AN: I'm off to Spain for a few days tomorrow, so I thought I better update this fic today! (If you read my other fics, Visions will be updated once I return as I'm planning to write the final chapter and the first chapter of the sequel on the plane. I want to post the sequel at the same time of the final chapter of Visions, so it flows and you guys don't have to wait. My new one-shot series, The World According to Flora Reinhold will have the Pandora/Diabolical box one-shot written and updated soon after Visions is complete. Lillyesque will be updated once I've posted this chapter!)
Thanks, folks!
This chapter was requested by viofan238!
A Hundred Snapshots of Their Lost Future
12- Dog
"I'm back!" twelve year old Alfendi shouted as he entered the Layton household at half past six that evening. He shut the door rather loudly as he announced his presence. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that he slammed it.
"Don't slam the door!" Claire called from the dining room, where the rest of the family was eating dinner.
"Yeah, Alfendi!" five year old Lily called, mockingly. "Don't slam the door!"
Lily was a very interesting five year old. Many people would come across the small five year old, who really was very small for her age, and see her sweet, sparkly green eyes and her curly auburn locks and would smile at her. Then, once Lily had noticed the attention, she would stick her tongue out or make some other unpleasant face and the person- usually and elder lady- would gasp and walk away, tutting as they left. Lily would fall back laughing in hysterics.
"Lily, don't be silly," Claire scolded, sharply. "Now, eat your potatoes."
"And your carrots," Hershel added, spying her plate.
"But I don't like carrots," Lilly remarked. "They are too orange!"
"But they'll make your hair go curly!" Hershel joked.
Alfendi entered the kitchen and jumped up onto his seat at the kitchen table. He frowned at his Father's comment.
"I think that's bread crusts, Dad," Alfendi told him. "Yeah. Bread crusts make your hair curly. Right, Mum?"
"Yes and no," Claire said, rather distractedly as she cut up Lily's potatoes in an attempt to encourage her to eat them. "People say so, but there's no scientific evidence. On the other hand, if you eat your carrots, Lily, you really will be able to see in the dark."
"And then you'll be a superhero with super powers!" Hershel grinned, not giving up on trying to convince her to eat the carrots.
"Would you like some dinner, or did you eat at Robert's?" Claire asked, turning to Alfendi, who had spent the day at his friend's house in the next street over.
"I've had dinner. I'm fine, Mum," Alfendi replied.
He remained seated at the table, knowing it was the polite thing to do. His parents, particularly his Mother, had been rather stressed recently. What with it being the Summer and all and Claire being at work all day whilst Hershel didn't have work as the University had summer holidays, too. Claire was rather jealous with this and it meant that by the time she came home at five, not only was she stressed with her job (she was currently working as an ethical and moral consultant for the UK department of scientific research) but she was also stressed because she could not be home spending time with her family.
"Mum," Alfendi began.
"Yes, darling?" Claire replied, who was now finally getting the chance to eat her own dinner, after cutting up Lily's potatoes into such small pieces that they may as well be mashed.
"Robert's got a new dog," Alfendi said. "They got him from a rescue centre. He's really cool. He chases his tail and everything!"
"That's nice," Claire commented with a smile, however it was clear that she was not particularly interested; she was tired, not rude and Alfendi knew this, so he went on.
"Do you think we could ever get a dog, Mum?" Alfendi asked.
"No," Claire was quick to answer.
"But-" Alfendi began.
"Son, your Mother is right," Hershel quickly interrupted. He too understood his wife's tiredness and stress and didn't want to exacerbate things. "We don't quite have the money at the moment. Besides, we wouldn't have the time to walk a dog. A dog would be quite unhappy here."
Alfendi sighed. Then, Lily, who had strangely been rather quiet for several minutes, piped up.
"What about a pussy cat?"
AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
I'm not sure how long it will be before I can update again, as of course, I am off on holiday tomorrow morning (okay, I leave at half ten this evening as our plane is in the morning). It all depends on how we spend our time, whether I end up sharing a room with my 21 month old niece or not, and how good the wi-fi connection is! :)
Fingers crossed!
Nikki~
PS. As always, it would be a massive help if you could leave a review and give me a word to use for the title of a chapter!
