37
Ton was in heaven.
The shop had costumes, wigs and lots of cool things. The best bit? When he had asked they let him get Badger from the car and he was looking as well.
Taddy kept apologising and Daddy kept laughing but that meant they were OK too, Badger not always allowed to come onto shops coz his hair might fall off or something.
Badger found the squeaky chickens and they had a good laugh at those, one going in the basket Ton was carrying. Badger can't. He doesn't have arms.
Then they got to the outfits and Tonny Man spent a long time considering, then looked down and squealed as Badger appeared with a hat on.
The shop owner had snuck around the shelves and wrestled on the Viking helmet and Badger stood there looking like some extra from a movie spoof. Ton was so excited the jazz hands come out for a while as Ianto gushed happily.
A red cape this time.
Ton had considered more but then he wanted a cape for the Badger Man too and it might be greedy to ask for too much. After all, he had to share with Badger.
The little pile grew as some props were found, a vest that fitted the poor dog once wrestled about in Ton's lap and then Ton found a wig and Ianto had to look away intently staring at a brochure as the dog paraded about in a Dolly Parton wig that Jack openly howled at.
"Tadda?" the little voice asked softly, "Wot you got?"
"It's a restaurant that does live theatre" Ianto knelt to open the brochure, "A medieval one. See? Like a theatre pit. In the old days they sometimes dug a pit and made the sides into big steps for seats. The in the middle they would do a play so everyone could see them. This one does that and you sit at tables and eat while they entertain you in the pit."
"Could Badger come?" came the predictable reply.
"It says there are daytime family ones but I don't know love, I could always ring and ask I guess" Ianto frowned as he looked over the brochure again and Ton clasped his hands as he made begging noises, joined by the Badger they became adorable.
Ianto looked over the top of his glasses at the dog begging with its paws for whatever his beloved master might want and Ianto smiled.
"I'll call them right now" he said reaching for his phone.
"Actually, my son is in it hang on, I'll see if he's out back" the shop owner said softly, disappearing behind a curtain.
"I want a curtain like that" Ton said to Badger with a serious voice and the dog blinked up at him.
"Of course, this must be where they get the props from" Jack smiled as Ton got to his feet and Badger huffed with relief as he stopped his pose too.
A boy of about seventeen appeared from behind the curtain and it was obvious at first sight that he had Downs, making Ton squeal as he ran to him, "You in the play? They let you pretend?"
His face softened as he accepted the hug and he nodded, then looked at Badger who stood wagging his tail. "You have a dog in a wig."
"That's Badger, wigs are cool" Ton flapped a hand behind him, "Taddy has pretty wigs and dresses too, he can sing too. Oooooo, can you really do plays?"
"Yeah" the young man's face lit up, "come see, I have my costume here coz the pants were too big and mama had to take them in."
As his son disappeared behind the curtain Ianto turned to Jack with open glee.
Ton had found a friend and maybe a calling?
Gods, were they all destined for show business?