Author: Krissy
Disclaimer: Everwood belongs to people at the WB.
Author's Notes: Short and it *is* supposed to be somewhat vague. The end explains why. :D
Pairing: None
Rating: G
Archive: Just ask!
He speculated what it was like to be happy.
It meant you had a mother's loving caress; a father's assuring voice, gruff with emotion; a sister squealing on you, but being assured by your mommy, that you were right, but let *her* think otherwise.
It meant you'd come home to a smile; a pat on the head; a plate of warm cookies and milk.
Ephram didn't know any of this first hand. He just guessed it was true, from watching Amy's family, and reading fanfic of happy sitcom families online, and watching old black and white TV shows on Nick-At-Nite.
---
"Ephram, how was school today."
He stilled in the doorway to their house, gawking. His father was at the table, reading a newspaper, drinking from a tall glass of milk.
"Ephram?"
Concern. Just for him.
"I... uhh..."
Andy Brown smiled, "Come sit at the table and tell me about it." He offered him a chocolate chip cookie.
Ephram blinked. "Uhh, okay." He sat down cautiously on the chair next to his father. "Um. Why are you doing this?"
Andy smiled, bright and cheerful, and like Ephram was the most important thing. "We need to change, you know," he started, "and I thought this was the best way."
Ephram's lips twitched into a frown, but then curled into a half smile. "It's a start."
---
He sat up with a start, gasping for breath.
"It was just a dream," he assured himself.
The assurance didn't matter, Ephram thought, as he settled himself back under his blankets.
He wanted that start.
And as he fell asleep, he speculated.
"It really is only fiction."