The Bright Side

Chapter 6 - Part 2

TRISTAN

We're sitting in Sky's kitchen today, eat crisps and browse through some magazines. There's a lot of bustling about at the front door and as it opens a crowd of kids suddenly fills the room. There are only two kids, really, but the ruckus they make create the impression that there are more. Sky gets up and swoops up the two little ones and sits them down on the stairs in the hallway.

"Hey, Adam." He's the one that hit his face on the swing at the playground. Sky peels the boy out of his jacket and unties his shoes and pulls off the first one, chucking it behind him towards a pile of shoes of all colours and sizes. "Now the other foot."

Adam stretches the same foot out again with a cheeky grin and starts giggling as Sky tickles it.

"Again." Adam wrinkles his toes and Sky plays along for a while.

"Now, other foot."

Adam sighs and lets Sky take off the other shoe. "Now off you go." He pokes Adam's side and he runs off.

"Your turn, Josh." The boy is older, maybe six and looks exactly how I would picture Sky to have looked at the same age. Dark hair, intense blue eyes and even his temper seems to be similar. He's quiet and earnest and dignified, which is a strange thing to be at that age.

"I can do it myself." Josh's voice is angry, as if Sky had embarrassed him by assuming he needed help.

"Of course you can. Silly me." Sky ruffles Josh's hair and Josh smirks.

The door squeaks again and there's Sky's Mum with a baby on one and groceries in the other arm. She's about forty and I can see who Sky got his good looks from. She's tall and although there are laughter lines everywhere, she looks young. She looks like the female version of Sky. I guess that's why people stare at his face all the time, trying to catch a glimpse at who his father might be. No chance though, his genetic material seems to not have been able to compete against his Mum's.

"Hey, there little Rosie." Sky takes the baby and then pretends to drop her. "Ooops, got you."

Rosie is laughing and I can't see Sky's face hidden against her chest, but I suspect he is grinning as well. I'm so impressed how easily he gets along with kids.

"Hey, sweetie." Miss St. Cloud's... Mrs. St. Cloud's... oh well, her voice is melodical and she smiles at Sky. "Who's your friend?"

"That's Tristan, Mum." He sits back down next to me, his sister on his lap.

"Hi, Tristan. Nice to meet you. I'm Sharon."

"Hello."

I find it unbelievable that this drop-dead gorgeous woman had seven children and raised them all by herself. She looks like she belongs on a red carpet. And she knows it.

"No, Rosie. Those are mine." Sky bends Rosie's fingers to free the packet of crisps from her slobbered hands and pushes it to the far end of the table. Too late though, Rosie is already chewing with a rather delighted expression on her face.

"Cokie!" Rosie shrieks and points towards the crisps. "Moh-moh!"

Sky shoots a side glance at his Mum and as she's not watching gives Rosie another one. She shoves it in all at once and squeaks with pleasure.

"Do you have your results yet?" Sharon asks the fridge as she puts the expendables in.

"Yeah." Sky rearranges his beanie and his face becomes blank.

"And?"

Sky gets up and carries Rosie to the window, his back to me.

"I passed."