Flashfictionfridayofficial prompt 141: 913 words.


She'd told him it was a Bad Idea. Yeah, he'd even heard the capital letters when she'd said it, but like the stubborn Tracy he was he'd ignored her.

They're babies. What could go wrong? Lucy's eyes had danced with barely repressed mirth and Jeff had frowned. Was he missing something here?

'Jeff, honey, I love you so much, but if you think this is a good idea I'm afraid you're on your own. And you can deal with the fall-out.'

She'd kissed him and left, taking the four youngest with her for a day out and leaving Scott behind to help his Dad.

Scott had been excited to have time alone with his Dad. Twelve years old, he was beginning to show some teenage tendencies, and it was for this reason that Jeff had decided that a change of rooms was needed. Five boys in three rooms…it could have been a recipe for disaster, but in general, his boys got in so well that it had worked well.

But when Jeff had explained what he had in mind to Scott, his eldest had stared at him as if he'd grown an extra head for a moment before bursting out laughing. When he had caught the angry look on his dad's face Scott had stopped and apologised, saying that he thought his dad was joking.

Jeff had gritted his teeth and glared. Scott had shrugged, and they began.

Moving furniture around was hot and thirsty work, but by the time the rest of the family were back they were done. They celebrated with take-out pizza and chocolate ice cream.

Scott had been so excited about finally having his own room. He had loved sharing with John, but there was something very grown-up about having a room all to himself.

Joh and Virgil had been equally happy to share, but for different reasons. Often dubbed 'the quiet twins' due to the fact they were the least boisterous of the five (and with only 10 months between them), they were both happy for that quiet - John because, much as he loved his big brother, Scott sometimes was too invested in getting John 'involved' with stuff when he really just wanted to be left alone, and Virgil because he'd been sharing with Gordon.

Gordon was ecstatic to be sharing a room with his only youngest brother. Five years old, he'd found Virgil's need to have quiet difficult sometimes - all the time - and since he had boundless energy and Allie had boundless energy too, Gordon was delighted.

Two-year-old Alan was excited because everyone else was excited. Up until now he'd been on his own in the nursery, but Jeff and Scott had cleared out the unneeded baby stuff and now he was sharing with Gordon!

Bedtime for the two youngest that night took longer and was far harder than a tired Jeff wanted to handle, but Lucy stayed adamant.

It wasn't until the next morning that Jeff realised what a bad idea this had all been…

It was a thump followed by a short scream that woke him. Rolling out of bed with a practiced ease, Jeff was in the youngest' room before he was even fully awake. What he saw there woke him up immediately.

There wasn't a patch of carpet to be seen. It looked like every toy the two possessed was strewn about the floor, along with all their clothes and…towels?. Gordon's chest of drawers was tipped over, with the drawers missing and Alan was sitting inside it as if it was a boat. As he began to wake up further, Jeff realised that the clothes and towels circled around the drawers, with the toys scattered around.

And suddenly Jeff recognised what he was seeing. Alan in a boat on water with rocks all around him.

A giggle from behind one of the beds told him where Gordon was, but he didn't think his water baby had noticed him in the room. He watched with increasing amusement as Gordon 'swam' across the 'water' in his swim gear, a toy shark's fin strapped to his back – and yes, he regretted buying that so, so much – circling the boat nearer and nearer. Alan was bouncing up and down, positively vibrating with excitement.

Then Gordon 'reared up' and reached into the 'boat.'

Then Alan let out the loudest, highest pitched scream Jeff had ever heard.

There was a sudden commotion behind him as bodies fell out of bed, and Jeff knew he was going to get in trouble for this. He stepped forward only to cringe as his foot hit cold, wet cloth.

Every stitch of clothing, every towel – they were soaking wet. On the carpet. So wet that when Jeff lifted his foot water dripped off it. But before he could say anything, two arms snaked around his waist and squeezed.

'I told you putting those two together was a recipe for disaster. That's just chaos unfurling, having that pair together.'

Jeff sighed and nodded. His eldest three boys hadn't called them the Terrible Two for nothing. He looked morosely at the mess, knowing that Lucy wouldn't help clear it up, before catching the eye of his eldest. Scott was laughing, the traitor. Looked like he was on his own for this clean-up.

As he made his way through the mess, still watching his youngest two who seemed oblivious to everything except the game they were playing, Jeff reflected.

He should have listened to his wife.