farmed from your own property. But I at least made sure t'taste as I went along."

For quality assurance, of course.

"What's that, sweetheart? Four pounds of what?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"We had it on this blanket, just Fry went under it." Guppy says. "And since most jam is made by machines these days I'm sure it'll be lovely."

"For the fare." Fry says, stepping back but still looking at the squares because they're very distracting.

Guppy makes a mental note to check out how he reacts to the girls' summer uniform at his new school. Some of the kids might object if he starts following the lines on their dresses.

[ikissdhimbck]

"An' what was under the blanket?"

The question is directed mostly to Alex. She's curious as to whether he was simply trying to hide, or perhaps dry off, or if he was on some adventure in deepest, darkest Africa.

However, she directs the second question to Guppy.

"Fare?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Me." Fry replies. "And not Hilde."

"I think he means bus fare." Guppy says. "Fry, asking how you fare means 'how are you?'"

"How am I what?" Fry asks.

"How are you feeling?" Guppy tries to explain.

"With my hands." Fry replies.

"How are you feeling inside?" Guppy tries.

That one's a bit harder so Fry stares at him blankly.

[ikissdhimbck]

She giggles quietly, and squats down to Fry's level.

"Are you happy today, Alex?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"No, Hilde said I was awful." Fry says.

"She said she was sorry." Guppy says. "Sometimes people say things they don't mean."

"But I like the paddy pool and... and Coral said my name." Fry says.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Who's Hilde?"

Kate's indignant! Nobody but nobody calls her young men 'awful'.

"Did she now? An' how did that make y'feel, when Coral said your name?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"One of Teja's people." Guppy supplies.

Fry considers the question, picking up a bit of grass and playing with it in his fingers.

"I don't know." he says. Feelings are hard.

[ikissdhimbck]

She glances at Guppy, the stern expression on her face making it clear she'd like an explanation, but that it can wait until later if he doesn't want to give it in front of Alex.

"Sometimes, when someone does somethin' nice, it can give you a good feelin'. Like when y'drew me that picture of Beaut an' I, it made me happy, an' proud."

She smiles gently.

[guppy_sandhu]

"She's only about three." Guppy says.

Fry thinks for a moment. He doesn't really know what this 'feeling' is he's supposed to describe. But Kate's trying to find out what occurred when Coral spoke, perhaps? He closes his eyes for a moment.

"Enzo not in water bird noise seven toys squeaky duck bad noise other duck better noise bunny near trees eight cakes three pink one white four yellow Coral came hands out said Fry gived duck splash splash water wheel..." Fry opens his eyes again, tilting his head and glancing at Kate to see if any of that was acceptable.

[ikissdhimbck]

Ah, well. If the offender was only three, Kate supposes she can grant a pardon.

She listens closely to Fry so as not to miss a word, ducking her head down to his level with her brow furrowed. When he's finished and looking at her, she smiles ever so slightly.

"That's a lot t'have goin' on, huh?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Yeah." Fry says.

"Is it like that all the time?" Guppy asks.

Fry nods. Isn't it for everyone?

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate purses her lips in thought.

"Then, perhaps, next time I'll ask if things have been good. How's that?"

Take feelings right on out of the equation, and let him answer from the head a little more instead.

[guppy_sandhu]

Fry nods eagerly. That sounds very nice.

He brings Kate a daisy, then gets back in the paddling pool.

[ikissdhimbck]

She grins, and slips the daisy into her hair.

Right, they'll talk later, then.

"Can I interest you in some spiced peaches?" she asks Guppy, turning to get them two small plates. It's a nice day for two good friends to stand and chat and enjoy a treat together.