Counting Stars

xx5xx

"Card's lookin' good. M'sure Mrs. Irma's gonna love it."

"Think so?"

"Know so. Feelin' better?"

"Uh huh."

"Where'd Squirrel get off to?"

"Dunno."

"See now. That grin tells me different. Where's Tara?"

"Sleepin', I guess."

"Nose itching, Baby Girl?"

"Huh?"

"'Cause it's startin' to grow. You lookin' mighty suspicious-like."

"Am not."

"Nose keeps growin' like that those pretty little jaybirds I saw this mornin' might get the wrong idea."

"Speaking of jaybirds…"

"Found 'em. They's right there. See?"

"Me and you gonna have us a little talk later."

"Aww."

"Don't aww me. Know better than to let 'im out of your sight. What would you have done if Tara hadn't been 'round? Think 'bout that."

"M'sorry."

"Oughta be. Thanks, Tara. Gonna hafta start lockin' them doors."

"It won't stop him."

"Might not stop him. But it'll slow him down long 'nough."

"He's fine. Just a little wet."

"Little? Try a lot. Muddy, too. Son, where's your clothes?"

"I'll go run a hot bath."

"Not for him. Know you got plans with Glenn and Maggie."

"You sure?"

"Sure. Sink over there will do just fine. Right, Squirrel?"

"But Mama said he's gettin' too big for the sink."

"Good thing I didn't ask your 'pinion, Baby Girl."

"Said I was sorry."

"Know that. Know you ain't gonna learn nothing if I keep goin' easy on you neither."

"But…"

"What I say 'bout that?"

"Yes, Sir."

"'Sides. Ain't too big yet. Even if he is a l'il bit too big for his britches."

"What's britches?"

"Pants and I have no idea where they went. Sorry. I looked everywhere."

"S'alright. They'll turn up. Least they better."

"Hear that, Squirrel? You're gonna be in trouble."

"No."

"Uh huh."

"No, no, no, NO."

"And this? Is where I leave you. You sure you'll survive the day without me?"

"Gonna manage just fine."

"I've heard that one before. You'd be lost without me and you know it. Wait until Mrs. D gets back. I have so much…"

"Best not finish that thought."

"Don't worry. I know what's good for me. Call me if you need me."

"Won't."

"If you say so. Bye, Jaybird. Bye, Gracie."

"Bye, Tara."

"Both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Expectin' more rain."

"What time's my curfew?"

"You ain't got no…go on with you."

"C'mon. You know I couldn't resist."

"Just be careful. Alright?"

"Always, Mr. D. Hasta luego."

"Hasta eggo, Tara. Daddy, what's a curfew?"

"Got a few years 'fore you have to be worryin' 'bout that, Baby Girl."

"S'it a 'sation for another time?"

"Somethin' like that. Why don't you go get me a towel? Keep us from makin' an even bigger mess in here and I'll tell you some more of the story. Gonna be scrubbin' a while, tryin' to get all this mud off. Deal?"

"Deal."

He wakes up with that same smile on his face and keeps it there for most of the morning. It's a nice day. Bright and sunny and clear, it's still hot but lacks the oppressive humidity that usually makes summers in Georgia near-unbearable and he's thankful for that. He's got a date with a lawnmower and not just around these parts; he and Mrs. McLeod have a long-term understanding, after all.

"What's a date?"

"Somethin' you ain't gonna do 'til you're 30."

"Why?"

"Just ain't."

"But I don't understand."

"Still too little."

"Good. It don't sound fun. 'Specially not with a lawnmower."

"Ain't. S'hot. And sweaty. Dirty. Gonna need more soap. More towels, too. Swear. Bathin' Tsu was easier."

"Huh?"

"Stay still, Son. Sink ain't big 'nough to swim in."

"Daddy?"

"Yeah."

"You know George?"

"What you mean?"

"You said it was easier giving Tsu a bath."

"Did I?"

"Uh huh."

"Just meant I figured it would be. Seein' how she listens better than your brother and all."

"Uncle Merle says you didn't listen for shit when you was little."

"Don't use that word. Your mama'd skin my hide."

"What word?"

"Sounds like me and Uncle Merle are due for a talk. Don't think that means you off the hook."

"I ain't no fish."

"Naw. You ain't."

"Squirrel thinks he is, though."

"Does. Hand me that towel. We'll clean this up later."

"Rainin' outside anyway."

"Best not let your mama hear you say somethin' like that."

"But it is."

"Still."

"Can we skip George's date?"

"Don't have to."

"What you mean?"

"George skipped it himself."

The lawnmower doesn't crank, downright refuses to no matter how much he tinkers with it. He's still trying to muster up some disappointment about that when a shadow looms over him, a suspiciously familiar shadow. The wry drawl that reaches his ears a second later only confirms it, and he looks up to meet Rick Grimes's pale gaze, shakes his head.

