Atom Heart Motherfuckers

Moving Day pt. 9 - "Untold Stories of the ER"

    "Do you mind passing the red crayon, Arthur? I think I'm going to add some poppies to my field." Syd requested.

"Okay, just give it back when you're done, I gotta color in the stripes of my T-Rex." Arthur replied as he continued to scrawl across his paper, sitting on the ground. After an extremely competitive game of tag, Syd had managed to calm down all three siblings, something their mother had seemingly never been able to do. She detested having to see her beautiful children become corrupted by this man, who was peculiar and bizarre. She wanted to take her children far away, but even she had to admit that she had never been able to placate her children. It had been over a decade since she had truly experienced peace and quiet, and being able to not have to think about keeping her children under control was immensely relieving. The four continued to quietly draw together happily, until one of the doctors entered the room.

"Barrett, Roger Keith?" One of the doctors asked, he held a clipboard in his hand as he scanned around the room.

     "Oh well, that's me. I have to be going then. I had fun with you all though!" Syd somberly sighed as he stood up.

     "What? Noooo! You can't go!" Arthur complained. His sister looked up from her drawing as well with a pout on her face.

    "Can't you stay Syd? Pleeeeeeaaaaasse? Pretty pretty please with a cherry on top?" Sophie sulked.

    "I'm really sorry guys, but I have to go. We've been playing for an hour and a half. I'll really miss you all."

    "Aw man." The youngest boy mumbled.

     "Promise you'll remember us? We really liked you." Arthur sniffled.

    "Of course, here, you can have my drawing. It's all of us together in a prairie of wildflowers. I know how much Sophie loves dandelions." Syd offered. This seemed to cheer him up a bit.

    "Why don't you take my drawing too? I made my dinosaur turquoise and red, just like your shirt." Arthur stated while offering it to Syd with both hands.

    "Of course. Tell you what, once I get home, I'm going to frame it and hang it on the wall so I'll never forget you."

     "I'll never forget you either. I'll miss you. A lot. You're not like most adults I know."

    Syd bent down and ruffled Arthur's blonde hair with a smile. "Hey, you're a cool kid. Remember that, Arthur; really cool. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

    Rick walked over to Syd. "Well then, are you ready to go?"

    "Yeah," Syd walked away but turned back to Arthur, "Goodbye."

    "Bye-bye Syd!" Arthur chirped.

    "We'll never forget you!" Sophie added. "Say goodbye, Pip." She held her youngest brother's hand, shaking it back and forth in a little wave. Pip opened and closed his hand in a little farewell. Syd waved back as he turned around and walked toward the doctor.

"Good afternoon, I'm Dr. Quintrell. Would you mind following me?" He motioned them into the back. Walking with them, he looked at Rick quizzically. "Are you hurt as well? I only need to treat the injured party." Rick thought quickly on his feet, he refused to leave Syd by himself. Last time that they split up, it did not end well.

    "Uh, yes, Syd's only seventeen, I'm his older brother." Rick lied. He hated lying, but these were dire circumstances, Rick would do anything to stay by Syd's side and make sure he was safe. They had travelled all this way and he refused to quit now.

    "Okay, come along then." Henry led them down a hallway into one of the exam rooms. "Would you mind taking a seat?" Syd sat on the examination table, crinkling the paper as he sat down.