dope critters:
- [[*user ]]
Joseph opened his eyes, shifting in bed to look at the clock. A red '7 AM' glared back at him.
Sighing, he continued to stare, feeling his body decompress, his mind at ease as minutes passed in an instant, and—
There was a murmur from the crib behind Joseph. He sat up, feeling his eyes watering as the baby began to wail. Rushing over, tears began to flow freely down his face, his mind plagued by the contagious emotions of the child.
"Come on, Julie, I'm here, I…" Picking her up, he coughed a lump out of his throat and held her close, rubbing her back with his trembling hands. "You're okay, you're okay…"
Joseph's sobbing began to slow as Julie calmed down. Setting her down, he wiped the tears from his eyes. When he looked into the crib, she was giggling. And he just couldn't help but follow along.
"When you're happy, I'm happy, alright?" Joseph sniffled, small giggles escaping his lips. "When you're happy, I'm happy…"
Joseph looked out to the glimmering horizon of his island, letting out a sigh. For some reason, he always felt more alive at sunset. Maybe it was the darkness. Or because Julie was asleep.
A mental checklist popped into his head. Boxes, fixing the kitchen plumbing, burning the trash… living on an island sucked.
But at least it's safe for her, he thought.
Time passes, the child is a few months older now. Joseph is working on maintenance for his new house on an island, which he bought using the money earned from a lawsuit to the hospital after his wife died during pregnancy, and also unpacking a few boxes. He pulls out a framed photo of a girl, his wife, and throws it away. Needs to stay strong for the baby, he thinks, and he goes to check on her. He suddenly feels at peace, watching the baby quietly rest.
The island is different. For the child, it's good. She hardly ever cries, but they can never really go out to anywhere else. Joseph is still unpacking, and he finds a scrapbook. Sitting outside, he flips through it, seeing old pictures, and he starts to cry tears of his own. He just wants to have a break for once. And then, the mailbox, which is covered in moss, makes a noise. Curiously, he opens it, finding a letter.
One of the hardest things about being an adult is undoubtedly when you decide to have a child.
Not only do you have to wait months for it to be born, but you also have to care for it, all while juggling a job or other important commitments.
And worst of all, sometimes your child just isn't, well, normal, which just makes it infinitely more challenging. How are you supposed to keep a teleporting kid out of trouble?
Well, you're lucky, because we at Silverleaf Daycare are here for you! And even better, we're completely free!
We know how challenging it is to have a strange child, we really do. In fact, our founder, Savanna Silverleaf, had a kid who could sneeze fire. They now work at Silverleaf, helping others just like her.
That isn't to say that tips aren't appreciated, however. We've got to make some amount of income!
Please, if you are interested in our service, simply stick this letter back into your mailbox. We'll ready to help at the drop of a hat.
Sincerely, Silverleaf Daycare
He wipes his tears away, feeling a flicker of hope, and after thinking, he puts the letter back in.
Joseph relaxes on the island shore, and a boat picks him up. As he stands looking at the sea (lake?), he feels his own emotions. Emotions of happiness. ANd the weight upon him is lifted.