The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25 dot com
Prompt: 18
Pen Name: Glitterb1234
Pairing/Character(s): Esme
Rating: K
Word Count: 400
Photo prompts can be found here:
thetwilight25 dot com/round-eight/prompts
Destroying a leaf pile was an experience every child should have at least once in their lives. At least, Esme Cullen thought so. She had never felt any particular need to have her husband rake all the leaves in the yard into one huge stack, preferring the wild, natural way that they littered the lawn. But once their sons got big enough to enjoy running around in the garden, it was decided to make a yearly tradition out of raking the leaves together just so that Emmett, Jasper and Edward could spend an afternoon spreading them back across the grass.
For weeks, the boys would watch the leaves falling with all the excitement and anticipation that other children reserved for falling snow. Then would come the magical day when Carlisle went out with the rake, and all three would perch themselves on the window seat in the living room to watch as he formed the pile, each one silently plotting how best to cover his brothers in orange, red and brown foliage. Their mother would insist on coats, hats and scarves, and once these were grudgingly donned they were released upon the mountain of leaves, racing like wild animals across the lawn and hollering battle cries like Indian braves. There would follow several hours of leafy carnage, before they stumbled back inside to wash up for dinner, flushed, tired and often a little muddy, but beaming from ear to ear.
They were no longer little boys, but the tradition remained the same – almost. Now, the boys helped their father collect up the leaves, the forming of the pile becoming half the fun. They refused to wrap up warm, content to be out in hoodies and jeans, but Esme no longer feared their catching cold and did not argue. And when the let loose all their pent up energy in throwing and running and shouting, they were joined by others. Rosalie, Alice and Bella weren't too old to play in the leaves either, and it made Esme smile to watch them all enjoy themselves.
This time next year, Emmett would be heading off to college, leaving his brothers and girlfriend behind. They might never get to play in the leaves all together ever again. Only Esme seemed to be thinking to be thinking about that. But that was okay.
Let them have fun now; they could worry about the future later.