The`car was silent as it made its way across downtown New York. The driver heard a few stray sniffles from the back seat and bit back a sigh as he lifted his gaze to the rear view mirror; two tear stained faces greeted him, one staring out the window at the passing landmarks as tears slipped unstopped down his cheeks. The other child had eyes closed and was breathing more regularly now, and Mac suspected he had fallen asleep. He shook his head and focused back on the road as he recounted the night's events in his head.
The day had started badly. The Christmas holidays were beginning soon, and Don and Danny were fighting their usual daily routine with all they could.
It had started when they slept in (which was perfectly okay in Mac's book), and then their arguing over breakfast. Next, they'd fought over which toys to play with and what to do that day. Eventually, Mac had suggested a trip to the park and told them that if they behaved, they could ice cream. Because the boys' mum, Stella, was away for two weeks as her sister had just had a baby and was helping out a couple of states away, Mac was going to have to take the boys to work tonight. Fortunately, it was the work party tonight, so hopefully the boys would manage to stay out of trouble. Hopefully…
"Come on, boys. That's enough of that fighting! How about you both get ready, and we can go to the park for a bit and play, and then I'll take you to Valento's for some hot chocolates, hey? Who's up for that?" Mac tried his best division tactic. A chorus of "Me's!" greeted him and he nodded with a smile. "Okay then guys, I'll go back us a picnic and get Mox ready so we can take him with us. But you need to be ready to leave in half an hour, okay?" Both boys nodded and Mac stood up, glad to have avoided a crisis. He set to work on making up a picnic for the park with sandwiches, cocktail sausages, fruit, yoghurts, snacks, juice and water, and then got a Frisbee and some tennis balls so they could play catch with the dog. Satisfied, he found the puppy's leash and turned towards the living room. "Are you boys ready yet? We need to get you both wrapped up before we go anywhere!"
Two sets of feet could be heard on the laminate in the hallway as they thundered through the house to where their dad waited. "Ready?" Both boys nodded impatiently. "Toilet" Two more nods. "Okay, coats and hats and gloves on, and then we'll head out." Don, the oldest of the two, quickly complied, ready to get out and do something fun, but Danny crosses his arms over his chest and frowned, shaking his head.
"Danny? It's December, buddy. You need to wrap up or you'll be ill at Christmas. Come on, kiddo. Coat on."
"No. I don't want it on!" He whined, stamping his foot.
"Daniel, it's not up for debate." Mac bent down to his five year old son's height, "You either put your coat on right now, or you can go and find a corner for some time out, buddy. You choose."
"B…But Daddy, I don't want to…"
"Daniel, I already told you your options. You need to choose what you want to do, buddy, okay? Your brother and I are waiting."
"It's not fair…" Danny started crying quietly and looked at the floor. Mac didn't say anything, but instead waited quietly. Eventually, Danny mumbled, where is my coat daddy?"
Mac smiled. "Good boy." He ruffled the kid's hair, "It's right here, on the table." He picked up his son's coat and held it up so Danny could put his arms into the sleeves then bent to zip it up before standing and putting on Danny's hat. "Okay, guys. Let's hit the park!"
They piled into the car and Mac strapped Danny into his booster seat before closing the door and letting Moxie into the boot. "Good boy, Mox." He then checked that Don was clipped in before getting in and starting the car, driving his children towards the park that he hoped would use up some of their boundless energy.