Curiosity and the Remains of Us

Chapter Six

Carrie opened the door to her son's bedroom. It was still early in the morning, she didn't know if waking him was the right thing to do. She got in and then she knocked.

"Derek baby," she whispered. "Are you awake?"

Derek was still asleep. He turned and twisted in his bed, a small bundle of cuteness and happiness.

Carrie stood at the doorway. They had planned together and time wasn't by their side. She waited for him.

He turned his head towards her. His eyes were still shut and he had his palm over them. He began to open them slowly as he stretched and yawned.

"Mummy," he opened his arms to her when he was fully awake.

Carrie's heart swelled. "Good morning, my angel," she went in and hugged him tightly. Then she kissed him on the lips and ruffled his blond hair.

"Do you know what day it is today?"

"Uh-huh," Derek nodded with a grin. "Fun day!" he cheered in the most adorable sleepy voice. Then he tilted his head to one side with a frown. "It is fun day, isn't it?"

Carrie laughed. "Yes, it is," she pinched his cheek playfully. He giggled and fell to the bed laughing.

"Now, let's get you ready."

"We are going to have the best time!"

Carrie Brownson was a thirty-year-old single mother of one. She lived with Derek, who was her only child, in a fine bungalow house. Her husband James had died months after the birth of their son.

The delivery wasn't as easy as she expected, though he was a very small baby. She had a lot of seizures before labour and after twenty-two hours of work, she had to be kept in the labour room for an extra two hours because of bleeding. But as soon as she looked into her son's brilliant blue eyes, she knew everything was going to be okay.

After her husband's death, Carrie was distraught and she felt all alone. Nothing stopped her from grieving. She wanted nothing more than death but when she looked at her son; he brought peace to her. His shiny, blond hair was like a crown over his head. His blue eyes, his soft, pink cheeks and his colourful personality were heavens sent.

Carrie knew her husband was in her heart but whenever she looked at their son, she knew he had to be in him too.

Derek was a big boy at five. He loved to dress himself up, eat by himself and play by himself. He didn't have many friends and it scared her as a mother. He was too weird and detached for a kid his age.

He got out of his room with a big smile on his face. He was such a happy child. He wore blue shorts, a white T-shirt, red coloured boots and a yellow cape.

He looked like a rainbow.

"Mummy!" he yelled and posed in front of her. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful!" Carrie clapped dramatically. "You're adorable. My pretty boy."

Derek giggled.

Carrie got on both her knees and hugged him. "My superhero," she put her hand in his hair. "You've grown so much."

"Mum," he pouted, taking her hand off to pant it softly. "It took me a long time to get it laid."

"Sorry," she apologized even though it was already messy. She held him and they both walked out together.

The sky was a bright shade of blue and the sun sparkled in one of the most stunning yellows.

It wasn't a long drive to the amusement park. They arrived within minutes. Carrie found a parking space and cleared.