Lullaby for a Stormy Night
*THUNDER*
Mrs. Park was awoken by the illuminating lightning and the roars of thunder. Her husband who slept in the bed across from her continued to slumber, Mrs. Park envied her husband for not being stirred by the storm outside. Mrs. Park grabbed a glass besides her only to realize there was none.
"Did I forget to bring it upstairs?" Mrs. Park questioned herself as she slipped on her slippers and wrapped a robe around herself.
Mrs. Park made her way downstairs as more lightning and thunder roared through the night.
*Thunder and Lightning*
Mrs. Park felt the house quake beneath her feet and grabbed onto the railing.
"Just a few more steps, Niki, just a few more steps." Mrs. Park whispered to herself.
As soon as Mrs. Park made it to the kitchen, she poured herself a cup glass of water and slowly drank it as she looked outside the kitchen window. She could see how the trees bent over by the wind's powerful gush, how the raindrops sprayed down on the landscape like someone was continuously dumping a bucket of water, and the lightning dazzling the sky. Mrs. Park guzzled the rest of her water down and was about to put the cup in the sink when -
*Thunder and Lightning*
Mrs. Park gasped as she dropped the cup as it rolled under the kitchen table (good thing it was plastic). Mrs. Park gave an exhausted sigh as she bent down to pick up the cup only to see a pair of little toes sticking out from under the tablecloth.
What was Min-Gi doing under the table this late at night? He should know better than to be playing around especially in the dark.
"Min-Gi Johnny Park!" said sternly as she pulled the tablecloth away so she could see her son. "What are you doing under here."
*SNIFF, SNIFF, SNIFF*
Her expression softened as she heard her son sniffling. Min-Gi wrapped himself into a small ball making him appear smaller than he was.
"Min-Gi, what are you doing down here this late?" Mrs. Park repeated only this time in a softer tone.
"S-scary." Min-Gi stuttered. "The rain is s-so scary."
*Thunder and Lightning*
Min-Gi shrieked at the thunder and lightning, with the lightning flashing Mrs. Park was able to see the tear stains that ran down her son's face.
"Oh, Min-Gi." crawled under the table and scooped her son up. "It's okay, sweetie, it's only rain."
"No!" Min-Gi cried out. "It's scary."
*Thunder and Lightning*
Min-Gi buried his face deep into his mother's robe as she wrapped her arms closer around him. rubbed circles into Min-Gi's back as he began to cry.
"Little child, be not afraid," began to sing. "The rain pounds harsh against the glass, like an unwanted stranger, there is no danger. I am here tonight. "Little child, be not afraid, though thunder explodes and lightning flash, illuminates your tear-stained face, I am here tonight."
"And someday you'll know that nature is so, the same rain that draws you near me. Falls on rivers and land, on forests and sand. Makes the beautiful world that you see. In the morning."Mrs. Park continued to sing as she used the sleeve of her robe to wipe Min-Gi's tears.
Min-Gi's tears and whimpers ceased, but his expression was still terrified as more thunder rumbled. Mrs. Park crawled from under the table and carried Min-Gi to up the stairs.
"Little child, be not afraid, though storm clouds mask your beloved moon and its candlelight beams, still keep pleasant dreams, I am here tonight." "Little child, be not afraid, though wind makes creatures of our trees and their branches to hands, they're not real, understand, and I am here tonight.
The terror that once effected Min-Gi was slowly fading as his mother's soothing lullaby engulfed him in a state of calmness.
"And someday you'll know that nature is so, the same rain that draws you near me. Falls on rivers and land, on forests and sand, makes the beautiful world that you see. In the morning.
Min-Gi was now fast asleep in his mother's arms. Mrs. Park tucked Min-Gi into his bed and gave him a kiss on his forehead, before leaving the room she gave one more glance at her son smiled and closed the door. A couple of hours later sunlight was beaming through the window as last night was all but a passing dream.
Future
*Thunder and Lightning*
Min-Gi shot out of bed when he was awoken by thunderclaps and lightning.