"Guess it's a sign."

"Hey! Wait a minute."

"What's on your mind, Baby Girl?"

"Nothin'."

"Can tell it's somethin'. Know you. See the wheels turnin' in that pretty l'il blonde head of yours. Out with it."

"The man in the story has the same name as Carl's daddy."

"So? Don't mean he's the same person."

"He ain't?"

"You think he is?"

"Dunno."

"There's a Carl in this story, too, 'member?"

"There is."

"And he's havin' a birthday party."

"Well."

"Well, what?"

"Me and Squirrel want to hear more of the story. Don't we?"

"No!"

"So sure 'bout that?"

"Yeah. Know why?"

"Why's that?"

"Mama says that's Squirrel's favorite word."

"Is."

"Says it's his answer for everything. Watch. Want one of my cookies, Bubby?"

"No!"

"Ain't wrong but now you hafta share."

"S'alright."

"Don't give 'im the whole thing. Just half."

"Okay."

"S'rainin' cats and dogs out there."

"Ain't no real thing."

"How you think we got Gabby, huh?"

"You's lyin'."

"What if I ain't?"

"Silly Daddy."

"Who you callin' silly?"

"The story? Please?"

"If you insist."

They follow Tsu's example and find shelter from the beaming sun beneath the nearest tree, a tall Oak whose gnarled old branches stretch far and wide. Beneath its green canopy, he studies his neighbor and unlikely friend, takes his measure. Finally, with the barest of smiles curling at the corner of his mouth, he decides to confront the issue head on. "Usin' your kid to play matchmaker now?"

Far from denying it, Grimes just grins, rubs his fingers over his smooth chin. "Lori's idea. Not mine."

"Figured." He picks absently at a loose thread on his jeans until Tsu nuzzles her way beneath his restless fingers. "Don't see why your wife feels the need to meddle in other people's affairs."

"In her defense, Mrs. McLeod might have given her the idea. Bob, too," Grimes reveals.

"Sure neither one of 'em needed much arm-twistin'," he responds gruffly. His thumb finds its way to his mouth but he just rubs it across the seam as they lapse into silence and watch the lazy Saturday traffic. It's not much, especially considering the fact that the Monroes and Andersons have teamed up for a joint morning yard sale, but it's distraction enough. Eventually, though, his mind circles back to something the old woman had told him just the day before, something that's been bothering him ever since. "Know she's divorced?"

Grimes nods. "Not amicably either from what Lori said."

He's not one for talking like this normally, usually does his best to mind his own business, but something about this situation is different and truth be told, he has an inkling why. He just isn't ready to admit it out loud yet. "Been fightin' for her little girl ever since, too, 'til lately when her ex just wiped his hands of her completely." It was probably for the best, taking into account the other ugly rumors Mrs. McLeod had given voice to in his company, but still. "Who does that, Man? Know I couldn't." He looks over when he feels the clasp of Grimes's hand on his shoulder. It's brief but warm.

"That's what makes you a better man than most."

"Thanks," he mutters and follows his friend's example, climbing to his feet.

Tsu whines at the loss of her human pillow but doesn't otherwise make a move. She's too busy lazing in the shade, still recovering from her late night.

The sight makes Grimes chuckle. "You coming?"

"To the party?" He pulls a hand through his sweaty hair and shakes his head. "Don't know, Man."

Grimes glances to the broken-down lawnmower then back to him. "What else you got to do?"

"No!"

"Shh. Not so loud, Baby Girl. Squirrel's sleepin'."

"No."

"What you mean no?"

"Can't stop there, Daddy."

"And why not?"

"We was just gettin' to the good part."

"Makes you think that?"

"Just know."

"Got a sixth sense that way? Your mama does."

"Six sense?"

"One more than the regular ones: seein', touchin', tastin', hearin', and smellin'. Called intuition."

"What's 'tuition?"

"Tuition's somethin' I'm hopin' you ain't gonna have to worry 'bout. Intuition, well. It's knowin' somethin' without knowin' why."

"Huh?"

"Like your mama knew you was gonna be a girl. Way 'fore the doctors ever said so. And Squirrel."

"Mama knew he was a boy?"

"She did."

"I got 'tuition, too."

"You do?"

"Yeah."

"How so?"

"Know George is gonna go to the party."

"Gonna hafta wait to find out, Baby Girl, 'til I get your baby brother tucked in for his nap."

"Okay."

"Don't think I heard you right."

"Daddy."

"Just teasin'. When I get back, we'll put on some soup for supper. Ain't too hot with all the rain. Then you and me are gonna get to the good part."

"For real?"

"For real."

...

Hope it's not too confusing, my having added a couple of new voices to the dialogue. I did my best to make each distinctive and separate but let me know if they're not and I'll work on that some more next chapter.

Thanks so much for reading and keep that feedback coming if you're enjoying this story in any way, shape, or form because it keeps me going.