Brothers

Saying Grace II

“And don’t come back until you get everything!” and with that final phrase said, Sarah threw the two out of the apartment, Alfred holding Steve close to him as he landed flat on his butt. The wooden door slammed shut behind the two. Alfred sighed.

“Remind me to never get in the way of a woman doing housework,” the uncle spoke, groaning slightly as he looked down at his nephew with a nervous look. The nine year old snickered lightly before nodding his head in agreement.

To put what happened bluntly, Alfred was being an idiot, as usual, unfortunately. See, he agreed that he would pick up everything needed before he arrived at the Rogers’ apartment. But alas, he showed up, empty handed. And with Sarah being a very busy woman for this holiday and making sure that everything wasclean and presentable, she got, well, pissed.

“Let’s see…” Alfred held up a small slip of white lined paper that had neat script writing in the form of a list.

                - Turkey
                                -Gravy
                                -Potatoes
                                -Stuffing
                                -Carrots
                                -Beans
                                -Yam
                                -Apple Cider
                                …

The representative read the list, eyes skimming over the neat handwriting before sighing exasperatedly. “Alright,” Alfred broke the silence with his voice and then looked over at his nephew. “Let’s get going.” He scooted the boy out of his lap and then stood up, grabbing Steve’s hand.

“But, Uncle Al…” the two were already walking towards the elevator. Alfred didn’t stop. He merely looked over his shoulder at the boy. The nine year old continued. “All of the stores would be closed today! There’s no way…”

“Boy, there’s gotta be at least one store open today.” The uncle cut off his nephew as he pressed the “1” button on the side of the metal doors.

Steve swallowed. “You sure?” the metal doors opened with a DING! The two then stepped inside and then turned around, facing the doors.

Alfred chuckled lightly at this before looking down, smirking lightly. “When has anything ever gone wrong, Stevie?”

There was then a pause. The doors began sliding closed. Alfred then looked down at the boy again, this time with a bit of a skeptical look. “Don’t answer that.” The metal box’s doors than joined at the middle and the elevator began its descent to the main lobby.

~*~

The walk was peaceful. No one besides the uncle and nephew were out on the streets. Dull gray clouds covered the sky above while the icy blanket of snow covered the crosswalk and roadways, leaving patches exposed here and there. Alfred walked alongside the blonde boy, hands in his leather jacket pockets and staring off into space. His blue eyes then trailed down towards the boy who was wearing a knitted cap with matching mittens and a big, poofy, winter coat.

Then, out of the blue, Steve began running forward. The representative’s eyes widened and his mouth opened to say something, but he didn’t have the chance to speak. It took a second or two later, but the blonde boy stopped running and gradually came to a halt, by a snow bank.

Steve turned around, revealing that mischievous twinkle in his eyes that Alfred knew all too well what it meant. He wouldn’t…

“S-Steve,” the representative nervously uttered into the cold air. His breath became a translucent puff of air in the winter’s sharp breeze that seemed to cut in between the two. The boy knelt down and grabbed a handful of snow, now carefully forming it into what seemed to be a snowball. Alfred gulped when he realize what the youngster was up to. The adult laughed nervously. “Are you-”