His laughter filled the small appartment place as his feet raced across the living room. His father hot on his heels, his mother's laughter filled the appartment as well as she sat on the couch watching the duo run about.
"Dammit Benjamin! Get back here." His father's voice spoke as the boy had ducked under the table. His body small enough to fit as his father passed by the table. Laughter continued to echo around as the boy was snatched up.
"Hey no fair!" The little boy's voice echoed across the room. His eyes landing on the woman who had picked him up. His mother who had wore a bright and wide smile. The boy had smiled back just as wide.
"Perfectly fair, come on time for a bath." The woman spoke as she had continued towards the bathroom while the boy rested his head in the girl. His eyes watching as his father had stood arms crossed.
"I can't believe I passed him." The man states as his mother had laughed.
"Don't worry Anthony, he's a slippery one. Come on time for a bath then we can watch that movie okay?" His mother spoke as the boy wore a bright smile. As the night had continued on they sat together squished in the two seater couch. His head rested against his mothers arm as his had a blanket tossed over him.
"Are you ready for bed Benji?" His mother's voice calmed him, his eyes looked up as he shook his head.
"No. I'm gonna -" the boy cut himself off as his eyes drooped low. Slowly closing as he head drifted off into a peaceful slumber. He hardly stirred when his mother moved him to his own bed.
***
They had been celebrating his birthday, a picnic out in the park. Kids had been dancing and laughing around playing tag. Benjamin had climbed up to the top of the slide. His arms up as he slid down escaping the boy chasing after him.
"Hey no fair you went down the slide! I'm going to catch you Benjamin." The boy's voice called as Benjamin had taken off running. It was something that he found even as a young kid he loved to do. He had been off into the fields easily out running all the children as he had laughed.
"Can't catch me! I'm too fast." Benjamin had called back as he had continued to run. His legs carried him much further then he had thought. He stopped just outside the forest edge, his eyes stopping on the figure in the distance.
"Look Adeline we won't find Jessica's hidden stash out here." His eats had picked up on the conversation as he slowed started behind the two blondes.
"Rose she told me it was here. I mean it's moms things, don't you at least want that stuff?" The girl he assumed was Adeline spoke turning around as she spotted the boy. "Looks like we've got a tailer." The girl spoke as the other blonde turned back.
"Hey kid, go back to your games. Nothing here to concern you." The one who was Rose spoke as she shoed him with her hands. Leading the boy to turn around heading back to the picnic where his parents had waited for him.
"Alright Benji ready you go? We're all pack -" His mother's words stopped as she looked up to the now raining sky. "Looks like it's really time to go." The woman spoke with a laugh as she took her son's hand headed back for the car.
***
The accident was far worse then anything she had seen. Her hands had pried the door opened as she had stopped the lump in her throat tightened at the look of the boy, the way his body was protected by his mother.
"Rose the ambulance are - that's the boy from earlier." Adeline spoke as Rose had pried the boy away from the mother. Her first instinct was the check on the boy. Her fingers pressed lightly to find the pulse.
