Gonzales

21

It was on this particular afternoon that Luca and Aurelio decided to go for a ride on their bikes. The sky was a brilliant blue, perfect for an adventure. Luca, ever the responsible older brother, was keeping a watchful eye on Aurelio as they pedaled through the neighborhood, passing immaculate lawns and grand houses. Aurelio, however, had other plans. His little bike darted ahead, the breeze catching his hair, as he raced down the street, not a care in the world.

Aurelio as usual, a force of nature. Pedaling furiously, his little legs trying their best to keep up with his older brother, he was full of boundless enthusiasm. His eyes darted from one thing to the next, his attention shifting like the wind. And that's when it happened. Out of nowhere, Aurelio spotted it—a large, inviting mud puddle in the middle of the sidewalk. Without even a second thought, he veered his bike toward it, his grin widening with the excitement of the discovery.

Luca, who was older and wiser, had enough self-control to slow down, but he couldn't help but chuckle at his brother's antics. "Aurelio, don't—" he started, but it was too late. Aurelio, in a fit of giggles, threw himself into the puddle, splashing mud everywhere.

"Ha! Look, Luca! I'm a mud monster!" Aurelio laughed, kicking up the wet dirt around him. His joy was infectious, and Luca couldn't help but smile, watching his younger brother revel in his mess. It was a sight that Evelyn would definitely not approve of, but for Luca, there was something endearing about Aurelio's ability to find happiness in the simplest things.

"Well, I guess I'll just let him have his fun," Luca muttered to himself, not minding the mess as much as his mother would.

After a while, the two brothers decided it was time to head home. Aurelio, now thoroughly covered in mud from head to toe, shivered slightly in the cool breeze as they made their way back. Luca gave his brother a sympathetic look, knowing what awaited them at home. Aurelio was still giggling, oblivious to the mess he had made.

As they reached the front door, Aurelio's eyes lit up. His daddy, Alessandro, was sitting on the couch, reading a book and looking up at them. The sight of his father was enough to make Aurelio forget all about the mud, and he squealed in excitement. He immediately started to run toward him, arms outstretched.

But just as Aurelio was about to make a beeline for his daddy, Evelyn's voice rang out from the door. "Stop, Aurelio! Don't make a mess in the house!" she called out, her tone light but firm. She didn't like the idea of mud all over the living room floor, especially after she'd spent the morning cleaning.

Aurelio froze, his tiny hands still reaching toward Alessandro, and turned toward his mother with wide eyes. Evelyn, seeing her son's disappointed face, softened just a little but still shook her head. "You know the rules, sweetheart," she said gently, but Aurelio, being Aurelio, pouted and wiggled his arms in the air.

Luca, ever the one to back up his little brother's antics, stood there with a playful grin on his face. He gave his mother a casual shrug and said, "He only lives once, Mom. Let him be."

Evelyn shot him a look, but Alessandro, ever the calming presence, looked at his wife with a raised eyebrow and a small smile. "Let him have his moment, Evelyn. He's just a kid."

Before Evelyn could respond, Aurelio tugged at Luca's arm. "I'm cold," he whimpered, his face scrunching up slightly as the chill of the air hit him, mud clinging to his small frame.

Evelyn softened a little at her youngest's plaintive voice and stepped forward, her arms opening as she bent down to scoop Aurelio up. "Come on, sweetheart, let's get you cleaned up," she said, her voice warm. She cradled him gently in her arms and turned toward the hallway.

"I got him," Evelyn added, though she gave Alessandro a pointed look as if to say, "You know I have to do this."

Alessandro nodded , standing at the doorway nodded, watching as she took their son down the hall to his room.

The sound of running water filled the house as Evelyn prepared a quick bath for Aurelio. The little one, now wrapped in a towel, settled into the tub, his shivering form slowly relaxing into the warmth. He loved bath time, and though Evelyn had refrained from using bubbles, Aurelio soon found the joy of playing with the small ripples of water, giggling and making little splashes that somehow managed to get the walls wet.

After a while, Evelyn finished cleaning him up, gently lifting him from the tub and wrapping him in a soft, fluffy towel. She rubbed him dry as he wiggled in her arms, his hair damp and falling into his eyes. "There we go," she said, brushing his hair back from his forehead. "Nice and clean."

Aurelio let out a satisfied sigh, his usual post-bath energy returning as he jumped off her lap, eager to run and cuddle with his daddy. His small feet padded down the hallway, his excitement growing with every step. He dashed into the living room, eyes scanning for Alessandro. There he was, lounging on the couch, looking at peace.

Aurelio's face lit up with an enormous smile. He ran straight for his father, ready for the warm embrace he always received after a bath. But just as he was about to jump onto the couch, Marco, his older brother, intercepted him with a teasing grin.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Marco said, holding Aurelio back just as the little boy reached the couch. "You can't just take all of Dad's attention."

Luca, ever the playful one, joined in the fun. He shifted dramatically toward Alessandro and began pretending to snuggle up to him, resting his head on his father's shoulder with a smirk. Aurelio, standing there in his towel, looked at the two of them with wide, confused eyes. He wriggled in Marco's grip, clearly wanting nothing more than to snuggle up with his dad.

Aurelio's lip began to tremble, the sadness of being kept from his daddy creeping up on him. He pushed harder against Marco's arms, but the older boy just chuckled, holding him firmly.

"No, Aurelio," Luca teased. "He's mine now. I'm snuggling with Dad."

Alessandro, sensing his youngest's distress, with a gentle, yet firm hand, he nudged Luca off the couch and stood up, his voice calm but authoritative. "That's enough, Luca," he said, pushing him slightly to the side. "Marco, let go of your brother."

Marco, seeing his father's stern look, released Aurelio with a shrug. The little boy wasted no time, running straight into his father's waiting arms, the sense of relief evident on his face. Alessandro lifted him up, cradling him against his chest with a soft chuckle. "There we go. All better now, huh?"

Aurelio snuggled close to his father, his little arms wrapped around Alessandro's neck. He sighed contentedly, his earlier sadness forgotten as he nestled into the warmth of his daddy's embrace. Alessandro, smiling down at his youngest, ran his hand through Aurelio's damp hair and said, "I think you've earned all the cuddles today, little one."

Evelyn watched from the doorway, her lips curving into a small smile. "You're a softie, Alessandro," she teased, but her voice held no real reproach. She knew how important these moments were, these little acts of love that kept their family strong.

As Aurelio snuggled further into his daddy's arms, the house felt peaceful again. The whirlwind of the day had settled into a quiet warmth, the bonds of family gently pulling them together in moments of simple, unconditional love.