Oh my gosh - thank you guys so much for the faves and follows! I'm glad you're enjoying the story I have decided to tell.
Henry stood in front of his closet scanning the contents to put together a Halloween costume. He'd never been really good at picking out his own costume; his mother always seemed to have a good eye for clothing. This year, however, was different. His mom now had the task of dressing a five-year old in a costume. Henry was a big boy now. Well, he was almost a teenager now. His mom had long ago stopped picking out his everyday clothes, so it was inevitable that he find himself at this moment with no ideas for a costume next week. He was really stumped. Superhero? Naaa, those costumes were played out. How about old faithful Dr. Whale look-a-like? Not that either.
"Henry! Mommy sent me to come get you for movie night," stated Roland who seemed to appear in his bedroom doorway out of nowhere. After only living together for a few short months, Henry was starting to realize just how sneaky that little boy was.
"Okay, Ro. I'll be down in a minute," Henry responded numbly. Henry shut his closet door and walked over to his bookcase. It may be movie night, but they always had to watch Roland's movie first before they could get to Henry's pick. It was a compromise Henry and Regina had come to when the Hoods and Mills first started out living together. Roland was a bit young for Henry's live-action super hero movies and Henry could only watch Robin Hood so many times before the DVD had the unfortunate mishap to find itself under Henry's shoe, crushed. Honestly, how do those things happen? Henry decided on an issue of Captain America comic book.
"Oh hey, look who finally decided to join us! Your mom's just grabbing the popcorn. Why don't you go help her? And by help, I mean, don't let her add anything extra like last Friday, hmm?" Robin called to Henry when he saw him coming down the stairs.
"Sure thing, Robin. What movie has Roland picked out for us tonight?" Henry responded, pausing before going to help his mother.
"I pickeded out a good one this time Henry!" Roland giggled out.
"He really did pick a good one this time. I think even you'll appreciate it."
"Well, what is it? If it's so good, I mean," Henry pleaded.
"You'll just have to wait and see. Now, go help your mother," grinned Robin. Henry let out a small sigh. He was starting to get the feeling that Robin and Regina must've bought Roland another copy of Robin Hood.
"Hey mom. Robin sent me in here to make sure the Evil Queen doesn't poison the popcorn like last week," Henry said, seating himself on a stool on the counter. He peered onto the counter so he could see where exactly to swipe a few pieces of popcorn before Regina had a chance to pour what looked like chocolate syrup over the popcorn.
"What? Poison the popcorn? I'm just pouring chocolate syrup on it. A little sweet, a little salty, like me. But if you boys are gonna complain about what I am preparing, then why don't you fix another bowl? I'm not sure I feel like sharing this one," Regina smirked and ate a few pieces of her snack. "Mmmm, delicious! Nope, definitely don't feel like sharing." She then took her bowl of popcorn and sauntered out to the den. Henry shook his head and grabbed another bag of popcorn and put it in the microwave. He then pulled open the fridge and grabbed a couple of sodas. They could only drink sodas on movie night, thanks to Regina's health nut tendencies. On movie nights, all bets were off, especially lately. His mom had come up with some pretty weird concoctions that almost involved some sort of sweet and salty. At first he thought it was her time of the month, but these strange cravings came at odd times. Whatever, he thought. Some of her strange concoctions actually weren't all that bad. He was actually curious as to what her current popcorn and chocolate sauce snack might taste like. Unfortunately, he also learned in recent weeks that if his mom didn't offer her concoction for one to taste, one wasn't at liberty to try it without her permission. The microwave let out a beep. Henry grabbed another bowl. Then he grabbed the bottle of chocolate sauce and poured some over his fresh bowl of popcorn. And walnuts. Mmmm, almost like Fiddle-Faddle.
"Henry! What's taking so long! We're readies!" Roland called from the den.
"Alright, alright! Hold your horses, I'm coming!" He called while carrying is confections. "You still haven't told me what it is we're watching." Henry said as he settled in his spot on the floor next to Roland.
"It's a surprise! You have to wait 'til daddy hits play, right daddy?" Roland's grin stretched from ear to ear.
"Yep! Is everyone nice and settled?" Robin asked.
"Yesss. Now hurry up. I want to eat my snack while the movie is playing," Regina whined from next to Robin on the sofa.
"Okay, here goes!" Robin started the movie. No cartoon music Henry thought. This was a promising sign. And then the title screen. Robin Hood, Men in Tights. Henry sighed. At least it wasn't that darn cartoon fox.
