The clock struck eight, and I opened my eyes to find Morgan and Paru sat on the floor with Neon.
"Go on! That's great! Good girl, Neon!"
"Aah! Ooh!" Neon was on her hands and knees, slowly moving across the carpet. "Papa! Ooh!" She reached her arms out towards me, indicating she wanted a cuddle. I could not refuse to that irresistible infant's face.
"She really likes you, Ford! She even calls you Papa. She calls us all Papa, actually. She doesn't understand families yet."
"I'll go and get more formula from the shop." I bumped into Brad on the way there.
"So, taking your family to the next level, huh? Who's the father?" Brad made an imbecilic joke, which I did not find very humorous. Much of his spare time was taken up by his cooking career, however he still somehow found time to tease people. "I'm only kidding. Congrats to you, Morgan and whatever that kid is that lives with you."
"His name is Paru, and he is in fact the mother." I slowly replayed my words back in my head, and realisation hit me. "Long story. Anyway, I must go. Farewell." I rushed off to the shop to purchase the feeding formula, and Brad was still staring in confusion.
On the way home, I warned Paru of my foolish actions.
"Good news, I got the formula. Bad news, I may have accidentally come out to Brad for you..." Paru seemed a little annoyed, but he understood why I had said those words. I was simply defending him.
"Eh. I can take a bit of teasing now and then. Don't worry about it, Ford. I'm cool with it." Paru gave me a sweet little smile.
"GET OVER HERE, GUYS!" Morgan yelled, covering the baby's ears as he called us over. "Neon just said one of our names! Go on, do that again!"
"F-Ford!" Neon clapped and got another cuddle from Morgan. "M-Morgy! Morgy! Pat-pat! Want pat-pat! Pweeeease?" He patted Neon on the head, and she squealed in joy.
"She calls you Morgy! This is so cute!" Paru squealed like Neon.
"P-Pawu!" Paru stared at her for a moment, then his eyes began to water.
"This is adorable. I can't believe this is our own child. We can play with her any time we like. I'm so happy we did this." We could all agree on this. "What could possibly interrupt this now-" We were so ironically interrupted by a knock on the door.
Brad stood at the doorstep with a box in his hands.
"I brought a present for Neon. Carrie made it for her." He opened up the box and revealed a dinky, hand-knitted blanket with the letter 'N' stitched into the middle. "I hope you like it. Also, tell Paru I totally understand everything. Okay, that's it. Have a nice day." Brad wandered off without another word. Paru was stood behind me with a faint smile.
"That was nice of him. He didn't tease me or anything. Also, that blanket is TOO CUTE!" He placed it in Neon's hands, and she began to use it for teething. "Aww! I'm so happy right now."
"So am I. Now, who wants to make some cake? You did say you wanted cake in return for giving us this child!" Paru jumped up at the word 'cake,' and Morgan lifted Neon onto the counter to help him 'taste-test' the mixture once it was done.
"So, the mixture is all together. Paru, would you like to do some mixing?" We all took turns to stir the batter, and Morgan eagerly awaited its completion. "Good news, Morgy. It's time to taste test. Not too much, though. It's obviously raw."
"Look, Neon! Yummy cake!" He dipped her finger into the mixture and let her lick it off. She seemed utterly delighted with the batter. "Good. That means our cake is up to standard if it has the Neon Approval Certificate."
YOU ARE READING
The Intriguing Emotions of Ford
Short StoryI wrote this when I was 11 don't judge me And yes I based this on Story of Seasons - Trio of Towns don't sue me :)
