"Semi-Short Stories" [ Story Collection ]

Only One Way [] 6/14 []

Wendy was at the age where she could be left mostly unattended as long as she was in the house. Carwyn had helped her with her homework, turned on cartoons for her, and went to his bedroom to work on his own homework. He checked on her periodically and hadn't been concerned when he heard a knock on the front door and Wendy shouting that she'd get it - Leslie was on his way home, so it was safe to assume that it was him knocking. It's happened before.

"Why, hello. Who might you be? Leslie's daughter?"

"I'm Wendy. My daddy is Carwyn. Who're you?"

"Oh, really? That makes me your Grandpa! Can you let me inside?"

"Daddy says I'm not allowed to let strangers inside."

Carwyn didn't hear the door closing, which alarmed him. He moved from his desk to his door and before opening it, he heard a voice that he recognized.

"But I'm not a stranger, I'm your Grandpa."

The young adult had rushed from his bedroom, around the hallway corner, and scooped his little girl up into his arms. His expression was an even mix between fear and fury. It's just himself and Wendy at home. "Please leave."

"Daddy, is he my Grandpa, or is he lying?" Wendy looks up at her father innocently. Her unruly red hair is tied in a cute bow at the top of her head.

"Carwyn! Hi, son. How have you been?"

"Wonderful. I've been wonderful. Please leave." He doesn't register Wendy's question.

"This is your daughter? She looks so much like Leigh, don't you think?"

Carwyn holds her protectively, pressing her face into his shoulder. "Please leave."

"I just want to talk to you."

"Talk? Okay. We can talk. Outside." Without looking away from the man at the door, he lowers Wendy to the ground and speaks quietly to her. "Wendy, I need you to go to your bedroom, and lock the door, okay? Daddy needs to talk to Grandpa for a minute. I won't be long."

"So he is my Grandpa."

"And he's not the nicest Grandpa, so I need you to do exactly as I asked. Can you do that?"

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah! Yeah, I'm going to be just fine. Now, go." He stands, patting the girl's shoulder to usher her towards the hallway. He glances from Martin long enough to glance behind him and see Wendy looking over her own shoulder as she heads for her room. He offers a reassuring smile to her and she looks away. He waits for the click of the lock before stepping outside with his father. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I only wanted to ask how you're doing, that's all. You and your brothers and sisters. How are they? Are you all doing well?"

"Yes, we're all doing just fine. What do you really want?" He sounds a lot more confident than he feels. He thought after all these years, he wouldn't be intimidated by seeing his father. Of course, he imagined he'd only ever see him behind bars. He notices that he's grown taller than him. Martin's hair is grey. He looks every part a grandfather, but the feeling he gives off is nothing like how one should feel around their grandparents. Wendy will not be allowed near him.

"I'd like to come inside and properly meet the granddaughter I didn't realize I had. How old were you? She looks too big to be yours."

"She's not my biological daughter, if that's what you're asking. And you're not meeting her. Ever."

There's the sound of rocks crunching beneath a heavy weight. Tires. A dusty black car is pulling into the driveway, the driver stepping out as soon as he'd switched the gear to park. This man looks like an older version of Carwyn and a younger version of Martin.

"Leslie! Oh, thank God you're home." Carwyn's facade began to crumble, enough to be noticeable before he was able to stop it. A smile creeps onto Martin's face.

"Les-" Martin opens his arms to greet his son, getting halfway through his name before almost stumbling backwards to the grass. Leslie had sent his fist flying towards his face in greeting.

"Carwyn. You should go inside. I'll handle this."

Martin is struggling to get up. From this point of view, he looks frail and old. Carwyn almost felt bad for him. He nearly offered him a hand to help him up. But before that could happen, something hits the old man in the head. A yellow, foam bullet with a blue rubber tip.

"That's what you get!" Wendy is standing just outside the door, Nerf gun held securely in her hands. Martin, now able to sit up, grabs the bullet and looks at it. There's another grin on his face. A second bullet whizzes just past his ear when he tries to stand.

"Wendy, I said to stay in your room." Now that Leslie is there to protect them, Carwyn didn't hesitate to turn from Martin and face the house. As he went to take a step in the same direction, his feet are swept out from under him and he also lands on the grass. There's a scream and the little girl comes running full-speed from the house, waving her toy gun in the air and sending it hard onto the older man's grey hair.

"Don't touch my daddy!

Leslie took hold of Wendy, lifting her in the air and away from her grandfather. With the child in his arms and his body in front of Carwyn, who is getting to his feet, Leslie looked down at the man whimpering in pain and rubbing where a knot was sure to form.

"Leave, or get shot. Your choice."

"Don't you think we should call the police?" Carwyn, now standing, takes his daughter from Leslie and holds her tight. She doesn't argue and wraps her arms around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder. She hit the bad man. Her job is done and she did well.

Leslie gives Carwyn a look, which Carwyn understands as, 'I'll handle this.' Carwyn looks down and takes a few steps back. He didn't want to be too close, but he didn't want to leave Leslie alone.

"Are you going to leave, or do you choose the second option?"

Very slowly, Martin manages to get to his feet. He doesn't say anything more. He gets into a car parked on the side of the road, a car which looks shockingly expensive, and drives away. The three of them watch, Wendy having turned to watch. When he's gone, she turns to her dad.

"Did I do good?"

It's a difficult question. Carwyn gives a smile and cradles her against his shoulder again. "Thank you for protecting me, but next time stay in your room."