"Heh, even after all these years a little rain still gets me." Min-Gi chuckled to himself ran his fingers through his hair.
*SNORE*
Min-Gi turned to see his husband and chuckled as Ryan was in a deep slumber as he was sprawled across their bed, long hair flying in every direction, and snoring like a log being sawed by a chainsaw-wielding-maniac in a horror movie.
"I'll be right back." Min-Gi said as he kissed Ryan's cheek.
"Mmm, more ketchup chips, please." Ryan said in his sleep.
Min-Gi rolled his eyes as he went to downstairs to the kitchen to get some water. Min-Gi watched from the kitchen window to see it downpouring outside. The trees swaying in whatever direction the wind was blowing as their leaves were ripped off and were sent flying everywhere, how the rain came down like a wannabe Niagara Falls, and how thunder and lightning danced across the sky. Min- Gi found it odd that he was terrified of the weather outside yet comforted by it at the same time.
'Must be something that comes with age.' Min-Gi thought as took another swig from his water bottle.
*Thunder and Lightning*
"Goddammit!" Min-Gi cursed as he dropped his water bottle, and it rolled under the kitchen table. "Fuck!"
Min-Gi got to his knees as he grabbed the bottle.
*SQUEAK*
Min-Gi jumped back from the sound he just heard, but quickly got to his knees and pulled the tablecloth back.
"Hazel!" Min-Gi saw the seven-year-old girl clutch her purple gorilla plushie. "What are you doing down here."
Hazel was in her turtle form with her skin green, long nails, beak, and turtle shell. Hazel now had total control of her transformations, but whenever she felt scared her turtle form came out. Hazel just clutched her gorilla tighter.
"The thunder and lightning scared me, Min-Gi." Hazel cried as more tears ran down her face.
"That's right, you hate storms." Min-Gi gave himself a dope slap on his forehead. How could he forget one of his daughter's fears.
*Thunder and Lightning*
Hazel cried out as Min-Gi gathered her in his arms and started to rub circles into her back as Hazel cried into his chest. This reminded Min-Gi when he was a boy his mother would comfort him during stormy nights like this.
"Little child, be not afraid," Min-Gi began to sing as Hazel looked up at him. "Though rain pounds harsh against the glass like an unwanted stranger, there is no danger, I am here tonight."
"Little child, be not afraid, though thunder explodes and lightning flash illuminates your tear-stained face, I am here tonight." Min-Gi continued to sing as he lifted Hazel's chin and wiped away a tear. "And someday you'll know, that nature is so, the same rain that draws you near me. Falls on rivers and land, in forests and sand, makes the beautiful world that you see in the morning."
Though Hazel stopped crying she was still trembling like the leaves that were still attached to the trees outside doing their best to not let the storm blow them away. The lightning continued to flash like a light show at a rave. Min-Gi just held her tighter and continued to sing.
"Little child, be not afraid, though storm clouds mask your beloved moon and its candlelight beams, still keep pleasant dreams, I am here tonight. Little child, be not afraid, though wind makes creatures of our trees and their branches to hands, they're not real, understand? And I am here tonight. And someday you'll know, that nature is so, the same rain that draws you near me. Falls on rivers and land, on forests and sand, makes the beautiful world that you see in the morning."
Min-Gi picked Hazel up and headed towards her bedroom. Once, inside Min-Gi tucked Hazel into her bed and continued to sing.
"For you know, once even I was a little child, and I was afraid. But a gentle someone always came to dry all my tears, trade sweet sleep for fears and to give a kiss goodnight." Min-Gi said as he kissed Hazel's forehead as she looked up at him with astonishment.
"You used to be afraid of storms too, Min-Gi?" Hazel questioned surprised to see her dad admit to a childish fear.
"Well now I am grown, and these years have shown, that rain's a part of how life goes." Min-Gi answered as he smiled down at his daughter.
"So, it doesn't scare you anymore?" Hazel asked as her beak started to fade away.
