Happy Father's Day!
PokeKing Charizard: I'm glad you liked the last story. Thanks for all your reviews! I appreciate them.
Kenji, Jade, and Jasmine were at the mall looking for a Father's Day present for their dad.
"How about this?" Jasmine held up a candle from the kiosk.
Kenji wrinkled his nose. "He's not a girl."
"You don't have to be a girl to enjoy scented candles. He can use it while he's, you know, practicing killing the dummy." Jasmine said.
"Ohh, is there an Eau de Sweat and Blood scent?" Kenji asked sarcastically.
"Eww, that's gross." Jasmine said. "That's what this scented candle is supposed to mask."
"Hey guys, I've found the perfect gift." Jade said excitedly with something behind her back. "He's going to love it."
"Well, what is it?" Kenji asked impatiently.
"This!" Jade pulled a cat from behind her back.
"What is that?" Kenji eyed the creature disdainfully.
"It looks like a Felis catus from the family Felidae and the subfamily Felinae…" Jasmine rattled off.
"I know what it is. I mean what as is WHA?" Kenji pointed to the animal. "Why would you think dad would want a cat?"
"Because it's just like him, independent, strong…" Jade held up the orange puff to her nose.
"… Aloof, introverted, and unpredictable." Jasmine finished.
Jade glared at her sister. "Smart, clever and agile." She amended.
"Dad, does not want a cat." Kenji said adamantly.
"Yeah, he hated Mr. Tinkles." Jasmine added.
"Mr. Tinkles was a rat!" Jade argued.
"Guinea pig!" Jasmine corrected.
"Whatever, he wasn't as cool as Snookums here." Jade snuggled the cat who purred.
"Excuse me? Snookums? Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick." Kenji held his stomach.
"Hey, at least I'm trying to find dad a gift for Father's day." Jade snapped. "What are you doing, Mr. Negativity?"
"I'm trying to stop you from getting dad a sucky present." Kenji retorted.
"I still say we get him the candle." Jasmine interrupted.
"No! No cats, no candles!" Kenji insisted.
"Fine, what do you suggest?" Jasmine asked putting the candle down.
"I don't know." Kenji admitted.
"It has to be something that says, dad, you're a scary hardcore ninja but we love you anyway." Jasmine noted.
"Well, what does dad love?" Kenji asked.
"His magna blades?" Jade offered.
"Green." Jasmine added.
"Of course!" Kenji exclaimed. "And here we've been getting him ties and socks he never wears."
"He wore the tie we gave him last year." Jade protested.
"Yeah, like for three seconds. Then Raffy's dog somehow accidently chewed it to bits." Jasmine reminded her sister.
"Okay, okay, enough about past presents. How about this? I was thinking about this a while ago but totally forgot about it till now." He led his sister to a store tucked in the back of a long corridor. Inside were antiques of all kinds.
"Wow, this place smells like…" Jade began.
"Grandma's basement." Jasmine finished.
"I was about to say old people but I guess that's the same." Jade agreed.
"It's over here." Kenji pointed to the display.
"That's actually kinda nice." Jasmine admitted.
"But can we afford it?" Jade picked up the price tag hanging off the handle. She made a face. "Kenji, did you look at the price?"
"Yes, I did. I know there's no way we could afford that." Kenji answered.
"Then why even bring us here?" Jasmine asked exasperated.
"The real thing is too expensive but how about these reproductions?" He showed them the bin.
"Oh, I think dad would like this." Jasmine said.
"Like it? I think dad would love it!" Jade declared. "I have to admit, Kenji. You actually thought of something, not lame."
"So why are you still holding the cat?" Kenji asked.
"Oh, I'm keeping it." Jasmine hugged the cat.
Kenji didn't say anything. He decided to let mom and ada handle that.
0o0
"Happy Father's Day!" The kids said in unison as they presented their father with a gift wrapped box. Their mom stood to the side watching.
"Thank you." Six said emotionlessly as he accepted the box. He looked at their eager faces. Internally, he sighed. He'd have to find another creative way to lose the offending tie or socks. But when he held the box, it was too heavy to be a tie but too light to be another paperweight. He opened it up. He raised an eyebrow.
The kids knew that this was a good sigh. They got a reaction from dad. They watched as he removed the mail opener from the box. The knife part was simulated green jade with a sapphire blue handle. He shifted it in his hands.
"This is a very nice present. I appreciate your thoughtfulness." He said.
Kenji studied his dad's face. It didn't look strain and the lines around the corner of his mouth wasn't tight. He did like the present.
"And dad, I want to show you the other present I...we got you." Jade pulled out a box with holes from underneath the table.
Six again raised an eyebrow. But this was more of an inquisitive than pleased.
"Ta-da! A cat." Jade dramatically pulled out an orange stripped tabby.
Six sneezed.
0o0
"Here's some antihistamine." Holiday handed Six a pill and a glass of water.
"Thank you." He accepted the medicine.
"Are you really going to let her keep it?" Holiday smirked.
"She's already attached to the stupid thing." Six grumbled.
"So you're willing to sneeze and wheeze through the rest of your life just for your daughter? You know cats have long lives." She was having a hard time not laughing.
Six just grumbled something inaudible as he blew his nose.
Holiday sighed. He would never admit it but he was such a softy, especially with Jade. She was a daddy's little girl. "I'll go stock up on some more antihistamine." She walked to the door. Turning around she said, " Remember how worried you were about being a dad? Well, I don't think you have to worry, anymore."
When the door closed, Six pulled out the present and smiled.
I have it in one of my other stories that Six is allergic to cats.