CLAIREMBER 2022
Day 5 - Burton

"Now you two be good for Claire, you hear? Especially you, Moira," said Barry, rubbing his little daughter's head. "No jumping on the furniture or going into Mommy's office. And definitely no Play-Doh down the garbage disposal."

Moira giggled.

"I mean it, young lady. If I find even a pebble of Play-Doh in the drain, so help me, you won't get any ice cream for a whole month."

Claire shifted baby Polly in her arms. "You don't have anything to worry about. We're just gonna get a pizza and rent a movie. Aren't we?"

Smiling, Moira hid behind Claire.

Barry dug out his wallet and gave her a $20 bill. "For the pizza and movie. Thanks for the last-minute save, Claire."

Outside, Claire's brother Chris honked the horn.

"Kathy's sister's number and my office line are on the fridge. I'll call if the meeting runs late."

Barry dashed out the door, and the jeep sped away.

To Polly and Moira, Claire said, "Now how about that pizza and movie?"

Even though the sun was setting, the day's humidity still stewed in the air. The park lamps flashed on just as they caught sight of the pizza place and video store, which sat side by side.

Claire steered them into the store. Comforting Polly, who had started fussing about halfway through the park, Claire followed Moira as she wandered the aisles of movie cases.

Her gaze fell on Top Gun.

"I don't think you'll like that one," said Claire. "There's kissing in it."

Moira looked up at her. "Mommy says Daddy can't play with me anymore because he's in the Air Forts. Does Chris play with you a lot?"

Claire smiled. "No. They're both very busy. Being in the Air Force is a lot of work."

"Oh."

Moira moved to the next aisle.

Claire said, "You know your daddy loves you very much, right? Just like Chris loves me very much."

Moira nodded and kept walking.

"If you ever need someone to play with, you can play with me," Claire said.

"Really?" asked Moira.

"Really. Chris taught me how to play real good."

Moira grinned big. "You know what we should do when we get home?"

"What?"

"Build a fort and watch the movie and eat pizza inside!"

"We can do that as long as we put down something in case pizza gets on the floor."

"Yay!"

Moira picked out a new Disney movie animated using clay: The Nightmare Before Christmas. The case said it was directed by Tim Burton, the guy who did Edward Scissorhands. Claire had rented it when it first came out on video and found it weird but sweet. She figured the Disney movie would be about the same.

And she was right. As they sat underneath Moira's Aladdin blanket, which they'd thrown over a couple of chairs, eating pepperoni pizza while sitting crosslegged on old newspaper Claire had found, the little girl intently watched the movie play out. So enraptured was she that she barely noticed when Claire slipped away to put Polly down for the night.

When the movie finished, Moira said, "I wanna go as Jack for Halloween this year."

Claire gathered their empty plates. "What about Sally?"

"You go as Sally. I'll go as Jack. We'll go together. Right, Claire?"

Claire smiled. "Right!"