Flash Fiction Friday prompt 198: What Comes Next 378 words.

The paper was heavy, of the very best quality. A slightly off-white colour, the ink in the blackest black. Fountain pen, not typewriter or computer print. A thin red ribbon border on the flap which was sealed with red wax and a stamp.

Scott had been staring at it for, well he wasn't quite sure how long. Long enough that the knuckles of his thumb and fingers were white.

Still he didn't move to open it. He didn't need to.

He already knew what was in the missive.

What he didn't know was when his Father had joined him, when his Dad had knelt down in front of him, hand on his knee.

Blinking rapidly against the emotional tornado that was tearing his head and heart apart, Scott suddenly became aware that his father was speaking in soothing tones.

'Dad?'

'Thank god, Scott. You really had me worried.'

'Why?'

'You've been sitting there, staring at that letter for over an hour.'

'Oh.'

It wasn't the reply Jeff would have liked, but he wasn't surprised. They had all known this was coming. He was thankful that the powers that be had waited to send this until now. He wasn't sure that his son would have coped with its arrival earlier.

He wasn't going to force Scott to open the letter, he would do that when he wanted to, but to his surprise Scott suddenly ripped into it as if he was angry. He probably was. Jeff stayed on the floor as Scott read the letter then tore it up into tiny pieces.

'Well. That's it then.'

'Scott?'

'Don't want a cripple for a pilot.'

'Don't call yourself that!'

'Why not? It's true. I can't fly. What use is a pilot that can't fly?'

Jeff leant forward and pulled his son into a tight embrace.

'You will fly again. I swear it. I swear it, Son.'

Scott clung tighter.

Eventually they parted, Jeff still knelt but he now cupped Scott's face in both hands. It took his son far too long to stop looking everywhere else and look into his eyes.

'I swear it, Scott.'

'What comes next?'

Jeff stood up and gently drew Scott to his feet.

'Let me show you what Virgil, Brains and I have been doing.'