Little Wonders

35. A Painting

This has taken a while... I have had tonnes of college work and that is why this isn't the greatest chapter! So I apologize! I will update when I can, which'll hopefully be just before Christmas with a special festive chapter.... :D

 35. A Painting

Darren ran out of the classroom towards Jackie who was picking him up that day.

“Granny!!” He yelled as he jumped into her arms.

“Hello sweetheart,” She smiled as she placed him back on the ground. She knelt down to his height. “How are you?”

“I’m okay!” Darren said as he looked around. “Where’s mummy and Daddy?” He asked, looking disappointed.

“There at work love,” Jackie informed Darren as she stood up and took his hand. They began walking round to the Year 3 classroom where Tony would be waiting for them. Darren had started school in September and had settled into reception really quickly. And he was learning fast. His reading and writing had improved and he had made quite a few good friends.

“Oh, why?” Darren questioned.

“Well, they are having a busy day today and asked if I’d pick you up,” Jackie said, looking down at the young lad. John and Rose were at work and had been very busy today. They had been sorting out all these car crashes that were happening due to a couple of aliens.

“Oh, I wanted to show mummy my painting,” He sighed as they approached Tony’s classroom.

“What did you paint?” Jackie asked.

“Mummy and Daddy,” He said as Tony came running out of the classroom.

 *

“MUMMY!!” Darren yelled as Rose walked into the living room of the Tyler household. Tony and Darren had been watching TV since they had both got home.

“Hey spud,” Rose smiled, crouching down to hug her son. “Have you been a good boy?” She asked, looking up at Pete who was stood behind Darren. Pete nodded before Darren replied.

“Yeah!!” He beamed. “I painted you and Daddy a picture today,” He said suddenly.

“Did you? We’ll have a look at it when we get home, eh?” She suggested as she stood up. “Go and get your stuff then,” She gently nudged him in the direction of his stuff. “Hello Tony,” She smiled sitting down next to her brother.

“Hey Rosie,” He smiled, looking up from the TV. “Where’s Uncle John?” He asked, looking around.

“He’s waiting in the car,” She said. “He’s a bit stressed out, upset with work,” She sighed. She was as well, they were getting nowhere with the car crashes. Innocent people were dying and they couldn’t even catch whoever was responsible for them… and they were pretty sure that it wasn’t human.

“Oh,” Tony sounded disappointed.

“Don’t worry though, you’ll see him soon, it is nearly Christmas after all,” Rose winked. This made Tony smile again.

“How’s school going?” She asked.

“Okay, my teacher says I’m really naughty tough…” Tony mumbled.

“That’s what your report said Tony,” Pete said, informing Rose of the situation. “It just said you need to try and stop getting into arguments.”

“Darren got his report the other day, everything was brilliant,” Rose sighed as the young boy she was talking about came back into the room.

“Mummy!” He called. “I’m ready!” Rose turned her head to look at Darren, he now had his shoes on, his coat on and his book bag in his hand. She leant towards Tony and pecked his cheek.

“See you soon Tony,” She said standing up. She said goodbye to her parents and then walked with Darren out to the car.

“Hiya Sport,” John sighed from behind the wheel. However his voice wasn’t as joyful as normal – although he was trying.

“Hello Daddy,” Darren said cheerfully as Rose helped him put his seat belt on.

“How was school?” He asked.

“Really good! I painted a picture of you and mummy!” He informed.

“Did you?” John tried to sound excited. “We’ll have a look when we get home, and maybe… it just might go on the fridge.”

However, the trio stopped off at a fish and chip shop for tea and by the time they got home, Darren had to read his school book and have a shower before going to bed. And after all this had happened, he had almost completely forgotten about his painting.

“Good night Darren,” Rose said as she flicked off the small boy’s bedroom light.

“Night mummy,” He mumbled, half asleep. Rose pulled the door to an almost shut and walked down the stairs. She walked into the living room to see John spread out on the sofa.

Rose lifted John’s head and sat down so his head was in her lap. They began talking over the day’s events; Rose was messing with John’s hair. However they had not even been talking more than 5 minutes before the sound of pounding feet came running down the stairs.

“I forgot to show you my picture!!!” Darren yelled as he pulled himself to a stop. John raised his head and broke into a smile.

“Go on Sport, go and get it then and we’ll have a look,” He told his son as he sat up. When Darren came back with his painting John lifted him onto his lap. Darren handed him the picture. John took it and smiled at it, nodding his approval before showing Rose.

“Wow Darren! That’s really good!” Rose smiled as she looked at it. The painting was just two stick people that had been painted in green paint, one woman and one man. They were both supporting green eyes and green smiles except the woman had yellow hair and the man had brown hair.

“It’s you and Daddy!” He told them proudly.

“Well Darren,” John smiled, his joyful voice back. “This is defiantly going on the fridge!” Darren clapped.

It took seconds for them to all be stood round the fridge. John took the painting from Rose and took a magnet that held a picture of Darren inside on his first day of school. And it was with this magnet that he placed the painting on the fridge.

“And there it’ll stay,” John smiled hugging his son.