Little Wonders - Rob Thomas
Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders
When Masashi was two years old, he went through a phase where he will bite into people's chin. To say that he was teething, his teeth were all there, all twenty of it. And his favourite person to bite was his father, Izana. While Izana seems to think it was adorable for his son to give him a unique kind of 'kiss', Masashi's behaviour worried her.
Since she can't make it stop, she found herself trying her best in avoiding Izana in turn avoiding Masashi from gumming Izana's chin.
After two days, Masashi threw a huge tantrum in the middle of the night for Izana after she refused to relent to Masashi's twentieth request for his 'papa'.
Tired and bedraggled, she threw on her sleeping robe over her nightdress and went to see Izana with her wailing son. Despite the late hours, Izana was still in his study, hunched over his documents. Seeing them, he gave a large grin; immediately taking Masashi from her who stopped his crying when he saw his father. And as predicted, Masashi instantly latched on his chin, gumming it. Since it was late, Izana's chin was covered with fine stubble. Shock with the five o'clock shadow, Masashi pulled back from Izana's chin; eyes wide.
"Papa?"
Smiling at his son, he answered him, "Yes Masashi?"
Beaming, he latched back on his father's chin. Again, feeling the stubble; he pulled back. Instantly his eyes flooded with tears. Pushing himself away from Izana, he started to cry.
"Papa, papa, papa."
Worried for her child who is struggling as he pushed himself away from his father, his small back half bend backwards from the struggle; Shirayuki reached for Masashi. "Mama, papa… Hic… Papa, mama."
"There, there. Papa is over there honey. Shush, don't cry." Patting his small back to soothe his crying, she threw a glance towards Izana who looked shell shock as he stood straight in the middle of the room and his hand still stretched outwards as if he was handing her the child. Sighing tiredly, she moved towards Izana.
"Look Masashi. Papa is here." Reaching a hand out, she patted Izana on his lower face. His stubble tickled her palm that she let out an involuntary giggle. "See? Papa is here."
Seeing that her child was still crying, she pulled on Izana's shirt so his face is down to her level. Pressing a quick kiss on his cheek, she turned back to look at Masashi, who had stopped crying and looking at them with wide eyes. Still keeping her hold on Izana's shirt, again she turned around and pressed another kiss on his cheek. "Look. Papa."
Reaching out his small chubby hand, Masashi pat Izana face before quickly pulling his hand back when he felt the stubble. "No! Not papa! Want papa!"
Releasing her hold of his shirt, she absent minded run her hand down his chest to smooth back the crease on his shirt not realizing that Izana looks uncomfortable with the gesture. Catching her hand in his, he said "Look Shirayuki. I'll go and shave for a bit. Wait here."
"I'll go with you. You don't need to return back here."
Acquiescing with her reasoning, he turned around to his study table and blow out the candle on his table. Instantly the room is covered in darkness save for the torch on the corridor. Moving towards the door with Shirayuki on tow, close the study room door before locking the door.
The walk to his sleeping quarter was spent in silence, Masashi's tiny hiccup filling the silence. Pacing outside his bedroom door, she waits silently for him to shave. When he reached them after his quick shave, he reached for Masashi. His son looked at him wearily.
"Papa?"
Giving him a small grin, Izana offered Masashi his chin. "Go on then Masashi."
And Masashi happily 'kiss' his father on his chin while Shirayuki sighed tiredly.
Much to her relief, Masashi stop 'kissing' his father two weeks after the incident when he found a new fascination with Izana's pinkie fingers.
Oh well, as long as the bite marks is not on Izana's chin. She can't stand the sight of it on his fine cut jaw.
Not that she is going to tell him that.