Chap 23
A Day in the Life of Bobby
AN—I shall attempt a "day in the life of" chapter for all the children. After I finish that our future epic should have all the pieces in place. Stay with me and my Ever Us family.
Date: 2024
It was a beautiful spring day in British Columbia. Bobby sat at his desk looking out the window, enjoying the mountains. After allowing himself some meditation time he started reviewing his to do list. There was a book he wanted to read, a math problem he needed to solve for the think tank, a video game he wanted to level up on, and the "Question" problem he had been working on for the last four years. He browsed the list and stared at the "Question". Now was as good a time as any to think about it.
'If I'm so smart why is this problem so challenging? I mean she's just my sister. I've known her all my life. How hard is it to tell her how I feel?'
Bobby rolled his chair back and leaned back in it raising his feet to the desk and gently rocking.
'We've been dating since the J-Pop concert. It's been exhilarating to know this side of her. We've shared dreams, plans, and career goals. I know she likes me. I'm positive she'll say yes. I just need to find the perfect way to propose. It has to be perfect.'
He smiled as he thought of Barbie and how much he loved her.
'I've got to do my best. She is my better half. I remember the night Steven proposed to Keiko like it was yesterday.'
He closed his eyes as he thought back to that evening.
Flashback.
They were sitting at the dinner table in Canada. Father was at the head of the table. Dad was to his right. Dolly was lying at Father's left side. Keiko sat next to Father. Steven was next to her. Then it was him and Barbie, and Suzy.
Wow.
The table was so small then without Rin and the others.
Bobby allowed his mind to wander as he appreciated the joy and happiness Rin had added to their lives.
Dad had told them that morning that Steven was going to confess his love after dinner that night. Suzy, Barbie and he were more than happy to help. Dad stressed it was to be special so they needed to behave.
That evening's meal was amazing. Dad had really gone all out. From Bobby's place at the time he could see Steven getting more and more nervous and Dad's smile grow even bigger. Keiko had to know that something was up. Then Father volunteered to assist Dad by doing the dishes.'
Crazy!
Father?- do the dishes?!
Bobby palmed his face.
It must have been snowing in the netherworld!
Once glance at each other and he and Barbie had jumped in to help. As they walked to the sink they both heard Suzy tell everybody that she had to feed Dolly.
Silly.
Everyone could see that Dolly had food in her bowl and water in her dish.
Was Keiko that clueless to believe Suzy?!
Bobby would have to ask her some time.
Bobby had started filling the dishwasher as Barbie passed him the rinsed dishes when Dad had commented about having to supervise to make sure they were doing the dishes correctly. Bobby was going to complain about that when Father had said he had "heard that, Hanyou".
Barbie's eyes opened wide.
Bobby's jaw had dropped.
Both thought—'Did Father just insult Dad?'
But Suzy went straight to her Daddy's side and stared at their Father. She didn't hesitate in telling Father that name calling wasn't nice.
Father took one look at Dad and shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
Bobby and Barbie snorted and guffawed at their little sister's audacity. She would always be "Daddy's great defender". Soon there was enough noise in the kitchen that Steven had to take Keiko to the living area.
Bobby had wondered when his big brother was ever going to propose. It was ridiculous really. Everyone in the family knew Keiko loved Steven and Steven loved Keiko. You didn't have to wear corrective lens to see the chemistry between them. But Steven was such a goof around the Princess, it was crazy. He had shared that observation more than once with Barbie and she had agreed but then that night after Steven finally asked Keiko, Bobby had to say "I could have done that better".
Grief.
'Me and my big mouth!'
Well, it was really Barbie's response that stuck in his head.
"I hope so."
Talk about adding pressure to an already challenging event.
Bobby opened his eyes and dropped his feet to the ground.
What proposal would be good enough?
'I've been practicing on her since then. I tried at the J-Pop concert. But the volume was maxed and I couldn't hear myself. Still I blushed. It felt amazing saying it out loud. Barbie, I love you. Be mine. Of course that sounds like a candy valentine. Maybe she didn't believe me. We weren't that old, only one hundred something.'
Bobby ran his hand through his hair. 'For such an intelligent, straightforward, confident guy you are sure being a wuss. But it has to be perfect! I tried when we walked down the aisle at Keiko and Steven's wedding. That went well. But she didn't say anything. Maybe I wasn't direct enough.' Then he had a second thought. 'She did kiss my cheek. It tingled for weeks.' He rubbed his cheek gently, the memory still active.
Bobby leaned back again this time keeping his feet on the floor. He resumed rocking.
'The time on the dance floor at the Castletown pub the proposal was purposely vague. She was so perfect in my arms. I want to dance with her forever.'
Bobby took a deep breath and his mind supplied the sweet scent of his love. He rocked and savored the smell. It smelled so strong and fresh. Oh, how he loved that smell.
'I'm fairly sure I asked her at the pub when we went to get water. Her arm had wrapped around my waist and she guided me to lean on her. I leaned in told her that I loved her. She smiled and giggled. Kami, I need her! She completes me.'
Bobby extended his neck and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
'I told her we looked perfect together when we took that photo, just like a married couple. And she just nodded.'
Exasperated Bobby uttered out loud,
"Barbie, what do I have to say to tell you I love you and want to be with you forever?"
"That would work."
Bobby jumped up and turned around to see his sister smiling at him.
"I've been here for a few minutes. I was going to interrupt you but you looked like you were really concentrating. So I waited. I figured when you took a deep breath you'd realize I was here."
Bobby was still speechless, but Barbie walked to his side and looked up into his mustard eyes
"I've been waiting. All of your practice proposals were perfect but you didn't seem sure of yourself so I've been waiting." She brought a hand up to Bobby's cheek and gently caressed it. "I love you. We belong together. Let's go get Dad and Father's permission, okay? Then we can be together forever."
"Wait," Bobby stuttered. "Did you just say yes?"
Barbie backed up and twirled as she danced nimbly out the bedroom door and raced toward their parents' office, Bobby chasing right behind.
