NaNoWriMo Story Snippets

36. Excerpt from "Chase" one-shot

Author's note: Based on a request about Becky's "Out of Character", where she mentioned Seth and Roux chasing each other. Subject to editing, etc.

"Mama! Mama!"

Becky managed to smile and grimace at the same time, inevitably bracing herself for the sound of a crash. Roux had apparently that since she could walk—though waddle was perhaps more accurate—she should also be able to run. That wasn't how things worked, of course, but no amount of collisions or tumbles would deter her.

"Mama!"

Roux had also recently learned how to say Mama and was determined to use it as often as possible as well. Various people had warned Becky that the novelty would wear off fast, but it hadn't happened yet. Becky's heart still leapt every time she heard it, though she wasn't sure if it was with delight or fear.

Mama! Roux didn't sound particularly panicked, and judging from the loud footfalls—Roux's small, bouncy steps and Seth's slower, patient ones—Becky knew exactly what was happening: another rousing round of chase. Now that Roux was mobile, she loved to chase anything that moved: her parents, Kevin, Darrell, toys. Taking her to Black and Brave had been so easy when she was younger, but now they had to worry about her stumbling into the path of students who were practicing or working out, so they only took her when they had the gym to themselves.

Becky stopped chopping the vegetables for dinner and pushed the knife towards the wall. Roux definitely wasn't tall enough to reach the counter yet, but chaos seemed to follow her, so Becky didn't want to risk it. She had just wiped her hands off as Roux rounded the corner, bare feet slapping the tiles. "Hi, Roux!"

"Mama!" Roux held her arms up. "Eppp!"

Eppp, as far as Becky could tell, could either mean Up! or Help! When Seth lurched around the corner, Roux ducked behind Becky's legs, grabbing handfuls of her leggings.

Seth stopped in the doorway and laughed as he straightened up. "You're going to be taller than Mama in about five minutes, silly," he said, creeping closer. "Then you'll need someone else to hide behind."