Lucy looked up from the hob as Benji and Molly burst through the garden door.

"They're here!" Benji cried.

"We saw the car coming up the street!" Molly added breathlessly.

"Right!" Lucy lifted her saucepan off the burner and quickly wiped her hands on a tea towel. She turned to the twins, a stern expression on her face. "Now, remember what I told you. Do not make fun of your brother's new glasses. No laughing, no cheeky comments. We need to be supportive and encouraging." She held up a cling-wrapped plate. "Or else, you two won't split the last Maltesers brownie and Mummy will keep it for herself."

"No!" Benji's eyes widened in alarm.

Molly bounced about anxiously. "We'll be good, we promise!"

The front door opened and Charlie shuffled inside, holding a case in his hands. Lee, wearing his own dark frames, hung his jacket in the alcove and gestured for Charlie to hand him his coat. He'd bypassed the contact lenses today in favour of showing solidarity with his son. When Charlie had seen his father waiting for him in the schoolyard, he'd ducked his head and hustled Lee away from his friends.

"Well? How'd it go?" Lucy strolled into the room, Benji and Molly close on her heels.

"All right. It's myopia, but his vision's not as bad as we thought." Lee turned to Charlie. "Dr. Abida said you'd only need to wear them for reading and tasks that require precision, like operating heavy machinery."

Charlie nodded, looking down at the floor.

"That's fantastic!" Lucy gestured to the case clutched in his hand. "So, you were able to get your glasses then and there?"

"Yup!" Lee clapped his son on the back. "I even helped pick them out. We tried nearly every pair of frames they had, didn't we?"

The boy reddened, clasping the case so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Lucy smiled tentatively. "Can I see them?"

Charlie glared past her at his twin siblings.

"What?!" Molly shouted indignantly.

Benji stomped his foot. "We didn't say anything!"

"Ignore them." Lucy stood in front of them, crossing her arms.

"Go on, son." Lee nodded encouragingly. "Show your mother."

Charlie looked around, feeling trapped. He heaved a reluctant sigh and pulled his glasses from the case, shyly slipping them on. The sleek, rectangular black frames he'd chosen were nearly identical to his father's. Their bold, assertive form utterly transformed his face the moment he hooked them over his ears. A softened, inquisitive boy stared at the pocket of his mother's jeans, unable to look her in the face.

Lucy bit back a sharp gasp. "How smart you look!" She stooped down to try to meet his gaze. Charlie turned his head away, embarrassed. Lucy's heart rose to the back of her throat, brimming with affection. She beamed at him. "I really like your new glasses. They're very cool." She glanced over her shoulder at Benji and Molly. "Doesn't your brother look handsome?"

The twins were both staring intently at the floor. "Yeah," Molly murmured sarcastically. Benji unsuccessfully tried to stifle a giggle.

Charlie furiously whipped off his glasses and shut them back up in the case. "I knew it! I'm a total loser!"

"No, you're not!" Lucy grabbed his shoulders and soberly met his gaze. "Trust me, Charlie, you look absolutely fine." She glanced up at her husband. "He didn't give Dr. Abida too much trouble, I hope?"

Lee smiled proudly and shook his head. "No trouble at all. He did everything she asked him to without any mucking about. He even sat still while she dilated his eyes and checked them out with the laser." He swelled. "It's like it was all old hat to him already."

Lucy turned back to Charlie. "It sounds like you've been very brave today." She hugged him to her. Charlie squirmed uncomfortably. She released him and nodded at his case. "And will you promise me that you'll actually wear your glasses at school whenever you need them?"

Charlie nodded. "Dad made me swear in the car."

"Don't worry," Lee added. "It wasn't the f-word or c-word or anything like that."

"And you meant it?" Lucy searched her son's face. "We're counting on you, Charlie. You won't let us down?"

He gulped and smiled tremulously. "I won't."

"Good." She kissed his cheek and stood. "Come on, I've got dinner nearly ready. And you can have the last Maltesers brownie for pudding." She shot the twins a cold look. "I think you've earned it today."

Benji, Molly, and Lee all groaned in protest.