NATE
"Blug....blegpuhpuhbelg....bluuuurgh!"
"I hear you, Poo-Bear. Mummy says that exact same thing too whenever she eats an earthworm. Now spit! Ptttt....ptttt. Yay, good boy!"
Yup, dear friends. I'm now more than fluent in yet another language.
Baby babble! 😉
A splodge of goo, soil and two halves of a still-wriggling worm lands in my palm. Believe me, when I say they're not the worst things he's shoved in his gob....or mine.
Alfie tugged himself upright by my braids, helping me grab a sippy cup from the chiller bin. Sticks it in his own mouth.
"How about you chew on your binky now instead of the veggie patch, eh?"
"NO! No....no....no....NO!" Alfie's second fave word in the whole wide world tumbled out before he gulped down more cool water.
I can't believe you're even asking what his favourite is. Why it's Dadda of course! Various forms of 'Mum' slide in at about eighth spot nowadays, maybe?
"YES! Yes....yes....yes....YES!" We both giggled as I tried chasing his drippy lips with the pacifier.
Being a Mum was soooo much easier when I was bringing up a baby....hypothetically.
If he has his way? We'll go on like this for days.
But I've learnt so many tricks and sleight of hand to deceive our stubborn little stinky bum over the last few months? Well, I could have my very own magic show in Vegas 🪄🎩🐰
One major ruse is making him think he's mega missing out. Whenever he digs his teeny terror heels in.
So I stick the binky in my mouth and let out groans of pleasure. Muttley peered at me as if to say 'Whassup, Derpa....gimme some'?
Oh, Jeez....
When that tiny blondie head tilts to one side and blue eyes land on mine, narrowing somewhat in suspicion? My whole chest simply tingles with joy, pride and the purest most overwhelming love.
Alfie is his Dadda through and through.
"Bin....me bin. Peeees? "
"Sure it's yours? Because this is one delish binky. Ok, say Ta to Mum" He does, and 'bin' is reunited with its rightful owner.
Victory is mine! For a minute or two anyway.
Alfie flopped his dungaree-clad butt down in the dirt and grabbed a plastic shovel. Dirt goes flying in a frenzy as does the babble.
I keep murmuring little responses as I work....
"That's amazing, I never would've known. Really? You don't say. Noses aren't finger puppets, Poo-Bear".
In between catching the pacifier whenever it falls out of his jibber-jabber mouth. Before shoving it back in again.
My hand fumbles about to grab my own water bottle. Then, I freeze and tense up while Muttles growls softly.
We've both done the same thing so many times over the last few hours. Once again I quietly order him to hush. Stay!
My ears have recognised the heavy thump of his boots as he pushes a wheelbarrow over the cracked concrete. It comes to a halt and I peep out of the corner of my eye while he crouches down near Alfie.
YOU ARE READING
Home Is Ours ('Home Is' Book Three - Daryl Dixon)
FanfictionSemi-mature. Book Three picks up fourteen months after the last chapter of Home Is Your Heartbeat. Nate is an Aussie girl who was stranded in Georgia during the outbreak. During the ensuing years, she and fellow survivor Daryl Dixon kept fighting fo...
