Disclaimer: What can I say. Captain America. Total Dow'n!
Annie waved a last goodbye after Julie Moore as she left the kindergarten with her mother. Now she went back to Jack Hotchner – the only person keeping her from going home and take a nice long shower.
"So Jack, now it's just the two of us," she said and settled on the swing next to the boy. He was smiling and humming a bit as he kicked his legs to move the swing.
"You look quite happy about it too."
"I am." Annie rose from her swing and started pushing Jack.
"Why is that?" she asked enjoying the bright and happy mind of the 5-year-old boy squealing excitedly as the ground suddenly seemed so far away under his feet.
Annie stopped the swing.
"Aunt Jeththica alwayth cometh at four. Daddy ith alwayth late."
"Ah, so you think your dad will com pick you up."
"I know he will!"
Annie laughed and pulled Jack off the swing.
"Let's build a huge sand castle for him to see when he comes, alright?"
Jack nodded, and rushed to the sandbox and started shoveling. Annie stood and watched him for a moment and then joined in.
"You know what Jack."
He shook his head and took a bucket.
"When I was your age making sandcastles was my favorite thing to do."
"It'th my favorite thing too!" Jack beamed at her swinging his bucket filled with sand.
"What's your least favorite thing to do?"
"Washing my hands before lunch." Annie laughed.
"I get that. What about your favorite food?"
Jack sat down in the sand and looked at Annie with a thoughtful look on his face.
"When Daddy maketh pathta with tomatoeth I like it the best!"
"Is your father your favorite person then?"
The smile on Jack's face grew bigger at the thought of his father. "Yeth!" He nodded feverishly. "My Daddy ith the cooletht person in the WORLD!" He leaned closer to Annie, "He ith even COOLER than Captain America!" Annie looked at his face feigning shock.
"Your dad is THAT cool, huh?" Jack nodded again. "I'm impressed! But he does look cool." Jack sighed.
"Girlth alwayth think about lookth."
"That's how we're different from boys." Annie said laughing. "Describe how your dad is cool."
"My Daddy travelth to ALL the stateth and catcheth all the bad guyth! And then he cometh home and pick me up from kindergarten and maketh Mac and Cheethe." Annie frowned.
"Do you get a lot of Mac and Cheese?"
"Not enough!"
"Do you get more Mac and Cheese than you get get pasta with tomatoes?" Jack nodded. "If your dad is your favorite boy person who is your favorite girl person? Your aunt?"
"Noooo! Aunt Jeththica maketh me wash my handth all the time! And she tellth me what to do all the time! And she putth me to sleep BEFORE my bedtime!" Jack gave Annie a repulsed look. "She never playth with me. She just say to play myself." Annie let a hand glide through the blond locks on Jack's head. "She's a grown-up. We don't always have time to play."
"You have time to play!" He looked at her hopefully.
"That's because it's my job."
"Mrth. Terrarni never playth with us."
"That's because she's getting old."
"I don't like old people." Jack snuggled closer to Annie who pulled him against his side.
"Why don't you like old people Jack?"
"Becauthe they're going to die." He had whispered the words but Annie heard them loud and clear. Her chest grew tight.
"Do you think about dying a lot Jack?" She asked and looked down at his face.
"Only when Daddy ith away."
"Is he away a lot?"
"Too much."
They sat looking at the messy sandcastle in front of them.
"I don't feel like making sandcastles anymore." Annie said.
"I don't feel like it too."
"Do you want to go inside and wait for you dad?"
"Yeth pleathe."