"Damn it, Mason! Hold still!" She struggled to get the four year old to settle down as she fumbled with his new shoes. He insisted on getting shoes with laces so he could learn to tie them and Karen resented Stanley for giving in to the boy. He continued to kick his feet about from where he sat on the oversized ottoman. She was going to be late to her hair appointment because of the little brat. Rosie was God knows where, Stan was already off to work, and Karen was left to take Mason and Olivia to school. She snatched a swinging ankle as the boy giggled and shoved the shoe onto his sock clad foot, tying it quickly and tightly.
"Ow!" he whined. "Its too tight!"
"You're lucky I tied it at all!" she snapped as she worked on the other shoe. "I would be more than happy to let you fall on your pudgy little face all day."
He frowned, his lips formed into a perfect pout. "That's not very nice."
She rolled her eyes as she stood, brushing her skirt. "Get over it."
Mason hopped down from the ottoman, staring at his shoes with an uncomfortable grimace on his face, his feet shuffling in place. He glanced up at Karen, his eyes watery and defeated.
Karen sighed and got back down on her knees so she could loosen the ties on the laces. She ignored the way Mason was grinning like a Cheshire cat at her, keeping her eyes fixated on the dinosaur patterned shoes. Once she was finished with the menial task she cocked her head back to look at the little boy, her face merely inches from his. "Better?"
He nodded gleefully and Karen was about to move back so she could stand when Mason placed his sticky fingers on her cheeks. She was getting ready to berate him when he leaned forward and gave her a slobbery peck on her unsuspecting mouth. Karen's eyes widened in shock, a tiny blush creeping up her neck.
"Thanks, Karen!" he said cheerfully before dodging around her and running off to find his sister.
Karen sat back on her feet, staring off into the distance of the den. She raised her hand to her mouth to wipe his kiss off, but stopped midway and let a tiny smile form on her lips.
"No problem, kid."