Changes
A (sort of) James and Cindy story.
"Is she going to get better?" Ron asked, in concern. His wife hadn't moved all day.
"Ron." Anne said, "The thing she's dealing with- it's part of the aging process. She'll get over it...but never, really forget it. You just don't forget these sorts of things."
Ron looked over through the open door, to the empty place that had always seemed so full of energy...which made the absence even worse. So much had happened that it had become a part of their lives.
And yeah, he understood, life went on, but he could also understand Kim...you never really could replace it. No matter how many excuses you made.
He turned back to Kim, the uneaten plate of food next to her, the way her hair hid her face, the way her hands were still in her lap.
"Kim?" Ron said softly.
"Yeah?"
"It's not that bad. We still have James. And we're getting another addition to the family, remember?"
"I know..." The same soft tone.
"And we can still visit-"
"It's not the same, going to the graveyard." Kim said.
"It's not really a graveyard." Ron said, looking around. "It's a place of honor, not just for the way we were helped, but how others were helped."
"I-"
Kim looked at the empty place. "I'm not even 30 yet! This isn't supposed to happen!"
"Dear, we all say that." Anne said, handling things much better than her daughter.
"How can-"
"Hello everyone!" James Possible came in, followed by a four year old James Possible-Stoppable.
Ron groaned. Before, he'd been a firm member of the camp of "only crazy health nuts obsess over diet." Looking at the huge sugar filled ice cream cone, he now realized that he was a charter member of "Parents who will now have to deal with the sugar high Grandpa gave their kid."
Unfortunately, given the time it took to process, it was a delayed action bomb that wouldn't go off until they were back home. Some parents would realize it was an accident on the part of the grandfather.
Except that James Possible was a genius, and as Ron looked into his father in law's guileless eyes, he wasn't fooled for a second. Dr. Possible was simply exercising his right to be a member of the "club of Grand Parents who don't have to deal with this anymore, thank you very much, and so can spoil your kid, guilt free."
"She's still morose?"
"James, please, Kimberly is in mourning."
"I-it's at a graveyard." Kim said.
"No, it's not, as the last surviving, albeit modified Sloth, it's in honorable retirement at the Smithsonian." Her father reminded her.
"And this isn't entirely about that." Anne said, smiling.
"A van." Kim moaned.
"I like it, mommy." James said, "It's neat!"
"A van." She repeated. "Because it's sensible." She paused, "because I can take James and his friends out to eat. Because it has kid rated seats. Because..."
"It's a mommy car, not a hot world saving heroine car?" Anne said, showing her thespian skills by not laughing.
"Yes."
"Well don't worry." Ron said, "Remember, even with the Sloth, you had to call off because James had that dentist appointment, and then their was the pre-K meeting, and the time that-?" He stopped at the look Anne gave him.
moan.
"Are you going to eat those?" Ron asked, and when no reply was forthcoming, he dove into the plate of food.
"So, should I worry?" James asked.
"No, Kimmie's just having her midlife crisis a few ye-er decades, early."
"That's good!" James said, "Anything is possible for a Possible, after all." He paused, "So, are you kids ready to head home?"
Ron glared at Dr. Possible. "You're not even going to let us stick around so you can enjoy the results of that sugar bomb?"
"Of course not! It'll give Kimmie-cub something else to focus on!"
Groan.
End.
