Papa I understand now
Bae and his Papa have long overdue talk about their past and parenthood
My Love Bug Emma and I had a great night watching MCU movies with our son who she has for the weekend. I'm Sharing her place for a week or two while some major repairs are being done to mine. Hey, it's a great test to see how well we get along. we shared a much smaller space when we were in our bandit phase almost 15 years So this should be a snap. By the way, never say 'a snap' to a fan who just saw "Infinity War."
I won't say I'm upset about Spider man and the rest turning to dust, but I 'm still up and Em and Henry have been in bed for a half hour; I think I'll be a noisy dad and see what Henry's doing in school. He's doing well in algebra and science. I think he has Papa's analytical mind and my creative mind. Why hasn't he shown us his family drawing of us and Goldspinner along with Papa and Belle? It's so good. My son has talent and is so family-oriented.
I see a paper that says they're studying the first ogre war in history, They've been assigned to read the first Hunger Games book and compare it to what the teacher calls "the Children's campaign." spoken like a person who was a couple of centuries away from actually having fought in it or knowing kids who died or were maimed in it.
Anyway, I never read it or seen the movies. I think I'll see if I like it. Henry's about halfway through it so can't be that bad. I keep his book mark in place and start from the beginning. I'm at the first death I decide to put it down and try to go to sleep. Before I know it, I think I'm on the battlefield, no it's Henry. Just before I wake up, he's grabbed by one of the monsters.
That's just the beginning; every time I fall asleep, I have the same dream. One long sweat-soaked night later, I deride to make a pot of strong coffee-espresso and cinnamon toast-and maybe visit Papa. it takes a few cups before I can think clearly. I look at the clock; 7:30. Papa opens the shop at 8:30 on Saturdays. During those long sleepless hours, I realized how much I still need tell him; He knows I love him but there's so much I want to say.
I go to Papa's pawn shop just as he's opening up, but before he turns the open sign around. "You look tired son," Papa says.
"Didn't sleep well" I say.
"Do you know why son?" He asks.
"Just a bad dream" I say. "I had Nightmares when I found out the inscription age had been lowered to One-year-olds. About Henry, I can see it in your eyes, and I saw Henry carrying that book 'The Hunger Games.' Seems even worse these killings were committed to entertain the government and rich in the capital. Belle Almost read it because many teens have been checking it out. Henry's history class was assigned read it to help them learn about what they call "The Children's Campaign."
"there are some better books to learn about that, 'Thomas My Life as a 14-year-old Solider'. It seems most of the books from the Enchanted Forest never made it here," Papa says.
"Anyways, I could not sleep. I'm only here because of that modern wonder/menace... caffeine -lots of it. When I couldn't sleep between nightmares, I began thinking about how much I learned to appreciate now you try so hard to protect me when I was facing going to war. Now that I'm a dad I understand I can see myself running with Henry or any other kids we have if we were in that place now, minus the dark. Magic."
"There are things I 'd do again so much I would not but I did it out of love. Yes, parenthood changes you. I'm glad you understand now I did those things I did out of love wrong and right."
"Henry is a very good artist. I managed to sneak out a drawing from his bookbag. I show him the family portrait."
Papa stares for a while, then tears up. "He actually considers Belle and I family."
"Of course, you are his grandparents. I consider Belle more of a mom than SHE was.
"She'll glad to hear that she loves you," I'd like to make a copy of it for home or the shop. I hope Henry will update the portrait when the twins arrive. I see he drew it when Belle was only slightly pregnant."
"I think Henry will like that and will do another when my siblings arrive," I say. He waves his arm and makes Two copies of the drawing.
"I couldn't decide where I wanted it displayed, home or the shop. I have a few of your works tucked away to frame, carefully preserved drawings."
"Now I'll have to tell him I borrowed the drawing."
"As for the nightmare, you know there's no ogres here, son. Besides, the boy magic and practically an Army of loved ones to protect him if a threat like that ever arises again." I hug him like the 14-year-old kid I was, and with the new wisdom of a dad myself.