Charlie and I are cuddling on the couch, taking in an old Toho Kaiju movie.This is the third one in a row. I grew up on these, and Charlie has a soft spot for Mothra (who wouldn't?), so we're doing a Mothra Marathon. We've got some friends around - Candice, her daughter Anthea, and Anthea's girlfriend, Nicola. And let's be honest, we might as well have a couple of robots with us - we are riffing away like old pros.
It is nearly midnight, and the Twins are just starting their song to call Mothra, when there's a tapping at the door. Now I want you to understand that, while Charlie has many tomes of ancient lore, she is in no way weak, weary, nor do we have a bust of Pallas anywhere in the house. Just to be clear on this. But a raven calling would not be out of the question.
We do a quick rock-paper-scissors, which I lose, so I get up to answer the door. To my amazement, there is not a raven, but a boy. A young teenager. He looks well fed, there are no obvious injuries, and he seems anxious rather than scared.
"Hi?" I open.
"Um... Does, er, Charlie live here?" he asks.
"Yes, are you in some trouble?"
"Uh, no. It is just that, well, my aunty said that I needed someone to teach me, and that Charlie was the best person in town. She and my folks had a big fight about it. Oh, I'm Gavin. Gavin Jones."
"You'd better come in then. Charlie? Hit pause, please."
Gavin was clearly expecting someone else, because he looks around at everyone, and back at me.
"Nope, I'm Toby. Charlie is my wife," I point to her, "This is Gavin Jones. His aunty wants you to teach him."
Charlie looks at him, and I can tell that she's not just using her eyes. She blinks slowly, and lets out deep breath. "I see. I am Charlotte Hampstead. I think you had best just call me Ms Hampstead," Charlie says with her stern voice.
The kid is a bit startled by this, gulps, and shakily replies "Yes Ms Hampstead."
"Now, do your parents know you're here?"
"No Ms Hampstead. They had a fight with Aunty Margaret about me learning from you."
"Where do you live?"
"Just two streets over, number 12 on Short."
"Right then. You are going straight home before someone notices you're missing. Are your parents going to be home tomorrow?"
He's staring now. "Uh, yeah, I guess?"
"Right. I will call in around 2pm. I'll tell them your aunt sent me."
"Okay?" he says as a question, more than acknowledgement. Charlie looks at him. "I mean, yes, Ms Hampstead!" he corrects.
Charlie smiles, "Take care to go straight home, now. Toby will see you out."
I come back having seen the kid off. "So you're going to teach him?"
"I have to. He's like an over-full gas cylinder right now."
"And his folks?"
"I'll explain, in detail, what will happen if he's not taught. They'll agree. Now get back over here. I want to hear The Twins."
That's when Nicola asks "Do you have a working with children permit?"
Charlie swears.
#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #CharlieAndToby #IAmWriting