The Soulless

Chapter 13

~Present Time~

We walked through the unbeaten up town that was filled with music.

Kids were throwing rocks on hopscotch games.

The elderly were throwing sticks for their dogs and knitting on their front porches.

I squeezed Brent's hand.

"One year." he said.

I felt little fingers squeeze my hand.

"Mommy can I go play with Erica?" my one and a half year old said. She was extremely intelligent.

"Ok, remember, no inside! Erica's mommy is cleaning." I instructed. She hugged my leg and I bent down and gave her a kiss.

I watched as she ran and gave a big hug to her best friend.

Her mouth opened to a smile as she waved to me. It revealed her two missing front teeth.

A tear escaped my eye, I can't believe she got so big so fast.

"Wanna go see Jimmy and Amara?" Brent asked.

I nodded and we walked to Erica's house, yep that's right. Amara is a mom.

We got their and Widget Jr greeted us with his puppy yapping. Yes, Phoebe and Widget are also parents.

"Amara can you watch Stacey for us? We have to go to the ceremony." I asked Amara.

"Ya know we were invited to that too?" she laughed.

"Right," I said through my teeth. How were we gonna get there now? Stacey is gonna be a trouble maker.

"Alright, cya there," Brent said, knowing I was at the breaking point.

"Ugh! We are only eighteen!" I screamed. I just kinda had to say that. "We shouldn't even be invited to this ceremony!"

Brent grabbed my shoulders and faced me.

"Evelyn, we can control Stacey," he announced. "She is barely one,"

I nodded and he gave me a quick peck on the lips.

"Stacey! C'mon peanut!" Brent yelled.

"Daddy do I have to?" she whined.

"Yeah Stacey. Mommy and Daddy have a big kid meeting,"

"Okay," she finally gave in. She ran to her daddy and leaped into his arms like she does when he picks her up from the bus stop.

We were in the car when Stacey broke the silence.

"Daddy you know that thing you always say when you get mad?" She asked.

"Damn it?" he asked.

"Yeah,"

"What about it?"

"Well Erica beat me in a game of tag so I went right up to her and went, 'Damn it! Why are you so fast?'"

I chuckled as I watched Brent bang his head on the steering wheel.

"Stacey," he started, "Um, mommy wants to say something,"

"Uh uh big daddy," I said shaking my finger at him, "This is your mess,"

He explained to Stacey that those were "big kid" words.

Finally we arrived.

I took Stacey out of her car seat.

We walked into town hall.

"Hey Alex!" I greeted him with a hug.

"Hey you guys!" he exclaimed. "And hello Stacey!" he said as he gave her a butterfly kiss.

We let her call him Uncle cause we were so close. He was also the mayor now because he stopped the outbreak.

"Let the ceremony begin!"