AN: I apologize in advance. :-D
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"Hello, I'm home!"
Brennan made the announcement as she entered the front door and smiled as Christine's giggles reached her from just feet away. Turning the corner she saw the little girl jump up from her seat on the floor next to Max.
"Look, Mommy!" She ran to Brennan with her arm outstretched, showing off a long white sock pulled up past her elbow. "I have a puppet!"
"I believe that's a -" The raspy sound of Max clearing his throat interrupted her correction. "It's a very nice puppet, Christine."
"Max made it for me! See?" The little girl pointed out the special details. "It has eyes and look!" The hand in the sock opened wide. "It has a tongue!" A red oval appeared in her palm.
"How did your appointment go, honey?" Max moved from the floor to a chair. "Everything alright?" He nodded toward the outline of her swollen midsection.
"Yes," Brennan nodded. "We are both fine. What's that?" She looked at the TV as Christine sat down again and began talking through her sock puppet to another one on the screen. "Christine is only allowed to watch TV for thirty minutes per day, Dad."
"Oh, that doesn't count." Max waved off her concerns. "It's Lamb Chop. Remember? You loved her."
Brennan's expression was skeptical as Charlie Horse appeared and began arguing with Lamb Chop and Shari Lewis. "I loved that?"
"Oh, yea." Max beamed as he relived old memories. "I made you a puppet, too." He started to laugh. "I used a tube sock that had red rings at the top and you made me cut them off. Your mother glued cotton balls to the top for the wool."
"I want cotton balls!" Christine stuck her sock-covered arm between them and spoke through her puppet.
"Sure, honey," Max tapped her nose. "You can have cotton balls, too."
Brennan was still frowning at the TV. "I enjoyed this show?"
"Yep. You would sing that song for hours." His voice took on a tone she couldn't quite place. "Every day. For hours."
"What song -"
Christine's clear, high voice began to sing along with the puppets as the credits rolled across the screen.
This is a song for never ends
It goes on my friends my friends
Brennan's eyes grew round and horrified as a memory surfaced. "Dad . . ."
Max smiled broadly, stood up and kissed her cheek. "Time for me to go."
. . . they'll sing it for never and because . . .
This song it never ends . . .
"Dad!"
"Don't forget to put cotton balls on the sock, honey. Tell Booth I said hello. See you later."
. . . people were singing and knowing what was
They'll come in new singing for never just because . . .
"Dad!"
. . . this song it never ends . . .
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You know what's great about having grandchildren? Payback. :-D
Happy Bones-day and thanks for reading!