little king | agere

one. rolly-polly

wiping the mud off his face, king moves from his frog-like position on the grass, examining the different bugs through his magnifying glass.

although his khaki trousers were now mud-stained and his blonde hair tangled with sticks he was having the time of his life 'bug-searching' with his father.

"dad! look what i found! a rolly polly!" the boy points at the log where the rolly-polly bug crawled.

his father comes running, pulling his camera from against his chest and snapping a perfect picture of the blonde boy's favourite bug.

"a perfect picture!" his father exclaims, showing the screen to the smaller boy, a gasp in return.

"what a pretty picture! it shows his legs!" king squeals excitedly at the thought of putting that picture into his 'bug book' he had kept since a child.

"it does, son! what do you think about heading home and printing this out?" his father pulls a twig from his hair and pats his back to encourage him to stand up.

"mhm!" king hums, picking up his bug gear and throwing it into his brown backpack, along with some leaves he found interesting and his journal.

#

"daddy?" king calls to his father from the living room, curious as to when their dinner will be ready to eat.

"almost, son! it's just cooling if you'd like to come sit!" he responds, and a glimmer appears in king's eyes. dinner time was his favourite time of the day. his father made him the best meals and never disappointed.

today he was expecting homemade mozzarella and basil pizza, with a potato salad side, his favourite.

sometimes they'd find ingredients on their daily forest walks, and they'd wash them together and bake or cook food. he loved spending time with his father in the forest more than anything else.

shame he was going away.

"daddy, how long will you be gone?" king sighs as he slides his small frame onto the wooden dining chair.

"not too long, king. three weeks, at most." he nods his head, the frown on his face upsetting the boy.

"i'll miss our forest walks" king says, and his father nods.

"me too, son. but as soon as i'm home they will return, maybe we will go camping, would you like that, king?" he excitedly asks the 18-year-old.

"i would love that, dad!" king exclaims, his hands fidgeting from the excitement mixed with his adhd.

he never needed friends growing up. his father was always his best friend. it was king and his dad, against the world. he was always, different, per se.

he wasn't the same as the other children and so in return his father decided on homeschooling as his best option. he never disagreed, king loved that he'd spend every day with his father, his best friend.

although, sometimes he'd get lonely. in the dark nights when his father would be sleeping in the next room, king would stay awake and wish for a friend, someone to take with him and his father to the forest, someone to catch bugs with and play on the wooden swing set his grandfather built him as a small child.

he knew better than to overthink, but sometimes he couldn't help it.

he picks up a slice of the perfectly cooked pizza, blowing it slightly and eating it, a lopsided smile on his face as he chewed.

after swallowing, he complimented the food. "perfect!" he squeaks, the compliment satisfying his father as his smile shows his perfect white teeth.

"who will be taking care of me while you're gone, dad?" king curiously asks the man.

"a friend, delilah, she's twenty-eight years old and seems to have a lot in common with you. she won't be sleeping here every night, but during the day and until you're in bed she will watch over you as well as cook with you. is that alright with you, son?"

"that's perfect, i can't wait to meet- delilah. she has a pretty name dad!" king giggles, finishing off his second slice of pizza before pushing his plate aside and sliding off his chair.

"i'm all done, my tummy is full!" king smiles proudly, rubbing his tanned, exposed stomach. it was too hot to wear clothes so he'd resided in shorts since he'd gotten home from his adventure.

"okay king, grab your plate and put it in the sink and then head to bed. i'll tuck you in now, it's getting late." his father replies, a mouthful of food.

"mkay"

#

he throws the covers over him and his stuffed, nameless lamb, a smile on his face as the warm sheets envelop him.

his father squeaks the door open, walking in and sitting on the worn-out rocking chair placed next to his bed.

"i'll sing to you tonight, if that's okay king?"

"mhm!" king hums, half asleep.

twinkle, twinkle, little star.
how i wonder what you are.
up above the world so high.
like a diamond in the sky.
twinkle, twinkle- little star,
how i wonder what you are.

"little king.. don't ever let your crown fall." his father whispers to him as his heavy eyes fall.