Heaven, Hell, and Earth

Chapter 36

But Solomon wasn't in his study at the moment. Instead he was sitting at the center of the library, watching video tapes of the many years he had spent watching each of his children grow up. One of the perks of being the head of highly surveillant facility was that every little moment would be recorded.

"Lord I'm one, Lord I'm two." Solomon watched his younger self sing to a five year old Charlie as they were baking in the kitchen together. "Lord I'm..."

"Three!" The little girl finished.

"That's right." His younger self confirmed. "Lord I'm four, Lord I'm... "

"Five!" Little Charlie finished again. "Five! I'm that many!"

"Yes you are! Look how smart you're getting."

"Smart enough to let me use the big mixer?"

"Not by yourself. But I can help you. Come here."

Solomon watched as his younger self hoisted little Charlie on to the counter top and helped her hold the electric mixer that they used to stir the bread dough.

"Do you think Al will like the corn bread we made?" Little Charlie asked.

"I certainly hope so, it's his favorite. Just like his mother's." The younger Solomon said. "He may even like it better than the birthday cake."

The next scene he watched was of Alastor's fifth birthday party. Everyone sat at a table with little Alastor in the middle and in came Solomon carrying a cake with five lit candles. The cake was placed in front of him, everybody sang the happy birthday song, and when it was over Alastor made a wish and blew out all the candles.

"Okay Alastor, are you ready for a big slice of birthday cake?" Solomon had asked him.

But little Alastor looked at the cake in disgust and shook his head.

"You don't want to eat your cake?"

He shook his head again.

"Well then what should we do with it?"

Little Alastor then put his hand in the cake, grabbed a handful of it, and shoved the big clump of frosting right into Blitzo's face, causing everyone to burst out laughing.

Then tape switched over to the day he and Alastor taught Charlie how to ride a bike without training wheels. Of course it to be done inside the agency, specifically inside the training gym. Little Charlie had a helmet on her head and was sitting on her training wheel-less bike with Solomon standing behind her and holding her seat while little Alastor on the other side of the gym.

"I can't do this." Little Charlie said nervously.

"Sure you can!" Little Alastor said encouragingly. "If I can do it then you can do it."

"He's right honey." The younger Solomon said. "I promise you, it's not rocket science. You just have to keep pedaling like you always do."

"But what if I fall?"

"Then I'll catch you!" Little Alastor assured her.

"Okay." She said nervously. "Here I go."

Solomon started slowly push the bike and Charlie started to pedal. She focus on getting to the other side of the gym where Alastor was, and she was so focused on that goal, that she didn't notice when Solomon let go of the seat and the bike was still going.

"Charlie you're doing it!" Alastor cheered.

"I am?"

"Yeah just look! Solomon let go!"