Family Time #1: Scout

Scout: Chapter 14

It was a simple operation; Step 1: melt down the Australium into its thinnest liquid form. Step 2: inject the liquid Australium into the patient’s veins. Step 3: Use Medi-gun to instantly heal scar. Problem solved. Months of recovery made possible in 5 seconds flat.

Medic had performed the ‘operation’ before Scout had even woken up. It was pleasantly surprising to find his child kneeled beside him on the couch where he fell asleep. She looked so cute in with his high school ballcap sitting slightly off center over her honey-

blonde hair. He yawned half-heartedly while he patted her head, “Hey kiddo…” she giggled ever so softly as his hand descended upon her head, “What’s so funny…?”

“He looks even better when he’s awake.” Ms. Pauling chimed from the other side of the couch. Scout turned over and noticed her holding a see-thru bag full of nail polish and makeup.

He didn’t even have to look in the mirror to know what just happened to him, “Very funny, you two. Very funny…”

Mel reached over him and gave Ms. Pauling a low-handed high five, “Mr. Heavy and Mr. Demoman didn’t mind when we gave them makeovers…”

Scout sat up and noticed the two burly men sitting beside each other blowing on their bright pink nails and struggling to drink their coffee without smudging their lipstick.

Soldier appeared from the kitchen, holding a pink hairbrush and mirror, “ Scout-Princess Melissa Sir, I thought I was next in line for a makeover!!”

“Of course you are, Soldier! Have a seat in my makeover throne.” Melissa gestured to the recliner which had been decorated with a pink sheet and sparkly pillows. She took the foundation compact from the side table and worked her magic.

Scout was completely dumbfounded by the scene. He turned to Ms. Pauling and asked, “Am I in Hell?” without an iota of sarcasm.

All Ms.Pauling could do was laugh. “She may be your child, but she is still a girl.” she sat down beside him, smiling warmly, “She showed me her Barbies earlier. They were all wearing baseball uniforms.”

“Wow. Insightful.”

“Come on, that says a lot about her personality! Don’t tell me you can’t see that.”

“Oh, I see it. That’s not the problem.”

“Then what IS the problem?”

“The problem is-!” he pulled Ms. Pauling into the hallway, “The problem is that I don’t want her to end up like me. Living in someone’s shadow, waiting by the phone for their sorry excuse for a father to finally call, to give her someone to look up to and let her down.”

“Scout…” She turned his face toward hers and gave him a soft kiss. “I know that nothing I tell you right now is going to change what you feel… but I urge you, enjoy this time while you still have it.”

That Ms. Pauling, she certainly had a way with words. Hell, she made Scout believe he was a good father, didn’t she? Technically, that’s not an opinion, but Scout didn’t believe it to begin with and now he seemed ready to turn in his application for father of the year. It’s funny how women could impact his life so much despite how little he understood them. Now that’s a real force of nature.

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Melissa had successfully beautified eight out of nine members of the Red Team; even Pyro had agreed to letting the little girl cover his mask in layers of glitter and bedazzle the rims around his eye hole lenses. The only one she hadn’t had a chance to do was Spy. She ran into the infirmary, compact brush in hand, “Mr. Spy!?” his bed was empty. She walked over to it and noticed a pile of discarded gauze and bandages, “Casimir?” the room was completely empty. Upon the side table sat Spy’s mask, one opened letter and an envelope with Scout’s name across the front.  She ran back out to the commons room and immediately approached Medic.

“Melissa, what is it-”

“Casimir is gone!”

What will happen next? Keep an eye out for Family Time #2: Spy!