Every time you make a move

Two Drifters

"And promise that you will do everything that your teacher says?" Monica was crouched down to her son's level as she began to comb his bangs neatly.

Johnny squinted in the morning sunlight and nodded reluctantly.

"Good boy... and when it's time for lunch, you will eat all of your crusts from your sandwich before you open your freddo chocolate bar?" She adjusted his backpack straps before fixing the collar of his polo shirt.

"So many rules!" Freddie walked out, still in his slippers.

Monica scoffed playfully, "We want them to leave a good impression."

"Well, they better behave for the teacher because they certainly won't behave for me" he grinned and put a cigarette in between his teeth.

"Oh, you're both chilly," she noticed Roshni shivering a little, for her gingham dress under the sweatshirt with the school logo went just below the knees, and Johnny was in a pair of grey shorts as part of the uniform regulation. "I have just the thing upstairs."

"Phoebe, get the picture now, would you?" Freddie ordered as Monica slipped inside.

His assistant nodded and held Monica's Polaroid up to his face, "Alright you two, stand closer together"

"Johnny, hold your sister's hand" Freddie muttered, stepping out of frame as they shuffled closer.

"Eugh!" He wrinkled his nose.

"Johnny?" His father pressed sternly, and the boy reluctantly did so.

Phoebe chuckled, "much better. Now don't forget to smile..."

He captured the duo standing proudly hand in hand on the step of the front door, Tiffany sitting in the doorway washing her paws.

"Don't forget to take your lunch box with you at all times... and your juice is in your back pack" Phoebe kindly instructed Roshni as he handed her the metal tin, and she nodded as her fingers slowly curled around the plastic handle.

Freddie's breath hitched as he took a drag. Four years went by very quickly, and although they were only heading to the reception class (they would need it with the time out that they'd have to take throughout the year) it still pained him that his day job meant he couldn't be there when they came home with something new to tell.

He was relieved that they weren't being whisked off to boarding school like he was, and he was aware of how lucky he was to be there on the morning of their first day of school. It was such milestones that used to make him question ever becoming a father all those years ago.

"She better tell me all the details over the phone" he thought.

Monica emerged with two garments in her arms, "This used to be our Sunday overalls that belonged to your Uncle Lenny and I when we were around the same age as one another."

"Coats? Where did we get them?" Freddie lifted his head.

"It's a gift from Granny Patsy... she's very kind and thoughtful to have posted them to you both... they might be a little big yet, but I'm sure they'll keep you both warm."

"That was nice of her... even if the woman can be a bit of a witch" he remarked to himself slightly.

"What a charming little coat," Phoebe opened the pink one up for Roshni to slip her short arms into. "How old were you when you had it, Monica?"

"I was about six, so much older than they are," she buttoned Johnny up. "But my mother held onto it since then and kept them in safe storage to avoid them getting moth-eaten."