"Do you like the surprise Henry? Mommy said you might like this ver, ver…what was the word, mommy?"
"Hmm? Oh yes, version."
"Yeah! That's the word! Mommy said you might like this version of Robin Hood. Do you, Henry? Do you like it?" Roland was bouncing on his knees, desperate for Henry to like something the little boy liked. Henry considered Roland for a moment. He ruffled his hair and smiled.
"Yeah, I like it. Now quiet down so we can hear. Have some popcorn. I didn't poison this batch like mom did," Henry said while tossing back a smile in Regina's face. Regina smirked in return and reached forward to steal from the batch Henry made. "Hey mom, no fair! You don't let us eat from your special popcorn," complained Henry.
"That's because it is my special popcorn. This batch you have here was to share, was it not?" she winked and popped a handful in her mouth. Henry rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the live – action Robin Hood. He actually didn't particularly care for this version or any version of Robin Hood for the simple fact that is was Robin Hood. Roland had driven Henry up the wall with his obsession with Robin Hood.
About half – way through the movie soft snores could be heard coming from a small little boy laying on the floor to Henry's right. Soft snoring sounds could also be heard coming from behind him as well. Henry craned his neck to see both his mom and Robin leaning on each other looking rather peaceful. He supposed the movie didn't quite hold their interest either. He sighed and turned off the movie, debating whether or not he should put in his movie pick for the night. It was supposed to be a thing just for him and his mom. However, he was getting older and perhaps didn't need her as much. After – all, he was trying to put together a costume all on is own this year. Truth be told, it was quite a daunting task. His mom always had such good ideas. Well, they were mostly based on how cute or adorable he looked. Maybe her great costume ideas benefited her. He looked at the time on the DVD player and even though it was a Friday night and it was okay for him to stay up a little later than usual, he found himself droopy – eyed. He removed the DVD from the player and placed it back in the box, chuckling to himself. At least they tried to appease both him and Roland with their pick. Next, he threw a blanket on his sleeping parents. Then whipped out his cellphone and snapped a picture. He might need that for posterity, or blackmail, depending on how one looked at it. He then picked up the slumbering five – year old, who weighed more than he thought based solely on appearance and took him upstairs to his bedroom and tucked him in. Finally, Henry retired to his bedroom, an idea for costumes forming in his mind.
Saturday morning found Henry waking up earlier than he usually would out of excitement. He padded to the bedroom next to his to see Roland still slumbering away with the covers kicked off. He then padded across the hallway to see if his parents were up and about. Their bedroom door was wide open and the bed was made. Strange, he thought, if they were truly up and about he surely would smell the tell – tale signs in the form of Saturday breakfast. Down the stairs Henry crept to see what his parents were up to. No noises could be heard from the kitchen, no light banter or the television blaring Saturday news before Roland could steal the remote control in favor of cartoons. Instead he still heard the soft snores coming from the sofa. Those two, he chuckled to himself, must be really exhausted to not only have fallen asleep on the sofa, but to also have stayed there all night in that uncomfortable position. Since no one in the house other than Henry seemed to be interested in eating he supposed he could have whatever he wanted for breakfast. Only problem was the only thing Henry was allowed to make without supervision for breakfast was oatmeal. Regina frowned heavily on packaged and processed foods and Henry found himself frowning on his mother's frowning on all things glorious to eat. He pulled the milk out of the fridge and poured it over his apples and cinnamon flavored oatmeal and popped that into the microwave to heat. The microwave let out a shrill beep and he rushed to shut it off wanting to enjoy this quiet moment all by himself, such a rarity with a five – year old running around. It was into Henry's third bite that he felt eyes staring at him. He glanced down to find a sleepy – eyed Roland rubbing his eyes.
"Morning, Henry. Where's mommy and daddy? They weren't in their room for Saturday snuggles," complained Roland. Henry let out a small chuckle at the little kid. Roland really did need more attention than Henry did. Henry ruffled the boy's hair.
"Shhh, they're still sleeping. Want me to make you some oatmeal?" Henry asked as he climbed off the stool he was sitting on to grab a bowl and some oatmeal for Roland to eat.
"No, I want momma to make her apple pancakes like she always does on Saturday. And then I want to watch my cartoons like we always do on Saturday," whined Roland.
