For those who do not know me, I am Ballet Reader. I go by many other names, but most call me Ballet.

This is an entry for Another Artist's "A Little is a Lot" challenge.

Posted: May 24, 2011

It has 484 words.

This first drabble centers around Arthur.

Like Father, Like Son

"Daddy, look at the book I just read with Mommy!"

Arthur turned around. His adorable daughter held a chapter book in one hand and her mother's hand in the other. Hope was grinning like mad.

"She inherited your reading skills, huh?" asked Arthur, grinning at Hope. Her jade eyes sparkled against her creamy white skin.

"Apparently so," she said. "I couldn't be more proud." The two walked away, their red hair swinging across their shoulders.

Arthur felt a small hand tug on his pants leg. Looking down, he found Dan with a black pen and a paper pad. Arthur felt himself grin.

"I've found myself someone to be proud of."

He didn't know how much that simple conversation would affect him.

Arthur chuckled as he watched Dan try to hold the pen. He was so eager and bright. After walking over to his son, he sat down, pulling the piece of brightly colored paper towards him. On the surface was a mess of numbers and shapes. Already, Dan was learning to use math.

"Like father, like son," Hope had said with a sigh when she saw them. They had laughed it off, but Arthur realized that it was true. They had the same shaggy dark blond hair that fell into their eyes. The love of numbers was apparent in both of them. But was it true?

Arthur just smiled as he watched little Dan's face screw up in concentration.

He thought nothing of this comment until three months later.

A small hand held the pencil firmly as it danced across the paper. The mess of numbers revealed the problem that Amy had so much trouble with only a year ago. It was solved.

"Great, Danny!" exclaimed Arthur. He was amazed at the progress Dan was making. Despite the stains Dan's pen had left on the floor, he was immensely proud of his accomplishments. Grinning, he held the paper up.

Dan let out a yawn. His ink-splattered hands rubbed his green eyes. Smiling gently, Arthur picked him up and carried him to bed.

He had no idea of the impending disaster.

The doorbell rang. His eyes looked up from the paper Dan had so pain-stakingly written on. With a frown on her face, Hope walked towards the door. The neon-colored strips of paper were quickly shoved into a desk.

He wished they could have avoided this.

Sharpies and sticky-notes made up our last memories, Arthur reminisced. The moments of fun- yet serious- games had been Dan's last memories. The comment Hope had given him long ago ran through his mind. Like father, like son.

He looked at his wife's beautiful face one more time; her red hair looked like the flames behind her. He squeezed her delicate hand. As he saw the flames reaching closer, he saw Dan's laughing, smiling face. And a sharpie.

Like father, like son.

Would his son end up like him?

I hope you enjoyed this drabble. I at least hope that this wasn't considered a total waste of time.

Despite this being part of a contest, I hope that you will review. Just because you aren't my friend or I haven't reviewed any of your stories doesn't mean that you shouldn't review.

So, review.

-BR (NSP)