Crystalline

Rauthr Mystic

Full English

Fried egg, sausage, a slice bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns, toast, and half a tomato were on the table just waiting for Vernon to come downstairs. Dudley was in his highchair doing his best to beat a carrot into submission. Everything was just as it was expected to be: Normal. "Eevee Honey, where are my cuff links?" Vernon bellowed from their upstairs bedroom. Hearing his dad's voice, Dudley squealed and began throwing carrots at his fathers chair.

"They are downstairs Darling," Petunia moderated her voice. There was no need to make Dudley any more energetic, not to mention the second toddler sleeping under her stairs. "They are with your keys. Come and eat your breakfast Vernon, you don't want to get egg on your cuffs again!"

"Right you are my peach," the thunderous steps echoed through the house. She made a mental note to reinforce the stairs. Even if she managed to get her husbands weight under control, he had no idea how to do things 'softly'. From sleeping to watching the telly, she always knew where he was by sound alone. He smiled as he came into the kitchen, maneuvering his bulk with practiced ease.

"How's breakfast champ?" Vernon mussed his sons hair on his way to sit before his own plate. "Ah, I see your aim is improving! Good Lad! What's today's tea darling?" It was the newest fad within the community. To have tea that was somehow different. It didn't matter if you liked it, just that your family had enough to enjoy a different blend for every occasion.

"It's your very own Breakfast blend with a touch of cinnamon, milk and sugar." Vernon wasn't really that adventurous. He once tried chamomile tea as a lad, or so the story goes. He blew up like a balloon and had to go to hospital. Ironic since he had no allergy to it. "You can tell your coworkers that you had an Asian Breakfast Blend." He grunted in response, his mouth already full of eggs and sausage. She was glad that he didn't try to smile at her with a full mouth anymore. Every little step counts.

"Don't forget that Charlie Smith is arranging a special tea for your management meeting." The quality of the grunt was lower with a dash of menace. "Yes yes, I am very aware on your thoughts on the Smiths. It doesn't matter if you think them delinquent and amoral you must treat them with respect." Another grunt, this one doubled and almost a whine. "I know Vernon but Charlie Smith isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Best to just get along." Somehow he sighed as he inhaled his food. Quite an impressive feat.

"Regardless Vernon, you must be polite. There will be at least one Deputy Directorship available within a few years." To this Vernon groaned as if common human decency was an extra effort. The slight whine meant he didn't understand why he should have to put forth the effort. "Mrs. Crow's sisters husband plays golf at the same country club as Mr. Peabody, who is the current Deputy of Sales," she could tell Vernon was quickly losing interest. He didn't know, or care, about the maneuvering Petunia had to do to get this information. The research she'd done into the lives of Vernon's co-workers and bosses. It never occurred to him that the ladies weekly tea was so much more than the idle gossip of housewives. "The point Vernon," she said somewhat frostily. "Is that Mr. Peabody is looking to retire. You and Charlie are both prime candidates for the position. However if you don't how management that you are as adaptable as you are personable, you will lose the opportunity."

Her statement took a while to sink through Vernon's intolerance. It wasn't until his plate was clean and his belly satisfied that avarice and pride kicked in. "I hadn't heard that Eevee my luv. Of course, Charlie couldn't ever really compete with a man of my calibre. No need for management to look elsewhere." That translated roughly to 'Fine, I'll play nice as far as management is concerned.' Also, unspoken, was that Vernon would spend less time "supervising' and more time actually managing his team. Which worked perfectly with Petunia's need. Work would keep him distracted.

While Vernon rearranged his mindset to focus on this new ambition, Petunia took Dudley upstairs. Washing him and getting him ready for school. He was doing well in his reception year, though he was showing signs of his fathers tendency to throw his bulk around. She would need to find a way to curb that behavior pattern before it became ingrained. Though after an exacerbating tantrum demanding an orange jumper instead of red, Petunia knew she would have to tackle Vernon's parenting first. Tantrums were not the signs of the strong character her husband seemed to think they were.

Ensuring that Dudley's rucksack was in order. She lead him downstairs into the arms of his father. Vernon always took the time to take Dudley to school. It warmed her heart to see, though she dreaded that it was likely a temporary thing.

"Okay Vernon, here is Diddums lunch, and here is yours," she said handing him the two lunch boxes. It always made Dudley smile to see his dad took his lunch as well. Vernon would likely have his eaten before the managers lunch.

"Also you must remember that we'll need to start making time in the evenings to help Dudley with his schoolwork." She smiled. Dudley chose that moment to make himself known. "I'm going to school!" he yelled.

"Indeed you are, my little dudykins is getting so big!" she said as she lifted him into a hug. "Soon I won't be able to pick you up!"

"He's taking after his ol'man. By the time I started primary I was as big as the older kids," Vernon was many things, but there was no doubt he loved his son. Perhaps even more than he loved himself. Only time would tell.

3 3