Chapter 3
It Begins with Humans
Charlotte's long curly brown hair was put in a loose pony tail as she bent closer to the ducks. She stared at them behind her green eyes as she waddles closer, inch by inch. "Stay away from the water." Josh warned her as she protested." But I have to feed the ducks. They won't come any closer." She complained as she moved just a little closer, holding out the bread for them. "Why won't they come?" She asked her father as he sat reading on a bench nearby. He closed his book as he came to sit next to her. She was always trying to get them close enough to pet. "Because, they think you're going to hurt them. Even if I know you won't." She moved to sit on her butt as she pouted." But I won't." She turned to look at him as she looked sad.
Joshua smiled as he kissed her daughter's head." I know." He smiled at her when he rose to his feet." Come on Charlotte. We can try tomorrow. Let's go home." She was holding the bread in her fingers as she shook her head." But I don't want too. I want to stay with the ducks." She started tearing the bread into small pieces for them. She was determined to pet one of them before she had to leave. She would do it. She had to do it. They had to know she was good. She wouldn't hurt them. She was a little afraid of them. They could be mean. But she still wanted to pet them. Their feathers seemed so soft and shiny.
Joshua looked down at his little girl, so stubborn. Like both her parents. He watched for a few seconds, forgetting about anything else. Charlotte was special, even more so at how her eyes were. They sometimes haunted him. They were so much like her mothers. He looked away for a moment, his guilt taking over. He took a deep breath as he looked at her, still wanting to feed the ducks. He smiled with a small chuckled as he spoke." You know.." He moved to lean against his knees as he spoke. "Maybe we should leave the ducks for today." He moved from his knees as he started walking down the pathway. His daughter was very stubborn and wanted to stay with the ducks. He turned around from the pathway as he spoke. "If you feed them too much they will start to puff out like a balloon. Then they will EXPLODE!" He moved his hands from a small circle to a large explosion, adding his own sound effects.
Charlotte stared at her father wide eyed as she turned to the ducks. One was about to eat from her hand as she pulled it back. The baby ducks were following their mother as she was heading towards the little bread crumbs that she had laid out for them. "Shoof shoof." She told them as she bent over, picking up the break crumbs. She didn't want them to explode. "Wait daddy!" She called after him as she ran towards him, dropping a few crumbs. She stopped in her tracks, running back to pick the pieces up as she stuffed them into her pockets. She ran to his side as she grabbed his hand, holding his in hers. She hadn't wanted the duckies to explode, especially the baby duckies. They were too cute. She leaned her head against his arm as she spoke." Do you think all the bread I feed them will cause them to explode?" she asked him, sighing a little as she tilted her head up towards him.
Joshua looked down at her as he smiled." No Charlotte, they are fine. You fed them just enough. " He leaned down to pick her up, swing her up to his shoulders. "Let's go home. What should we have?" He asked as she put her arms around his neck. "CREPES!" she yelled as she spread her hands out, losing her balance a little." Whoa." she said as she moved to put her arms around him again. He had a grip on her legs so she wouldn't fall. No matter what crazy motions she was making. She moved to lean her head against his as she watched the other people in the park. All the other families. " I love you daddy." She told him as she adjusted her grip on him, giving him a small little hug. " I Love you too Mon Amour." He called her as he looked up at her, giving her a smile. "Crepes it is."
Charlotte had asked if they could take the long way home since the sun was setting. She loved walking in the dark, seeing all the lights in the city. Paris was her home and she loved it. She had her head against his as she stared at all the street lights, twinkle lights on the trees, building lights, anything that could attract her attention. By the time they had arrived home she had fallen asleep against him. He tucked her into bed as he made sure the blankets kept her warm. He kissed her head as he turned on her night light, the Eiffel tower night lamp. Joshua at in front of the fireplace as he thought, turning to read a book. He needed something mindless. It had been awhile. It had been such a long time since Lina left them there together. He sighed a little as he was still unsure why he had driven her away. He had just wished he could have saved them. Charlotte should have had her mother there. He sighed again as he closed his book, heading to his bedroom to sleep.