“Shimmer…” It sounded near yet distant… the lower tone and gentle grip on her shoulder felt just the same but she was comfortable and her tired mind struggled to awaken from the soft hold and shake.
“Hey Shimmer, kiddo, are you gonna get up?” Getting up… She really didn't want to get up right now, now when the chair was so comfortable and she was having a decent dream of green fields and games yet the shaking became more firm which coaxed a groan from the golden and fiery-haired girl.
With exceptionally bad accuracy, she moved an arm out to push the figure near her away from her so she could return to sleep. Making out everything else that was said was difficult but the loud shutting of a door was obvious to her.
With an exasperated sigh, the figure that tried to awaken her looked through the rolled-up window with a small smile. “Alright kid.” They said to themselves. “I’ll let ya rest. God knows ya need it after whatever the hell you went through.”
Quietly, the person put the key into the keyhole and turned it to lock the door before they turned around to the large store where they had parked the old truck. The store's large grey bricks that were blended with brown ones were tall and the large blue board where the name of it hung affirmed their location when they began the trek across the asphalt and parked cars toward its automated glass doors.
This person--Buck--fumbled in their coats pockets as they came closer and quickly pulled out an old notebook and pen to double-check their grocery list and once he ascertained what all was needed, he put everything back and pulled a phone out of the pocket next. It wouldn't hurt to call one of the kids and see how they were as he shopped and he couldn't care any less about what anyone else may think about a random person talking on their phone in the store. A few button presses later and his phone began to ring as he stepped past the blowing fans at the stores front and he rose it to his ear.
The first words that the older man heard when their recipient answered melted their heart. “Hey, Dad!”
He chuckled warmly as he took in the voice of his youngest girl who he took in a few years ago, SeaBreeze. “Hey, munchkin. How's the fort?”
The cheery voice of the young girl rang clear through the device. “It's great! Fauna made pancakes today and Solstice played with me!”
“She did huh?” He asked rhetorically with a bigger smile. “And Solstice played with ya too, eh? What’d you play?”
“Legos!”
“And Connect Four!” Another slightly deeper voice--which could be assumed to belong to Solstice--called. “As well as Minecraft!”
“Yeah!”
“Do you want to send some photos of what you built today then?” Buck asked. “You're always playin’ that or--” he was cut off by the excited voice of the child.
“Yeah --yeah! Hold on!” On the other side, a child no older than twelve scrambled with a to in hand to turn on a game console and tried to boot it all up as quickly as she could. On Bucks end: he simply picked up a package of Lunarbucks Iced Coffees and loaded it in the cart before he continued on, mumbling something about getting peanut butter before the phone pinged a few times. “Sent!”
“I’ll be sure to look at ‘em when I can, kiddo.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” He said honestly. “Now, if you don't mind, would you hand me over to aunt Fauna?”
“She’s not home right now.”
“She’s at work then, isn't she?”
“Yep! She’ll be home soon though!”
His smile quirked down a bit. “Munchkin, I’ll be leaving soon. Could you hand me over to your… brother so I can tell him to pass along a message please?” He asked with a hesitant attitude.
SeaBreeze was little and her ‘brother’ so to speak wasn't related to her in the littlest amount since he was also a stray. Then again, nobody was related to anyone in his family except for himself and his little sister Fauna.
He should really stop taking in random runaway children now that he thinks about it.
…
Nah. He loved them all.
“Alright, Dad!” The chipper voice chimed through.
He could still hear their infectious joy held within the tone. He didn't mind letting it affect him one bit to refill his lost happiness. “Thanks, kid. Love ya”
“Ahuh! Love you too!”
With the interaction done, he focused on finding the next aisle as the small child passed the phone on to Solstice.
A new voice breached the speaker and came through, now more clear than the distant shout from before. It was low but not incredibly; it belonged to Solstice and was slightly tense. “Yeah, Buck?”
Bucks smile turned into a fond grin. “Hey, other kid.” He greeted easily. “How’s it all goin’ over there? Everything okay?”
“Yeah yeah, why’d you ask?”
“Just wondering about ya. Wanna make sure you’re comfortable and stuff. Is school still working out for ya?”
The small topic of conversation was welcome to both. The recipient seemed to relax as conveyed by his more relaxed tone. “Mhm. I’m passing everything and your sister’s pretty patient with me.”
“What about you and that guitar?” He inquired.
Solstice let out a disappointed sigh. “I dropped the practice…” he admitted shamefully. “Sorry.”
Part of Buck was a bit sad but he couldn't blame him. Guitar was difficult to get into. “Oh no kid, you’re okay. It’s hard to learn without a teacher, and while Fauna may be a good listener and may be good at homeschooling, she’s pretty terrible at guitar.” he said to attempt to lighten the mood.
A titter came through this time and that sadness laced with worry went away with the exhale of his nose. “Yeah. You're basically total opposites.”
“That we are, but we do have some shared hobbies.” He reminded him.
“You mean that boxing thing you two do?”
“Yup. Ever since we were teenagers.” Buck told him.
“Huh… would you uh… Do you think you’d be down to give me some lessons when you get back then, Buck?”
“If it's what’d make ya happy then I don't mind at all kiddo.”
“Cool.” There was a brief pause and the other thought of what to say. “When’ll you be back by the way?”
On Bucks end, he shrugged. “Three days probably if I take it easy, but I could knock it down to two.” He answered. The crash of him loading a few more things into his cart echoed slightly. “Do ya want anything from the store, by the way, Solstice?”
“If you can find some pocky’s over there then I’d like some if it's cool.”
“I’ve got the money. What flavor? You like strawberry, right?”
“That I do. I'm surprised you remembered.” Solstice said.
Buck scoffed while he held the phone in his shoulder and fumbled with his notebook while writing it down. “I’m not that forgetful.” He said with a laugh.
“Sure you are, old man.”
Chuckling now, Buck shook his head and closed the notebook. “Yeah yeah, you’ll get old too.” He told him. “Anyway Solstice, I gotta git. You take care of SeaBreeze, ‘kay? You're doing great if what I heard today’s anythin’ to trust.”
“Thanks. I’ll be sure to. Take care and drive safe.”
“You too kid. See ya soon.”
A beep from his phone signified the end of the call and once his pocket was stuffed with his device, he realized something.
‘I'm a darn idiot…’ he thought, suddenly coming to a stop. ‘I said you too… not just take care. The kid can't even drive!’ Now it was his turn to groan as he facepalmed and let out an elongated sigh. “At least he’ll probably forget by the time I get there.” He mumbled as he resumed his quest.
Item after item was loaded into his cart and several pocky boxes were purchased by him for the kids. His sister liked them as well which is why he got a few extras, and, hell, if Shimmer enjoyed them then she could have one too. Speaking of the girl, he’d have to check up on her.
He quickened his pace and checked his list a few times as he walked and grabbed what was needed until he came to a self-checkout. As fast as he could, he scanned his items and paid then rolled the lettering cart onward across asphalt and back to the truck where he pocketed a few things and unloaded everything else into the back.
The slam of him shutting the door after getting inside rocked the vehicle from the force used to pull it shut, and the girl--who’s hair kind of looked like bacon--wasn’t disturbed at all. She was all wrapped up by herself and leaned back on the old seat.
‘Hopefully’ Buck thought as he started the truck. ‘Hopefully, you’ll feel safer here or wherever you're going.’ After watching her for a few more moments to assure that she was okay, he pushed the gear into reverse and turned around to reverse out of the parking lot. As he drove out, he reminded himself to look at his daughter's weird creations when they reached a stoplight.