S11-9
Family outing

A few years ago, Ian and Abigail Dreemurr were born. Two months ago, Ian and Abigail turned 8 on the same day. Today, Kris, Susie, Ian, and Abigail were heading out for a nice family summer picnic, the location of which was under the shade of an old tree in that special park.

While Kris and Susie were busy setting up the picnic, Ian and Abigail were playing tag.

"Think we should tell them to be careful?"

Susie chuckled. "Let them have their fun, Kris."

The kids were chasing each other around. "Tag! You're it!" Abigail stopped running and turned around, seeing her brother sprinting away and laughing. She ran after him.

They ran around a tree, with Abigail eventually getting dizzy and falling over, giving Ian enough time to hide. When Abigail got back up, her brother was nowhere to be found.

While she searched for her brother, Abigail noticed her mother covering her mouth, keeping herself from laughing as she pointed to a nearby park bench. Abigail took a peek, seeing Ian laying flat on his back in the bench, and he didn't notice her yet. She jumped out, startling her brother. "BOO!" The children laughed, having a lot of fun.

While their children went back to playing tag, Kris and Susie were given ample time to converse.

"How's that head of yours?" Susie asked, gently poking said head.

"Haven't had any nightmares yet. Just heavenly dreams of our happy family."

"Are you sure you're not getting in my head at night? That's the exact same thing I keep dreaming of!"

"Great minds must think alike."

At this, Susie laughed. "HAH! You're hilarious!"

"It's true. You're a smart one."

"You really think I'm all of those things you said about me?"

"I KNOW so. I take one look into your eyes, and I see all that you are. And Susie, the words to describe what I've seen wouldn't fit on just one sheet of paper alone. I could write a book about it."

"You really think that much of me?" Susie asked, blushing.

Back with the kids, Ian and Abigail were having a lot of fun on the play set, until Ian tripped on one of the stairs, hitting his knee on a corner. Abigail heard him yelp in pain as he fell. "Ian! Are you OK?"

"Ow... My knee..."

"I think that's enough for one day."

As if on cue, Susie's voice was heard. "Ian! Abigail! Picnic's ready!"

"C'mon, bro. Maybe some food will take your mind off your leg while it heals."

"OK..."

Eventually, the children joined their parents, sitting down on the blanket.

Out of the picnic basket, Kris pulled out a thermos filled near the brim with ice-cold Mott's Apple Juice, while Susie procured a few picnic meals, consisting of pepperoni and provolone sandwiches, little cups of peach mango applesauce with plastic spoons, and marshmallows on pretzel sticks. The food was passed around on paper plates and the drinks were poured into plastic cups.

After a few minutes, Kris spoke up. "Kids, did you know that this park is a special place?" Ian and Abigail stopped eating and looked to their father, waiting patiently and eagerly for what he was about to say. "Your mother visited this park a lot when she was about your age, I proposed to her near that fountain over there, and we even got married under this... very... tree."

Susie blushed and smiled at him, greatly appreciating all he's done for her, and the fact that her husband was financing that park meant so much to the Monster, seeing as how he wished to keep it alive, green, and growing for as long as possible... just for her.

Eventually, after the picnic meals were done, the whole family sat in the benches near the fountain, watching the sunset.

While enjoying the moment, Kris noticed that they weren't alone. MK and Noelle Holiday were there too, along with their one daughter, Alita, who had just fallen asleep in her mother's arms, and their two sons, Gabriel and Theodore, sitting between their mother and father.

"Y'know, I'm thinking of buying dessert for the family. My treat." Susie stated, pulling out her wallet.

"Dairy Queen?"

Susie narrowed her eyes at Kris, but kept her smile. "How do you do that?" Kris shrugged, earning a chuckle from his wife.

How does he do that? I call the shots, yet I still remain without an answer to that question.

See you next time, folks. If you'll excuse me, I have to look for more inspiration and ideas. I'm still running low.