Axis

august 3rd

dedicated to mariam. don't think i didn't see those votes way back on the first two chapters. you're basically like a lil queen of wattpad and i'm honored that you're reading my story :)

        FOR THE MOST PART, Willie is an intelligent kid. He is.

        But for some reason, his brain can't seem to comprehend the art of shoe tying.

        Even after what has to be my twentieth time demonstrating the exact process, nothing seems to rid him of his confused Jell-O-like fingers.

        "Let's try this," I finally say, snatching a shoe from a very frustrated Willie's foot. "Think of it this way. You like pirates, right? One day a pirate is sailing in search for buried treasure when he finds an island. When he gets to the island, he finds an X in the sand." I pause to form an X shape with the laces. "Once he finds his treasure, he has to dig a hole and then go underground inside the hole to take it and then bring it back up." I take one of the laces and slip it inside the hole formed by the X, proceeding to pull it through.

        "To avoid getting caught, the pirate has to cover up the hole again." While I pull both laces into a knot, I glance up to make sure Willie's following.

        His gaze is transfixed on the shoe, and I take that as a sign to go on.

        "Then, when he finally has his treasure, another pirate suddenly appears and tries to steal it, so the first pirate has to run toward a mountain on the other side of the island to hide his treasure." I create a loop with one of the laces. "The pirate travels all the way around the mountain, and eventually he finds a little cave for him to put his treasure in." Finally, I pull the knot tight, hoping Willie was able to follow that little visual demonstration I came up with.

        "I love pirates! Arrrg!" he cheers delightedly.

        I sigh.

        The screeching sound of the front door swinging open suddenly saturates the air. I glance up in the general direction of the door before looking back down at Willie, who is now holding a hand over his one eye and using the index finger of his free hand to make a hook in a pirate-like fashion.

        "Hey buddy, why don't you go out back and show Mommy what you learned so far?" I suggest right as wisps of dirty blonde enter my peripheral line of vision.

        "Okay," he says cheerfully. "Hi Jathper! I'm a pirate!"

        "That's exciting, Little Man," Jasper greets, nodding his head at Willie before he bounds outside in bare feet, a sneaker dangling at his side, held only by a lace. Shrugging, Jasper slides down on the floor beside me, propping his back against the wall.

        Champ lowers herself down on the floor, crossing one paw over the other.

        "Hi," is all I can think to say.

        He sends me a curious look. "Hey." Undertones of sarcasm and a little something else that I can't quite pinpoint lace his voice. "It's beautiful outside.  Why are you in here?"

        I shrug. I don't have any viable excuses other than the weak "I didn't feel like it," but to Jasper, that's not a real answer, so I stay silent.

        Truthfully, I was hoping to stay inside all day and maybe fit in a marathon of one of those wedding shows aired on the TLC channel, or maybe read a book. I didn't want Jasper to come, even though I knew he would. He always does. But in a few weeks' time, I won't have that option anymore. It'll be just me.