The Bank of Second Chances | Zarry

Chapter 25: HARDware

Harry glanced over at the clock, its hands inching past noon. The washing machine in the background acts as a white noise to ease his way into the day. He sighed, turning his attention to the living room where the usual hustle and bustle of family life unfolded.

Arlo, their lively two-year-old, was in the midst of an adventure involving a pile of toy cars and a somewhat battle-worn teddy bear. Across the room, Zayn sat on the floor, busy trying to piece together a broken chair leg with the hope that a bit of glue and elbow grease might do the trick.

It was Mr. Arlo's doing, of course. The rambunctious toddler had decided that climbing onto Baba's back and then launching himself onto the chair was an excellent idea. The chair had not shared that opinion and had snapped under the sudden strain.

Flashback:

Toys were scattered across the rug that covered most of the floor, and the cheerful sound of Arlo's giggles filled the space. It was a typical afternoon when they let Arlo tire himself out so he can take a nap.

Harry was leaning against the kitchen counter, flipping through a book while keeping an eye on Arlo. Zayn was seated on the floor with a small toolbox, trying to fix a toy car that had seen better days. The scene was one of peaceful domesticity, the kind that Harry cherished in their busy lives.

"Baba! Play!" Arlo's high-pitched voice broke the quiet as he ran over to Zayn.

Harry looked up from his book, a smile tugging at his lips. Arlo climbed onto Zayn's back, his tiny hands gripping Zayn's shoulders for balance. Zayn chuckled, glancing over his shoulder. "Hey, little monkey. Be gentle, okay?"

For a moment, Arlo stood there, surveying the room from his newfound perch. His eyes landed on the nearby chair, an innocent piece of furniture that had no idea what was coming. With a mischievous grin, Arlo bounced slightly, preparing for his next move.

Harry noticed the glint in Arlo's eyes and straightened up, a mix of amusement and concern crossing his face. "What are you doing, mister?"

"Jump!" Arlo declared, and before anyone could react, he launched himself off Zayn's back, aiming for the chair.

Zayn's hands shot out instinctively, but he was a fraction of a second too late. Arlo landed on the chair with a solid thud, and the room was filled with the sound of cracking wood. The chair, not designed to withstand such an impact, gave way under the toddler's weight and splintered into pieces.

"Fuck!" Harry exclaimed, dropping his book and rushing forward.

Arlo sat amid the wreckage, wide-eyed and unhurt, but clearly surprised by the sudden collapse. Zayn scrambled to his feet, his face etched with concern as he reached for their son. "Arlo! Are you okay?"

Harry reached them first, lifting Arlo from the debris and checking him for any injuries. Arlo, almost started to cry, but when he realized he was unhurt, he started giggling again, the sound infectious.

"Boom!" Arlo clapped his hands together as if the entire incident had been a planned part of his playtime.

Harry let out a sigh of relief, a shaky laugh escaping his lips. "Well, that was quite the stunt, buddy. But chairs aren't meant to be trampolines."

Zayn shook his head, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his eyes. "This little guy is going to give us a heart attack one day."

Harry set Arlo down, who immediately started playing with a fallen chair leg, treating it like a new toy. "Looks like we'll need a new chair. Or at least some serious repairs."