Being Dysfunctional Has Never Been So Much Fun
Short #49: What's in a name?
"Jessica! Jessica, stop that right now!"
Natsuhi reached forwards, her long skirts shifting around her legs as she pulled back her enraged young daughter. Jessica's face was flushed red, her eyes narrowed, and- even though Natsuhi tried to restrain the five year old girl- she was thrashing her arms and legs in an almighty show of anger.
Jessica was quite frightening when she was upset. She must've inherited that from her dear old grandfather.
Battler was whimpering; shying away from Jessica in fear, whilst he turned and hid in Asumu's arms.
"No! I still wanna hit him!" Jessica whined, struggling against Natsuhi's restraining arms. "He ate my cookie! He ate it! I hate him! I hate you, Batttleerrrrrr! Wahhhh!"
"Jessica, calm down!" said Natsuhi sharply. She felt as if she would die of embarrassment. All her relatives were watching; why did Jessica have to throw a tantrum now! "Calm down or you'll have to go to bed early!"
"Ah, don't be too hard on her~ Children will be children," said Asumu, smiling, as hugged Battler to her chest.
"Besides, being beaten around a bit'll do this brat some good," said Rudolf, ruffling Battler's already messy hair. He smirked. "If Battler's going around making girls cry he deserves to be slapped around a little."
"It's not like he'll learn manners from his father, anyway," said Asumu, still smiling pleasantly to mask the fact she'd made a rather scathing remark.
"Jessica is such a tough girl, fufu~" said Eva appraisingly. "I like a woman that can stand up for herself!"
"Really…?" said Natsuhi hopefully, looking around at her relatives. "You… really mean that?"
"Well, my George would never lose his temper like that~" said Eva. "But your Jessica is still very young. You shouldn't be too hard on her."
"Yes. Children are so sweet and innocent; you have to forgive them for their petty squabbles. It reminds me of when I was young~ Hehe~" Rosa- the only adult assembled who did not have a child of her own (though she was very happy with her new boyfriend, thank you very much)- giggled. "I have to wonder though, Asumu. Why did you call Battler 'Battler'?"
"Ahaha, yeah," said Hideyoshi, smiling without a hint of malice (unlike his wife, who was doubtlessly comparing Jessica to George in her mind. She must have been pleased with the results of her comparison, because her smile was growing wider and wider). "Battler's a sweet kid an' all but he's not much of a fighter, ya know? Little Jessie here got the better of him no problem, ahaha."
"Well, Asumu and I wanted to give this brat a strong name so he'd grow up to be tough! And if we gave him a stupid name he might get picked on, and this'd make him stronger so he can beat up anybody who gives him grief. That was our reasoning, anyway," said Rudolf.
Eva and Rosa giggled, a rare show of sisterly bonding, as they both turned to watch little Battler crying into the front of Asumu's shirt.
"So that plan was a complete and utter failure, then," said Eva.
The others nodded in agreement.
