56
Ton was standing, peering out at the rain as Ianto did the dishes from breakfast and he turned to look as a cat joined the little boy, also staring out as it commiserated.
Babs, Bethy and the two older boys had gone with Jack to get some supplies for some project or other that Babs had thought up. Bets was at her flower arranging group and Em and Connor had taken the twins to town for their shots.
It was a long, boring morning for a wee Ton.
"Rain" Ton hissed like it was a dirty word, and then there was a soft thud as his head hit the glass.
"Aw, come on honey" Ianto crooned, "We've had a good run of sun, we have to have rain sometimes."
Another exaggerated sigh as Ton shook his head and his little shoulders drooped.
Ianto looked at the thermometer on the wall that registered the outside temp as well as inside and saw that it wasn't cold out there, just wet.
"Where are those new galoshes Papa got you?" Ianto asked softly and a little head rolled on the glass to look at him solemnly.
"I need to go to the shop and if we have boots and jackets we might be able to walk" Ianto said as he finished drying a bowl.
Ton seemed to consider and his face lit up as he finally got what he was being told and he ran to get his shiny new boots that really needed a workout.
Ianto insisted on a jacket and Ton squealed impatiently as Ianto opened the door and reached for the reins.
Ton headed for the gate and made small noises as he saw the reins and knew there was not a buggy with a rain guard, just feet. The best way to go to the shops in the rain by his reckoning, especially in the village where he could say hello to all his friends.
Ianto clipped the reins to the hook on the jacket and stepped back, pointing in the direction to go and the boy was off.
Like a mad dog on the leash, he pulled, panted and ran back and forth as he inspected things, stopped dead for no apparent reason to scream and then start running until the reins snapped again.
Ianto was used to this, several previous mad things having trained him to ignore the 'Rein Madness' and he went through a mental check list as Ton stopped in front of a puddle and waited for the reins to droop, then he leaped in a huge stomp and water flew as he screamed.
"Oh what a lovely day for a little boy" an elderly woman called from her front door and Ianto stopped, smiling as he pointed at her plastic wrapped newspaper.
"Oh, yes please dear, don't want to get me slippers wet" she smiled and Ton grabbed the newspaper, running to give it to the nice lady with a wide smile.
"Oh you darling little boy" she gushed, "So good. Thank you Ton."
He waved as he ran back to his Taddy and Ianto waved, "Good day Missus Carmichael"
"Goodbye darling, he's having fun" she laughed as she watched a little foot stomp another puddle dry.
"You nutta" Ianto snarled, lifting him and them slamming him down into a large puddle as Ton screamed with delight.
Manny called out from the shop doorway as he saw them approach and Ianto felt safe enough to drop the reins so his child could run the short distance to his arms and Manny scooped up his little friend with a kiss and a cuddle waiting.
"I got a new Thomas book here that needs a special home" he was gushing as he reached behind the counter and gave it to excited hands and Ton remembered his manners.
"Fank You Unka Manny" he said, kissing a dark cheek and the man huffed softly as he kissed the child back.
"Manny!" Ianto scolded, "You spoil that boy!"
"Nonsense" the man snorted as he offered a stick of candy.
"I saw that!" Ianto scolded as he picked up a bag of pasta.
"Rainy Day Tax!" Manny said gleefully as the little boy hummed with one hand shoving the candy in and the other calmly playing with his dreadlocks.
"How's that star of ours?" Manny asked and Ianto snorted.
"Walter is relieved that the panto practice is less intensive than the TV series, I would have thought it the other way around. But there ya go. I guess because it's only one script to memorize" Ianto said happily as Ton stopped chewing and leaned in to sniff Manny.
"I smell OK?" Manny asked and Ton wriggled as he nodded happily.
"Why thank you" Manny said with a solemn face and Ton patted his face as if to say, no problem buddy.
The walk home was grand with more puddles and the huge downpour as they rounded the corner had Ianto scooping up the child and running as Ton screamed with joy, his arms open wide as he held his face up to the heavens.
What a brilliant morning.