"How about this? How about you eat your oatmeal and we let mom and Robin sleep and I'll let you read one of my comic books?" Henry cringed at the offer of letting Roland put is grubby hands on his comic books but he really needed brownie points with his parents. He was no fool. Crushing Roland's DVDs over and over has him hovering over hot water.
"Really? I can read one of your comic books?" Roland grinned giddily.
"Yes, but only if you eat the oatmeal that I make for you, ok?"
"Okay!" Roland hopped onto the stool next to Henry's spot at the counter and awaited his breakfast and a chance at reading one of Henry's coveted comic books.
About an hour later Regina began to stir from her position leaning next to Robin. She eased herself into a sitting position and tried to rotate out the crick in her neck. She stretched for a moment, blinking her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She tried to focus on the time on the DVD player, thinking she fell asleep during the movie and that it was late. Her eyes widened, however, in realization that yes, it was late, but not late at night as she assumed. It was late in the morning. She shot up off the sofa, startling Robin.
"Wha, what's going on?"
"Robin. We fell asleep here last night. It is ten in the morning! Where are the boys?" Regina huffed out anxiously.
"Hey, hey, come 'ere. Relax okay? They actually probably went up to bed," Robins stated calmly while rubbing his wife's arms.
"But it's ten in the morning! Roland should be up by now. You know how much he likes to climb into bed with us for snuggles," Regina countered.
"Well maybe he climbed into our bed without us. Let's go upstairs and check, shall we?" Regina slowly nodded her head and allowed Robin to lead her up the stairs. They made it up the stairs to their bedroom and took notice of the nicely made bed, indicating that no; their youngest son had not climbed into their bed without them for the ritual Saturday morning snuggles. Next they crossed the hall to find Roland's bed devoid of the little boy. They then walked to the next room over, Henry's, to see if the little boy managed to convince his older brother to let him in the bed with him. No such luck. Neither boy was in Henry's room.
"Robin, I'm really starting to worry, the boys aren't anywhere to be found," Regina complained. Robin grabbed Regina by the shoulders and massaged her arms up and down in hopes of calming her.
"Gina, relax. Perhaps they went to the kitchen to fix themselves something to eat," Robin offered. If Robin had his camera right then, it would've been the perfect opportunity to catch Regina's look of shock.
"Oh no. They don't know how to cook anything!" She took off towards the stairs and headed to the kitchen. "Henry, Roland! Are you guys down here?" Both boys looked up from their seats at the kitchen counter to see their mother looking a little wild-eyed.
"Uh, yeah. Where else would we be?" Henry asked, trying to keep his sarcasm down.
"Henry Daniel Mills. Do not take that tone of voice with me! We woke up and you boys were nowhere to be found. Sorry if I was a little worried."
"Sorry mom. You and Robin looked so sweet sleeping on the sofa. And we were hungry."
"Yeah, we weres hungry! Henry wouldn't let me snuggle with you though. He said we should let you sleep."
"Ohhh baby! You could've woken us. I love it when we get to snuggle!" Regina said as she bent down to hug Roland. "Now, Henry said you were hungry. Would you like me to make you Saturday morning apple pancakes? Hmm?" she continued on as she headed towards the pantry to take out ingredients for pancakes.
"No momma, Henry made us oatmeal! And he said if I ate my oatmeal we could read his comic books! Can we go read comic books now? Pleeeeeaaaase?" Regina turned to look at Henry with a slight smirk. She knew her son and she knew how possessive he was with his comic books. She sensed he was up to something.
"Henry, dear, that's awfully nice of you. What do you want?" His mom was no fool. Henry decided to go ahead and play his Ace up the sleeve.
"Oh nothing."
"Nothing? Nothing? You let Robin and I sleep in, you made Roland breakfast and you're going to let him read your comic book?"
"Well, since you asked. You know how Halloween is next week? And you usually help me with costumes?" Regina nodded for him to continue. "Well, after watching Robin Hood Men in Tights last night, I have an idea for costumes! For all of us! It'll be great! A perfect way to celebrate our first Halloween together," Henry said as his grinned stretched as wide as a Cheshire cat's. Regina rolled her eyes. That clever little boy.
"Well then, go ahead, spit out," encouraged Regina.
Henry grinned even wider. "We should go as characters from Robin Hood Men in Tights."
Who's ready for a little bit of audience participation? These aren't necessarily prompts that I guarantee will be covered, I merely need suggestions for activities the Hood-Mills family could do or some amusing predicaments the individual members of the family might find themselves in. I was an only child so most of my activities included reading and cheer leading practice :-)