" Sometimes." Min-Gi admitted as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "It's hard to explain really. Bad and good weather will happen, but as long as everyone is safe, I'll be fine."
"Oh." Hazel said not truly understanding it but getting hints of what her dad meant. Hazel gave Min-Gi a big hug as Min-Gi did the same.
"But it's dark and it's late, so I'll hold you and wait. 'Til your frightened eyes do close." Min-Gi began to sing again.
"And I hope that you'll know, that nature is so, the same rain that draws you near on rivers and land, on forests and sand, makes the beautiful world that you see." Hazel joined in on the song and made it a father-daughter duet "In the morning."
Ironically, the thunder and lightning ended minutes ago as the two continued to sing about as the rain continued to fall.
"Everything's fine in the morning, the rain will be gone in the morning. But I'll (you'll) still be here in the morning!" Both father and daughter finished the song.
Hazel let out a yawn as she was back in her human form.
"Feeling better?" Min-Gi chuckled.
"Yeah, thanks Min." Hazel yawned again as she clutched her gorilla plushie and rest her head on Min-Gi's chest listening to his heartbeat.
"Good to know." Min-Gi said brushing a few strands away from Hazel's face. "Good night, Hazel."
As Min-Gi tried to get up he realized that Hazel was fast asleep, and any movement he made of putting her in bed would wake her up. Min-Gi accepted his fate and rested against the headboard as he did his best to make himself comfortable. He took one of the throw blankets and placed it on top of Hazel to keep her warm.
"I'm gonna feel this in the morning." Min-Gi muttered to himself.
Morning
Lasts night's storm was in the past as the sunshine upon the land. The flowers buds opened to receive sunlight, birds were singing, and people were waking up.
*YAWN*
Ryan yawned as he stretched out his arms and legs like a humanoid cat.
"Morning Min-Gi, Happy-" When Ryan turned around, he noticed his husband wasn't beside him. " Must be making breakfast."
Ryan got up to brush his teeth, his gorgeous long hair, put his favorite Chicken Choice Judy t-shirt and some pants, and went to wake up Hazel.
"Hazel." Ryan called out gently. "Time to wake- on my God!"
Infront of Ryan was Hazel in Min-Gi's arms both sleeping peacefully. It took Ryan all the strength within him not to squeal at the sight of his family. Ryan took out his phone and took a picture and sent it to Kez & Morgan, Tulip, Lake, Jesse, Nate, Grace, Amelia, One-One, and two special people.
Powell Lake
"More coffee, Yui?" Mrs. Park asked Yui as they sat at the table.
"Nah, twos my limit on my off days." Yui said downing her second cups.
"It was nice of our husbands to treat us to breakfast." said as she scanned the cafe she and Yui were in.
The cafe was crowded with families enjoying their breakfast and having small talk. The staff were doing their best to keep up with customers' demands, waiting, and cleaning; couldn't believe this was the tasks Min-Gi had to do when he worked at that horrid Dumpty's Diner.
"Sorry for the wait." The waiter came back with the bills.
"That's no problem." Mr. Park said as he pulled out his card.
"Make sure to give him a good tip." Mrs,Park whispered as her husband nodded.
"I'll get the car started." Mr. Akagi said as he kissed his wife's cheek.
"I'll be right back, I need to go wash my hands." said as also he kissed his wife's cheek.
*CELLPHONE RINGS*
Yui and opened their phones to see a picture of Ryan, Min-Gi, and Hazel making the mother's squeal.
Ryan was in a selfie pose doing the peace sign, Min-Gi looked like he just woke up rubbing his eye from the camara's flash while holding Hazel, and there was Hazel wide awake waving her hands with a big old smile on her face. At the bottom of the image was a message that read: Happy Mother's Day!
Happy (belated) Mother's Day! I wanted to post this yesterday, but I was spending time with my mom and family. I hope everyone had a great (belated) Mother's Day with their mom, moms, aunts, cousins, sisters, male family member who took the place of mom, and etc!
Lullaby for a Stormy Night was written and sung by Vienna Teng