Shore Leave

How to Make a Family

August 26th, 2010

Ailis was really hoping that she wasn't fumbling everything. Their date with Mia had gone great a few weeks ago and their family time together had been going amazingly. They went to the science museum and it was a gift every day getting to spend with the two of them. The two people who made her world turn. Ailis had felt like her life was completely stagnant until she saw Mia again. It was a relief that the other woman felt the same way. It was the week before school started and they were going to get one last trip in: a family day at the zoo. Ailis would never get tired of family days, and this was no different as she excitedly got herself up and dressed before messing over to Mia's house. Today was also the first day they were gonna be meeting Sea Monkey, her squat, probably overweight pit bull she'd adopted from the shelter shortly after moving here.

"You ready, bubba?" She asked him, the dog let out a happy borf as she grabbed his collar and leash. She was a little nervous, but only because he was a big dog and Mors was still pretty small. Hopefully, Mors wouldn't be afraid of him. Sea Monkey was a good boy, lazy and useless as a guard animal since he was under the impression that everyone wanted to be his friend. Ailis made sure to grab everything she needed to leave him in Mia's backyard, mainly his bed and water bowls. Mia's house didn't have the tallest walls, but the goofball couldn't jump anyways. "Let's go, fatty!" She called, leading him out of the house and loading him up into the car. She got in as well, grinning as she cranked the engine and started making her way over.

The small brownstone home felt like it brought all of the color and warmth back into her life when she pulled up to it, smiling widely as she arrived to pick up her girlfriend and their son. Ailis had never been the type to believe in soulmates or true love, didn't believe that there was someone out there for everyone. At least she hadn't until Mia had found her way back into her life. Beth thought she was crazy with how she was acting, but she couldn't bring herself to care as she threw herself into this relationship. She walked up the cement path lines with some flowers and stepped onto the porch, Sea Monkey waddling next to her with a happy sneeze. She knocked a few times, shifting on her feet and patting the dog as she waited for one of them to open the door and wondered what madness she'd walk into this time. The door flew open, Mors standing on the other side with a wide grin.

"Woah! He's huge!" Mors said, eyes wide. Ailis felt Sea Monkey's tail hit her leg. "Mom's here and she brought a hippo!"

"Hey, buddy!" Ailis smiled, giving him a hug and ruffling his hair. "Don't worry, he's big and friendly. Mors, meet Sea Monkey. Sea Monkey, friend," he lot out a grumbling bark, stepping forward and sniffing the little boy before licking his face, making Mors giggle in delight as he started petting the dog.

"He's stinky! He smells like Fritos!" Mors laughed.

"Good! You're a perfect match!" Ailis teased as they started walking inside, Sea Monkey's tail whipping around as he happily followed Mors. "A stinky dog for a stinky boy!"

"Nu uh! Mom, tell mom I'm not stinky!" He shouted in the direction of the kitchen. Ailis swung by the back door, pulling Sea Monkey's bed down. He followed the bed, flopping on it and looking around.

"Where is mom?" Ailis asked her son, reaching down to pick him up.

"In the kitchen," he answered, holding onto her. "Why aren't there dinosaurs at the zoo?"

"When you're older I'm gonna show you a movie that answers that exact question, buddy," she joked and ruffled his hair. Mia was packing a few snacks away in her backpack, making sure they had everything. "Hey, beautiful! Need any help?"

"No, I think I'm good. Mors has been wrestling with me about the sunscreen. I have a face stick and the spray on the table, if you could help him put it on?" Mia asked. Ailis nodded, swinging by her to kiss her cheek as she grabbed them.