Uncle Murray's Belly Button

Daddy declared a team day. I love team days because it means that I get to see Uncle Murray, and Uncle Danny, and Grandpa George if I'm lucky. It's like a family reunion. Uncle Daniel's apartment has a pool, and that's were Dad decided the team night was going to be. I love swimming. But turns out I was the only one in the pool.

"Come on, everyone in NOW!" I demand.

Uncle Murray raises his eyebrow at me. Uncle Danny looks at Daddy and says, "Where did she get THAT from Jack?"
But I'm not stupid, I know how to get my way. It's called a splash. In one instant all of the adults are soaking wet, and I'm moving into the center of the pool, just in case they are really mad.

Dad jumps into the pool, catching me, and tickling me.

"Come on T," he prompts. He always calls Uncle Murray T, although I don't know why.

Uncle Murray raises one eyebrow, "I do not believe that is wise O'Neill."

"Come on T, we're family." He says.

So Uncle Murray peels of his shirt, and climbs into the pool.

"Uncle Murray, why is your belly button so huge?"

Uncle Daniel snorts, and Mommy laughs. Uncle Murray raises an eyebrow and says, "Grace O'Neill there are things which you are not permitted knowledge of."

"I got this one T," Daddy says, "Gracie when Uncle Teal was a little boy."

"In a country far far away?" I ask.

"Right," Daddy says, "The pixie's filled his belly up with pixie dust. It was in his belly for a long time. That scar is what is left of it."

"Did the pixie dust steal his soul?" I ask in horror. Maybe that was why Uncle Murray barely talks.

"No Gracie. When they put it in your stomach it's different. It's…well, it's storage, Gracie."

Mom is dying of laughter, and I think I almost see a smirk on Uncle Murray's face.

"Yeah," Dad says growing on confidence because of the adult's delight at his story continues, "So they STORED pixie dust in Uncle Murray when he was a kid. But he couldn't take it out."

"Why not, he's strong," I inform him.

Daddy laughs, "That he is, Gracie, that he is. But if he took out the pixie dust…"

"I would be cursed by the pixies, and become ill," Uncle Murray says with a face you wouldn't think fairy takes could be told in.

"Is it still in there?" I asked fascinated.

"No, Gracie, Super Sammy found a cure for that."

"She always saves the day," I inform Uncle Murray.

Uncle Murray raises his eyebrow at Daddy.

"Isn't that how you remember it T?" he asks.

"Indeed," Uncle Murray says.

"How did Mommy cure Uncle Murray?"

Mommy walks up to the edge of the pool, "This one wasn't me Gracie, well, most of them weren't me. Some smart people on another…uh…country far far away," Daddy's giggling, "figured out how to make medicine that made it so Uncle Murray doesn't need pixie dust."

"His shot?" I ask.

"Indeed," Uncle Murray supplied.

"Yeah, but Sammy, who figured out how to adapt the medicine for…uh…that situation," Daddy asked.

"The farries," she sneered.

"And we met the farries because…" he prompted

"I know!" I exclaimed hoping out of the water, "Mommy made friends with Jolinar!"

"Fiends with Jolinar? Seriously Jack?" Mom says with a face of distain, and maybe a bit of pain.

"That's how I remember it Carter," he says with a laugh.

"Alright," Mommy says throwing her hands up in the air, "I give. I saved the day again."