Page 36 of Back to You

“Why are you so needy?” Michelle asked the toy.

“Are you still there?”

“No, have some pride!”

“Uncle B, where’s Uncle E?” Riley said.

“He’s at work, kiddo.”

“He works a lot.”

“Yeah, he sure does,” Brandon murmured.

“Why is he working so much?”

How do you explain childhood trauma and a desperate need for security to an 8-year-old? Brandon settled on, “He’s trying to get a promotion — a better job at his firm.”

“Cool. I hope he gets it soon, I miss him!”

“Me too, kid. Me too.”

After the kids were in bed, he and Michelle plopped down in the living room with glasses of wine and the misbehaving vacuum cleaner.

“I’m sure it can be fixed,” Brandon said, peering cluelessly into the vacuum’s innards.

“Yeah, but how?”

“Hm. Let me check all the hoses and whatnot, that seems doable.”

Brandon took a slug of wine before gingerly pulling at various hoses and pushing the roller about ineffectively. Michelle just watched apathetically, slurping her wine.

“Maybe if I just beat on it a while?”

“Seems legit.”

Brandon smacked the housing for the roller a couple of times, then plugged in the vacuum and tried it. “Fuck me, that did it.”

Sure enough, the cursed appliance was running effectively.

“Fucking masochist vacuum,” Michelle grumbled, watching her delighted brother vacuum her carpet.

Finally Brandon got bored of vacuuming and sat back down.

“Did I see Ethan in the cafe the other day?” Michelle said.

“You did. He stopped by for coffee and kisses.”

“Not putting that on the menu.”

“How about you, any word on when Steven will be home?”

“At least a couple more months,” Michelle said sadly.

“I’m sorry. This deployment has been a long one.”

“These men of ours, right?”

“Yep.” The siblings clinked glasses together in a somber toast.

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