Page 9 of Taking The Shot

“By showing them the door?”

“No,” Constance said aghast as Keith laughed easily this time, marveling at the witty child who had a snarky attitude like himself. “Please don’t… Keith, ignore her.”

“Sheesh,” Paige huffed, stomping off, and Kayla mimicked her sister not two seconds later. Instead of brushing it off, apologizing for bothering them, or bowing out of this evening’s plans, he simply started digging in one of the bags in his hand, handing the other to Constance.

“Do you like Chinese food?”

“Love it,” she smiled easily, nodding.

“Do you think the girls would like some new crayons, a few coloring books, and ohhh… will you look at that?” he said loudly in a theatrical voice, causing Constance’s smile to widen into a bright grin that made her entire face light up. “How did that get in the bag?”

“What is it?” she asked, playing right along.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with… with Applejack and Rainbow Dash?” He continued, trying to make his voice carry, before whispering to Constance, who was covering her mouth and laughing. “Is that right? Is that their names? You said My Little Pony, right?”

Sure enough, two miniature versions of the woman beside him appeared – one frowning and one looking at him adoringly, obviously starstruck by the new toys he was holding aloft.

“Do y’all want these? I can’t use them…” he offered, tearing open one of the boxes, and that was all it took to get Kayla to move toward him. The little girl was smiling brightly, touching the box like someone had just gifted her the moon.

“Is dat for me?…”

“It sure is,” he began gently, glancing at Constance. “Is this okay? I thought it might keep them occupied for just a little bit after dinner.”

“It’s sweet of you,” she replied and hesitated. “I’ll make our plates up.”

“I’ll cut off thousands of twist ties and rubber bands,” he frowned as he pulled out the doll from the package and hesitated. “This might take a while. Have you seen how snugly these things are fastened?”

Constance laughed, leaving him standing there with two children watching him. Keith nervously moved toward the couch which had seen better days, and noticed that there were still a few crayon wrappers on the floor. Two pairs of tiny shoes were kicked off into the corner, and a small television sat atop a dresser, almost like it was being upcycled into a console.

“It’d be easier if you undid the back,” Paige ordered and he looked up at her, watching him still.

“Do you want to help me?”

“No. You’re the adult.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t need help sometimes.”

“I’m a stranger.”

“We know each other’s names, and I’m gonna be a few getting this out of the box – but you could start on the other one… unless you want this one?”

“Ugh, no. It’s purple.”

“You don’t like purple things?”

“I don’t like you.”

“I know,” he replied easily, watching the girl as his fingers worked deftly at the twist ties holding the pony in the packaging. “I can tell, but that’s okay because I still like you – and I like Kayla – and your mother.”

“Not in that order…”

“Not in that order,” he agreed softly, realizing that the little girl was uncannily smart. “You’re right. I like all of you equally but in different ways, which is why I’m here and brought presents.”

“It’s not my birthday.”

“No, but it’s a dinner with new friends – and to me, that is reason enough to celebrate.”

“You’re weird.”

---