Always an Asteroid

Thai Dinner

 Third Person POV

2008

The moving van had just arrived outside of the Blackwell residence when James and Autumn were throwing the last of their McDonald's lunch into the garbage. The van's engine could be heard from down the street and James let out a large sigh of both relief and resentment as he let the paper bag slip out of his fingers. Autumn was quietly sitting atop one of the bar stools that was much too high for her to climb onto by herself. She was facing the island, with her favorite picture book held firmly in her grasp. By this time, she was mostly reading chapter books, but this one was one she insisted upon keeping.

It was one she had gotten from her mother, back when her mother didn't have diagnosed cancer and wasn't staying in the hospital a good majority of the time. Autumn was too young to fully understand the concept; she just knew that Mom was sick and that she spent a lot of time coloring with the nurses in the third-floor lounge. Not that she minded, they gave her candy and plenty of brightly colored crayons to choose from. James remembered the day they pronounced his wife dead quite vividly. It's not one of those things you can live through and forget, especially not when you have a then six-year-old child.

That night at the hospital was beyond excruciating and driving back to their seemingly empty apartment with Autumn wailing her little lungs out in the back seat didn't make it any better. James had to have one of the nurses explain to his daughter exactly what was happening; he couldn't keep it together long enough. Now to avoid having to stare at everything that reminded James of Mary, the van was there like an angel with large wings to carry them away from all their worries.

James smiled before looking over at Autumn saying, "come on honey, it's time to go". The moving company started to flow around their apartment, picking up the boxes that were scattered everywhere.

"Is this that big adventure you told me about?" Autumn asked.

"You are correct pumpkin! You're so smart, you know that?"

"I know Dad," she smiled as James grabbed her off the bar stool so she could stand on her own two feet.

James grabbed Autumn's empty hand as she shifted the book from across her chest to under one arm. They took one last look around their kitchen and headed out the front door, climbing down the stairs to reach the sidewalk.

"Bye house!" Autumn called, having turned to face their apartment complex, and let go of her dad's hand to wave at it. Her dad smiled with a twinge of sadness in his eyes as he saw his daughter bid her childhood home goodbye.

They waited a bit longer, with James helping to carry some boxes to pass the time, and soon they were ready to head off on their next big adventure. The pair climbed into the car that was parked in front of the moving van and James started the engine. He ran his hand through his bright red, curly hair before gripping the gear shift like he would never let go. His daughter, with her matching, but slightly longer hair peered out the window as they pulled away, not completely aware that they were never to return to this house as its residents. The drive out of their neighborhood was relatively quiet, mostly because they were trying to make sure the van was still following closely enough behind them. The wind brushed past the car, carrying the clouds along above them. The radio was playing The Beatles' Rubber Soul album at a low volume; it was one of James' favorites.

"Are you excited to see the new place sweetheart?" James asked as he spared a quick glance in his daughter's direction before turning his attention back to the road.

"I guess, but I don't really understand what the big deal is? Why did we need to take all our stuff with us?" she sighed.

"Well honey, we're going to be on this adventure for a long time, and you didn't want to leave your toys all alone did you?"