A Penny For My Thoughts ~ phan

XIX

Phil

"I've tried to be a good mum. I give you all the love and affection I can. I give you a home and a bunch of buddies to play with. I give you delicious food and this is how you repay me? With a sting?"

The bee atop my pointer finger turns away.

"Thor! Look at me when I'm speaking to you."

He doesn't listen.

"Fine. You're grounded. And I'm taking away your allowance, too. And you can forget about going to Zac Efron's super exclusive, High School Musical reunion party. That's right, I went there," I taunt, laughing at my own stupid imagination. Because if there was an HSM reunion party, I would be the one going. It only makes sense.

In placing a disgruntled Thor back into his habitat I feel a tapping on my shoulder. Shaken with surprise, I bring my hand to my chest as I face a blue boy who sports a similar emotion. He's so distracted he doesn't even try to talk me into serenity. What's got him flustered?

"Oh gosh. Copper, you startled me," I confess, searching his face for any sign of a smile. "Is it time for our date already? Wow. I'm such a ditz. I don't know why I didn't bring my phone out with me." Uncomfortable chuckling ensues accompanied by a very pained looking Copper. Is it something I said?

"Yeah. Let's go," he urges, taking my arm before I can register what's going on. "You never told me you keep bees."

"Aw, are you scared of them, darling?" I ask, but he doesn't stop or even slow down. If this were a movie, his steps would falter as I pulled him back looking deeply into his eyes. My reassuring comments would be enough to fill his whole face with content. Instead, he just charges forward.

"Of course, not. I just wasn't expecting it, that's all."

I hum in understanding, speeding up my pace so as to lessen his effort.

"Besides," he adds, finally focusing his eyes on me rather than his destination. "We have a date to go on."

Like a true gentleman, he holds the passenger door open for me. Climbing into the old car used to be the easiest thing in the world. That was before an expressionless Persimmon was watching through the window.

She doesn't wave goodbye and neither do I.

¢¢¢¢¢¢¢

"Do you think they'd let me order from the kids menu?"

"I don't see why not. Correct me if I'm wrong but most kids are over six foot and need to shave every morning, aren't they?"

Playfully, I kick his shin under the extravagantly decorated table, being careful not to send the crystal wine glasses flying. It sure is intimidating dining in such a restaurant. I wouldn't be surprised if I stumbled across a back room brimming with people decked in diamonds and smoking hundred dollar bills while laughing at Money, Money, Money by ABBA. Okay, maybe I'm being a tad hyperbolic. I mean, Mamma Mia isn't even relevant anymore, right?

"But seriously, get whatever your heart desires, Phil. Order everything on here if you want. If it'll make you happy, it'll make me happy," he says, all smiles and sparkles.

"You haven't changed a bit, have you?" I observe, already starting to feel the effects of a Copper high.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Depends."

Now it's his turn to kick me in the shin. I'm sure there are people near us who would push their chairs far away from us children if it weren't impolite. I guess I haven't changed all that much either.