Inspired by Aliceinwhummperland's Whump Words of the Day: "Whatcha doin' on the floor there, champ?"


Part One

'Whatcha doing on the floor there, champ?'

Five-year-old Scott opened his eyes to see his Mom kneeling beside him. She had that look on her face that he knew meant he was upsetting her, and he tried to smile, but it didn't feel right. Instead, his bottom lip began to wobble and the water in his eyes spilled over.

'Scotty? What's wrong my little man?'

The only answer he could give was a sob, and immediately Lucy lay down beside him and pulled him into a gentle hug.

Scott melted into it, clinging tightly as hot fat tears fell and sobs shook him. Eventually he was all cried out, and he let his Mom pick him up and the two of them sat on the sofa together.

'What's this all about, Scotty?' Lucy asked, tenderly wiping his face. He turned wide wet eyes to her and she felt a jolt of pain as he whispered to her:

'Why don't you and Daddy want me anymore?'

Scott hiccupped and more tears fell. He didn't understand the expression on his Mom's face and he looked down to his lap as he began crying again.

'Oh, sweetheart, of course we still want you! Your Daddy and I love you very very much.'

Lucy wasn't sure whether to pull her eldest in for a hug or not, suddenly he looked and felt fragile and she wasn't sure what would be best. Or even why Scott was acting like this.

'Th-th-then why are you sending me away?!'

The words were wailed, and Scott solved her conundrum for her by throwing himself at her, once more sobbing.

But Lucy knew what the problem was now. She waited out the crying before seating Scott properly on her lap and wiping away the remnants of his tears.

'Oh honey, did you think we were sending you to school because we didn't want you?'

Scott nodded glumly. Lucy pulled him in tightly and kissed the top of his head.

'Your Daddy and I will always, always love you, no matter what. But you have to go to school and learn all kinds of things so you can grow up and be a pilot like your Father is.'

'Did - did you and Daddy go to school?'

'We sure did, champ. Everyone does.'

Scott contemplated his Mom's words. If his parents had gone to school maybe it couldn't be all that bad.

They had been talking about Scott's upcoming schooling every day, hoping to excite him and prepare him for it, but maybe they had been a bit overwhelming. Lucy stifled a sigh.

'Tell you what, why don't you go help Johnny get ready while I pack some sandwiches and get Virgil and we can all go to the park?'

Scott's eyes lit up and he immediately wiggled out of her arms and set off, all thoughts of school and upset forgotten as he charged up the stairs calling for John as he went.

She smiled after him as she picked Virgil up out of the playpen. She'd have a word with Jeff tonight and they'd tone down the enthusiasm and leave off talking about school for a couple of days.

Part Two:

'Whatcha doing on the floor there, champ?'

Alan opened his eyes to see his eldest brother standing over him, a worried look on his face. He sniffed, attempting to stop the tears from falling. It didn't work.

'Hey, hey, Alan.'

Scott's soft voice preceded arms gently encircling him and lifting him up, and Scott sat on the couch with Alan on his lap. In turn, Alan latched onto him and cried harder.

Making soothing sounds like he remembered his Mom doing for him, Scott gently rocked back and forth, waiting for his baby brother to be able to talk.

Eventually the shudders stopped, and Scott loosened his hold so Alan could lean back a little.

'Why don't you want me anymore?'

Alan hiccuped and more tears fell. He didn't understand the expression on his Scott's face and he looked down to his lap as he began crying again.

'Oh, sweetheart, of course I still want you! I love you very very much.'

Scott felt the stirring of a memory at the exchange and suddenly he knew what to do.

'Th-th-then why are you sending me away?!'

He waited out the fresh wave of tears before drying Alan's face.

'Oh sweetheart, did you think I was sending you to school because I didn't want you?'

Alan nodded glumly. Scott pulled him in tightly and kissed the top of his head.

'I will always, always love you, no matter what. But you have to go to school and learn all kinds of things so you can grow up and be an astronaut like John will be.'

'Did - did you and John and Virgil go to school?'

'We sure did, champ. Everyone does.'

Alan contemplated his brother's words. If Scott had gone to school maybe it couldn't be all that bad.

Scott saw the moment Alan's mind changed, and he recalled what his Mom had done for him.

'Tell you what, Al, why don't we spend the day at the space museum? I could make some sandwiches…'

He chuckled as Alan's eyes grew wide and the five-year-old wiggled off his lap, yelling at the top of his voice that they were going to the Space museum.

This was going to be an excellent day.