CHAPTER 4
~~~~~SEPTEMBER 11, 2014~~~~~
"Do we have to go to Wong Foo's?" Parker whined as he poked at his peas with his fork.
"It's already all set up. We've rented the place out. Sid's going to be there," Brennan replied, lifting her fork to her mouth.
"I see Sid all the time," Parker replied as he fell into full-on pout mode.
"Emily wants Wong Foo's and it's HER birthday. Gotta deal with it, bud," Booth told his son as he looked to his daughter, who was also picking at her food. "Hey, missy, eat your food," Booth instructed.
"I'm not hungry," Emily said. "How long 'til my birfday party?" Emily asked as she set her fork down.
"2 days, baby. You remember, it's not your real birthday, just your party, right?" Brennan asked.
"Yeah, I get it. My real birfday is the 16th and that's when Angewa's party is," Emily said through a smile as she swung her legs and shifted in her chair.
"Right," Brennan replied, taking a sip of her water.
"Oh, did you find a sitter for the night of the party?" Booth asked.
"I talked to Goodman when I examined the remains and he said he'd talk to Sarah and Samantha," Brennan replied.
"I don't see why I can't babysit my own sister," Parker interjected.
"Not 'til you're 14," Booth replied, pointing over at him.
"Who's gonna be there, Mommy? Are Lila and Miley and Gillian coming? 'Cause they're my BEST friends!" Emily asked, her legs continuing to swing.
"Yes, they are all coming. And guess who else will be there?" Brennan engaged her daughter as she leaned her head towards her and smiled playfully.
"Who?!" Emily asked, enthusiasm bouncing off of her.
"Emma and Haley!" Brennan replied, knowing that this would perk her daughter up.
Emily's eyes went wide. "Awesome! And Unca Russ and Aunt Amy, too?" Emily inquired, hoping that her mother had not left them out.
"Of course, baby. And Uncle Goodman and Sarah and Samantha and Angela and Jack and Davey and Uncle Zack, too," Brennan replied as she reached out and gave Emily a nudge in the ribs.
"That tickles!" Emily said as she giggled. "Cool! This is gonna be the best birfday party EVA!" Emily exclaimed, her interest now completely taken away from her food. "Why can't it be 2 days now?" she inquired, impatiently.
"It'll be here before you know it," Booth said, smiling.
"I don't know if I can wait that long," Emily replied, seriously as she looked to her dad.
"Well, you're going to have to, Em," Brennan replied as she took a bite of her mashed potatoes.
"Fine, geesh!" Emily replied, defiantly as she rolled her eyes.
"Hey, no eye rolling," Brennan reminded her daughter.
Emily glared at her.
"Hey Dad? Guess what?" Parker asked suddenly, a smile evident on his face as his mood shifted.
"What, bub?" Booth inquired, wiping his mouth with his napkin.
"Hanson Morley broke his leg skateboarding, so he's not trying out!" Parker said, excitedly.
"Hey! You're a shoe-in then!" Booth said as he reached up and high fived his son.
"You two shouldn't be happy over someone getting hurt," Brennan scolded, her brow furrowing in disapproval.
"Yeah, that's not nice," Emily added and looked to her mother for approval, having completely forgotten that she was mad at her.
Brennan smiled at her daughter, who beamed back at her.
"Right, well…we're not happy he's hurt…just that-" Booth began, sheepishly as he saw the stern look on Brennan's face.
"Yeah we are," Parker interrupted.
Brennan frowned. "Parker, you want to be able to try out, right?" Brennan inquired, a severe look on her face.
"Yeah, of course," he responded with a look that said "duh."
"If you continue to enjoy the pain of someone else, then you won't be going to those tryouts next week…guaranteed," Brennan threatened.
Parker's face scrunched. "What? I have to go!" he shot back.
Booth almost interjected, but changed his mind as he had learned all too well not to butt in when Brennan was trying to teach his (their) son a thing or two about morals. Booth figured he had done a pretty good job of teaching him, what with taking him to Sunday school and all. But somehow, Brennan had a way with him…a way to get him to straighten up that Booth hadn't quite figured out. She could always talk to him in such a way that made him understand. It was a hidden talent that had become evident in their second year of marriage when Parker had torn up Brennan's office at the Jeffersonian. At first, she had been fuming, but as she calmed down, she reasoned with him and even at the age of 7, Parker had understood.
"Well, if you HAVE to go, then I suggest that you take back what you said about Hanson Morley. Because if it is a necessity that you go to the tryouts, then that comment will quite obviously keep you from going, seeing as how it isn't helpful," Brennan explained calmly as she looked at Parker.
Parker's brow relaxed and he sat for a few moments in silence. He looked down at his plate of food and picked up his fork, taking a bite of mashed potatoes. As soon as he swallowed, he opened his mouth to speak. "Sorry. I didn't mean it," he said, sincerely as he cast a sideways glance at Brennan.
"Good, then we all can't wait to see you make quarterback," Brennan replied, still looking at Parker, but with a smile this time.
Emily watched all of this with great interest, her big blue eyes wide.
"Parker will be the best kortaback EVA!" Emily exclaimed, giggling.
"Of course he will," Booth replied. "Now, finish your mashed potatoes, missy," he instructed, pointing down at her plate.
"I told you, I'm not hungry, Daddy," Emily explained again.
"You've barely touched anything in the past few days. Eat 3 more bites of potatoes and 2 more bites of chicken and then you can be done," Brennan reasoned with her daughter.
"Ahhh…" Emily whined as she looked at her food with a grimace. "My tummy hurts and I'm not hungry," she said again.
"Emily…" Brennan said sternly.
Emily sighed and pulled herself closer to the table, picked up her fork, and dug into the mashed potatoes.
