Part of this story is taken from a moment of my own childhood when my Gran and parents failed to notice me making a mess in the kitchen (how they never noticed the racket I was making still baffles me to this very day, 14 years later.)
Chrissie plans a surprise for Dean's Birthday, resulting in a kitchen nightmare.
Christmas flew in and soon the world entered the year 1996. Not like the Winchesters did much celebrating during the holiday seasons. The smallest member of the family never fully understood why, maybe it was because Mommy was around anymore assumed little Chrissie. Still her older brothers attempted to their best efforts to inject happiness and love within that period for the sake of the little one. It was mid January and for the eldest out of the three children, had finally reached his seventeenth year, not that anything special was planned. Ever since the death of Mary, their mother, five years previous, birthdays were not well cherished. However the siblings tried to make an effort. The boys would fuss over their little sister on her birthday, even though she would insist that the middle sibling, Sam, would received fair treatment since they shared the same birthday. This year however, the four year wanted to mark the occasion with something special.
John had went out before sunrise, leaving the siblings to fend for themselves that morning. Chrissie could barely see over the kitchenette table, and had to resolve on sitting on several couch cushions so she could reach her oatmeal bowl. She wasn't keen on oatmeal and would grimace whenever she put the sloppy mixture into her tiny mouth. Still, it was the only thing available, so she ate it knowing that if she didn't she would be hungry later.
"How old you now Deanie?" asked the infant, cramming her mouth with oatmeal.
"I'm seventeen" answered Dean gulping a glass of milk.
"Wow!" exclaimed the child with wide eyes, "Dat's weally old."
"Excuse me?" remarked Dean spluttering.
"You old man now," said Chrissie naively, her hair fluffy and wild, "Wike Daddy and Unca Bobby."
"Think you'll find I have a few more years before that" replied Dean with a chuckle.
Sam then appeared from the bathroom. His face was freshly washed and his dark hair was tamed for now.
"We better get a move on, I'm late as it is" he said urgently stuffing his school bag with textbooks.
"Where we going?" questioned Chrissie pushing her oatmeal bowl away, whilst licking the spoon.
"We're takin' Sammy to school" replied the eldest snatching his car keys in front of him.
Sam helped his little sister into her sneakers before the trio rushed out the motel room door.
"I do it!" snapped the child, swatting away Sam's hands as he went to buckle Chrissie into her car seat.
The boys smirked in amusement during the short car journey to Sam's school, the little girl was singing the theme tune of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to herself. She only knew the final line of the song and was making up a random tune the rest of the time. Her tiny hands clapped along as she mumbled the tune repeatedly.
Later
Chrissie was concentrating extra hard. With pain staking precision she spelt out HAPY and BIFDAY before she once again switched crayons. A bright bold blue color bared the name DEAN with a back to front D and a very misshapen A. The child glanced at her handy work and smiled. It was finished. The picture contained an odd yellow triangle and an apple, it appeared to be an apple pie on further inspection. She hoped her big brother would like the picture she drew for him. Chrissie climbed down from the kitchenette chair with the picture in her clutches, and skipped over to Dean who was busying reading something on the couch opposite the TV. She tapped his arm to get his attention.
"Whatcha got there sweetie?" asked Dean putting down his book.
"A picture," replied the little girl shyly handing him the colorful drawing, "I's made it for you."
A broad smile spread across the eldest's face. Chrissie waited patiently with her hands clasped behind her back, swaying on her heels, her large green eyes wide with adoration.
She mumbled "You like it? I's was gonna draw the car but my black crayon broke. So I's drew you apple pie."
Dean pulled her onto his knee "I think it's awesome."
Chrissie's freckled face lit up "Really!"
Dean nodded "Absolutely."
The child and the teenager embraced.
The siblings had raided the video store the previous day, TV was poor and Dean wanted a break from the usual Barney and Sesame Street. Chrissie chose the Disney classic Dumbo, a movie she had never seen and the fact that it had a baby elephant with oversized ears amused the little girl. She clambered onto the couch as her brother shoved the video cassette into the player. Her energy levels were still as high as a kite. After an afternoon of coloring and making Dean play hopscotch with her, she was still eager to play. Yet when Dean suggested watching Dumbo, she couldn't object to that idea. The infant intently observed the movie, an adorable expression of wonder painted across her round face. When Dumbo was reunited with his imprisoned mother, the little girl was aware of her brother hugging her tightly.
Rest your head close to my heartNever to part, baby of mineLittle one when you playDon't you mind what you sayLet those eyes sparkle and shineNever a tear, baby of mine
He began to stroke her hair, his eyes softening. Growing up was apart of life, but somewhere deep inside him, he wished Chrissie would remain the same lovable and innocent four year old.
You're so precious to meCute as can be, baby of mine
He was still daydreaming when he felt a tug on his shirt.
"Deanie, I no like those pink elephants" murmured Chrissie in a frightened tone.
"It's okay baby, your safe, I'm here" he repeated as Chrissie buried her head into his chest to block the image of the strange pink elephants.
His voice grew gentler before he was aware of his eyes drooping. Within several minutes of the song ending, he was sound asleep.
"Deanie, der gone now," said Chrissie shaking her brother, "Dean."
She paused and cooed whilst clapping her hands together "Aw you sleepy. Kay you sleep den."
Chrissie wriggled from under her brother's arms and crawled from the couch. She scratched her head, conjuring up a plan on what to do now before gazing back to her sleeping brother. Chrissie tottered over to the bed and gathered her blanket in her arms then returning to Dean. She tucked the blanket carefully around him awkwardly, the child smiled and patted his knee gently.
"You sleep big brother," she whispered, then adding brightly "I'm gonna make you a cake. It's is your birthday. Birthday means cake."
Then it dawned on the four year old, she had no idea how to make cake, yet that did not hinder the plans of making one for her big brother.
"Kay. What do I need?" wondered Chrissie opening the refrigerator "I's need eggs."
She grabbed a hold of the packet of eggs and placed them on top of the kitchenette countertop. The child had to scrap a chair across so she could reach. More ingredients were gathered including a tin of baked beans, ketchup, milk and coffee.
"Good," beamed Chrissie as she began to smash the eggs into a large bowl, "Now I can start the cake."
Once the twelve eggs had been enveloped under a layer of milk and coffee beans, Chrissie paused.
She wrinkled her nose "What now, uh, ketchup."
Just before she splattered ketchup into the unholy mixture, Chrissie gazed over at Dean. He was still asleep, completely unaware of the kitchen nightmare unfolding under his very nose. Chrissie gasped as some of the content of the ketchup splashed onto her face.
"Uh oh" she said worriedly noticing that it had went on her sweater too.
She shrugged and continued her mini mission. The hard part had arrived, the tin of baked beans. She was certain that you had thump it on a solid surface in order of it to open. So she did just that, caring little about the racket she was creating.
"What the hell!" said Dean springing to life on hearing a loud thud, he spun his head around and discovered an apocalypse in the form of Chrissie with a bowl of mess in her hands, clutter around her.
He went to her and sat on his haunches, eyes level with hers. The little girl gulped with an embarrassed look on her mucky face.
"Christina," started Dean, "What have you been up to?"
"I was trying to make you a cake" replied the youngster guiltily, "Birthday means cake."
Dean shook his head fondly at his little sister and chuckled. Birthday means cake. It would be in the ranking of top ten Chrissie quotes, Dean would never forget it and he would make sure Chrissie wouldn't either.
PLEASE REVIEW (I'll be sad otherwise L)