6 February
4 months after last chapter.
Lily 1st birthday
The last four months have passed by uneventfully. Unless you count Roger and Benny being able to be in the same room with out going to war an event; personally, I consider it a miracle.
Both Benny and Alison had made appearances, but today was Thomas Coffins first time in the loft.
As I see everyone has made it, I go back to my room and pull out the camera.
"Zoom in on Lily Marie on her first birthday." I narrate.
The little girl just stares for a moment before squealing, "arg," and then reaching for the camera.
"That her way of saying, 'Get the camera the hell away from me, Uncle Arg.'" Collins laughs at me.
'Uncle Arg' that's me.
First came dadda, then momma, then arg...so we assume its me, when it comes to Collins it's 'oo' and she doesn't have any names for Benny though I'm sure her father could give her a list to choose from. But he's getting better.
"Close on Thomas Coffin...who is currently exploring the deep wild jungles of Joanne's hair."
Joanne looks at the camera, "Shut up."
I laugh and set down the camera and move to where Alison is helping Mimi cut the little cake she made this morning. I pull Alison,
"How are things?" She knows what I mean.
"With my father? Not so well. He taking more things out on Benny. Especially since he more or less wrecked the cyber arts plan and starting being around you guys again. My dad won't fire him, he loves me too much. And Benny's too proud to quit. It's in a stalemate. Benny's talking about moving into the bottom floor..."
"Okay, cakes ready." Mimi interupts the conversation and Alison leaves to go help again.
Roger holds his daughter on his lap and begins whispering in her ear, "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, my Lily, Happy Birthday to you."
She giggles happily. Quiete child.
I pick the camera back up, turn it on.
'Zoom on the happy family. Roger and Mimi watching as Lily begins to dig in the cake and finding she can use it as amuntion. Maureen and Joanne sit watching with Collins in the background. Alison leans agains Benny while he hold Thomas whose eyes have gotten big with the sight of food.'
For some reason or another I linger on the last shot.
Then Benny.
The camera stops.
Okay, short chapter before the next one.
Until next time, this is me...signing out.