Dandelions

Chimney Han

Edited 29/10/2025

---

Chimney opened the door with his usual grin, the kind that made it hard not to smile back. Elle squealed in Buck's arms, tiny hands flapping at the sight of her cousin Jee bouncing excitedly behind him.

"Hey, Chim," Buck greeted with a soft smile. "Thanks for having us."

"You kidding? Maddie's been prepping for this all week," Chim said, stepping back to let them in. "She reorganized the toy bins. Again."

Buck laughed. "Color-coded by educational value?"

"Obviously," Chim deadpanned. "We live in fear of Buckleys and their clipboards."

Buck shifted Elle higher on his hip, the house smelled faintly of coffee and lemon cleaner, sunlight pooling across the floor. He stepped inside and set Elle down, she was off immediately, all wobbly legs and determination. Jee, queen of the toy corner, spotted her and grinned, handing over a bright blue block without hesitation. Just like that, they were in in their own little world.

He followed Chim into the living room, where the floor was half-covered in toys, a few blocks already stacked and toppled in equal measure. Chim leaned against the couch arm, watching as the girls sat on the playmat surrounded by a rainbow of blocks.

Jee sat cross-legged on the playmat, pigtails uneven, and her expression was all business — the same look she got when tying her shoes or trying to figure out how gravity worked. "We make house," she announced, slow and careful. "See? Like dis."

She stacked two blocks, nodded like she'd just completed a masterpiece, and waited for her cousin's approval. Elle squealed, lifted a green block high, and smacked it onto the floor — nowhere near the tower.

Chim snorted.

"She's trying," Buck defended his daughter with a snicker.

"I can see that," Chim replied, smiling as Jee patiently retrieved the green block from Elle's grasp and tried again.

"No, no, here, El," Jee said, lips pursed in concentration. "Up, not mouth. Blocks go up."

Elle blinked at her, then broke into giggles, clapping like the whole situation was hilarious — which, honestly, it totally was.

"She's patient," Chim commented proudly.

Buck grinned. "Of course, she is! Jee is Maddie's daughter, after all."

On the mat, Jee guided Elle's hand to stack another block, her focus intense enough to make a surgeon proud. "Good job, El! You builded!" she cheered, bouncing on her knees.

Elle squealed in response, flapping her arms in excitement — and, of course, smacked the whole thing sideways with the enthusiasm of a baby Godzilla.

Blocks tumbled across the rug in a clatter of color.

Jee froze, and for a second, no one moved. Chim held still on the couch, waiting for the tears to start. But instead, Jee's mouth twitched and she started laughing. Buck felt his shoulders relax as Elle joined in, giggling so hard she almost fell backward.

"You smash it!" Jee said between giggles, her eyes sparkling.

Elle squealed again, diving for the mess like that had been the goal all along.

Chim let out a deep sigh. He glanced at Buck, who was watching the girls with a soft expression that said more than words ever could.

The girls were already rebuilding. Jee handed Elle a block like she was teaching a class. "No smash, okay? Nice hands."