Felix sat on the screened porch, gently plucking the strings of his daddy's old guitar; a common thing for him to do on calm, balmy evenings.
With a tall, icy glass of sweet tea at his side, he played whatever came to him. No rhyme or reason, and nothing much in particular. He simply took his thoughts, or the moments as they went by him, turning them into little harmonies.
Eyes closed, he let the notes drip from his fingers freely, his hands only growing still when he heard the faint, yet unmistakable creak of the front door opening. Sitting upright on the bench, he turned to find two big hazel eyes staring back at him.
"Hey, princess. I thought you'd gone to bed a long time ago," he said gently, resting the guitar against the railing. "I didn't wake you, did I?"
"No…" the small girl slowly opened the screen door and stepped outside, hugging one of her favorite stuffed animals close to her chest. "I can't sleep."
"How come, sugar?" Felix asked, although he was sure he knew the answer.
"I miss Ralph," Vanellope whimpered, tears running down her rosy cheeks. This was the first time he had to leave her for more than a day or two for work, and his absence throughout the week was getting to be too much.
"Oh honey, come here," Felix extended his arms, pulling the girl onto his lap for a tight embrace when she accepted. "I know it's hard. It won't be too much longer now."
"Can we call him again? Duncan forgot to tell him something," Vanellope lifted her plush upwards for the handyman to see.
"Oh, I wish we could, Duncan," Felix frowned, taking a look at his watch. "But Ralph's fast asleep by now. He needs all the rest can get with all the hard work he's doin'."
The girl in his lap sank, eyes downcast as she held her stuffed animal close.
"That makes him sad," she said, nearly tearing the handyman's heart in two.
"Say…does Duncan like music?" Felix reached for his guitar, desperate to remedy those tears. When the girl nodded, he placed her at his side, resting the instrument on his leg. "Let's see—A song about Ralph…"
The handyman aimlessly plucked the strings as his audience watched on. Finding the notes he wanted, Felix fell into a more structured melody; upbeat and goofy. And as he continued, some words strung together in his mind. Opening his mouth, he sang them softly.
"Oh Wreck-It Ralph is a giant of a man…Nine feet tall, with really big hands—"
The girl at his side broke into a giggle. "No!" she exclaimed with a little laugh.
"What?" Felix grinned, continuing to play as he looked at her.
"Ralph's not nine feet tall!"
"Well it sure feels like it sometimes," The handyman chuckled. "Fine, fine—no lyrics, then."
As he continued to strum, Felix smiled when he felt Vanellope rest her head on his side, transitioning to a more lullaby-like way of playing the little ditty he'd come up with. And soon enough, to his satisfaction, the girl and her doll were fast asleep.