Page 41 of Myths and Shifts

Three boxesandhot dogs hungry.

“Food. Yes.” Daddy forgot all about Wren being naughty and kissed my forehead. “We got distracted by a naughty boy.”

A naughty, giggly boy.

“Are you hungry, Daddy?” I could hear his tummy rumbling, so I knew he’d nod. “Do you want mac and cheese?”

I was a good distracter person.

“I’m starving.” Daddy held my hand as he opened the door. “What else should we have with it?”

Veggies?

“I…I have green beans, Daddy.” That made him smile as he closed the door behind us. “I have hot dogs. I have a cucumber. I have chicken too. And chicken nuggets.”

Daddy chuckled as he sat me on the bed. “So chicken and chicken nuggets are two different things?”

“Yes.” Everyone knew that. But it was okay that I had to tell Daddy. “And chicken strips are different too. And dino nuggets.”

Nodding, Daddy picked out another fancy suit and started moving around the room. He was fast but he liked his fancy clothes and he kept frowning about what to bring. “I can understand your logic but I might have more questions.”

Daddy liked questions.

“I like talking to you, Daddy.” He liked listening to me, so we were good mates. “I’ll explain.”

“Thank you.” Daddy walked by and kissed my head. “I like your explanations. You don’t make me guess what you want.”

“I have to tell you what I want or you can’t give it to me. Not yet.” We’d have a good mate bond. I knew it. “Later you can read my mind.”

Daddy snickered. “I think you’re going to be a mischievous boy with our mate bond.”

Giggling made me look naughty but I couldn’t help it. “I was good during the meeting, Daddy. I didn’t send you naughty thoughts or pictures or even put my hands in silly places.”

I’d been sooo good.

Daddy tried to look stern but he chuckled. “That was very good of you, but I’m expecting you to continue that tomorrow as well.”

Maybe.

Kenzie didn’t look like he’d been behaving, so I wasn’t sure I had to.

“Are they going to keep telling stories tomorrow, Daddy?” That was much more important to talk about. “They had good ones today.”

Daddy sighed as he came back over to the bed holding a fancy shirt and another pair of his nice pants. “You and Wren have a very good point about the stories, so tomorrow we’re going to focus on magic we know will work, keeping the portal safe, and making decisions about what to do next.”

“That’s not as fun. I liked stories.” But Wren was right. We needed coloring books and more wiggle time. “Is Kenzie going to bring more cake?”

I liked cake too.

“I don’t know how to answer that without disappointing you.” Daddy shrugged when I sighed. “I know. So I’m just going to say that I hope you have fun tomorrow and that we find you good snacks.”

I was going to hope for cake.

“You can have fun too, Daddy.” Daddy needed fun. “Do you want to color? We can get you gummy snacks.”

They made me happy.

Daddy grabbed a little bag and made a happy sound. “Do you like gummy snacks? I have to admit I don’t like the weird flavors. I just like the regular ones. Wren likes weird flavors and keeps trying to share.”

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