To Allan
He imagined worst case scenario But the one thing Allan didn’t imagine was that a three year old Charlie in Liz’s hand, and an eight year old Don over in a corner playing army with Ian an seven or eight year old to and Colby a six or seven year old and in the other corner where two girls Amita who was five or six and the one he thought to be Nikki who was seven or eight. Charlie woke when he heard don yell ‘DADDY’ the three year old stretch around trying to see where his daddy was then he spoke his first word since he turned into a toddler “DADDY” he yelled almost dropping his passi but didn’t and tried to get out of Liz’s arms who just about dropped him, she let him down and he ran over grabbing Allan’s leg “we go home now daddy” the toddler said to Allan grabbing his hand, trying to drag him and Allan who had the look of shock on his face. He picked up his youngest son and checked him over not a scratch and this toddler did look a lot like Charlie when he was younger and the eight year old did look like Don when he was younger but there was no way that could of happened right he wasn’t sure he could take care of a three year old genius and an eight year old alone just when he was about to speak he heard a voice a familiar voice a voice he hadn’t heard in a long time say “Allan what is going on” his heart nearly leapt out of his chest with hope, fear, and all else turning with the three year old in his arms he saw Margret. “Allan where is Charlie and where did that baby come from” asked a now very confused Margret as she saw an eight year old don she noticed him because she remembered thinking how much he looked like his father at that age seeing pictures of Allan at that age and seeing pictures of don side by side “Donnie?” she asked. Don hugged her “can I go play with my friend’s mom” asked Don. “Yes you can Donnie” Margret said very confused and then noticed the toddler reaching out for her from Allan’s arms “Allan what’s going on why are our children so young that is Charlie isn’t it” asked Margret setting down the sack of food and taking the now wailing and screaming toddler from Allan and started to rock him gently back in forth “shhh.. Shhh… Shhh… shhhhh” she said kissing him on the head. “Maggie how what when” questions where jumping out at him all at once he settled for a statement which was a true statement “it’s good to see you” said Allan hugging her. She smiled at him “good to see you to” once Charlie was calming down she bent down to pick up the passi Charlie dropped but David got it before her “I’m just going to go wash it off before he puts it back in his mouth I’m David by the way you must be Margret” said David. She smiled “oh thank you David and yes I’m Margret” she said still rocking Charlie. Don was running all over the place with the other older boys while Liz and Meghan had to explain everything that happened to Margret and Allan. After that Margret sat down with Charlie in her arms “how old are you Charlie huh my little baby boy Charlie how old are you?” she said as she started baby talking him. “Twee” Charlie almost yelled “I twee” Charlie was laughing and waving his arms all about in emphasis. “Yes you are Charlie you are three aren’t you” she said still baby talking him Charlie laughed and started to clap his hands. Margret stood back up and started to sway Charlie back and forth humming like if music where playing somewhere in the room. David came back and handed Charlie the passi. “What do you say Charlie” ask Margret. “Fink yew” said Charlie smiling and started to say a few numbers then popped to pacifier in his mouth and started looking around. “Charlie do you want down to go play with Donnie and the rest of the kids” she asked him as she saw two girls in the corner and the boys hiding in various places. Charlie nodded and she sat him down she went over and started talking to the group of other grown up. Charlie went up to Colby who told him to go away or get shot with his pretend gun “BAM, BAM I shot you Ian your dead” Colby yelled as don came in close to getting shot but shot Colby instead “your dead Colby I killed you” yelled a thrilled don “Charlie you’re in my way” Don complained “go play with the girls” Charlie hesitated but went over to the girls who were playing ‘truth or dare’. “Truth or dare Amita” asked Nikki. “Truth” answered Amita. Charlie came up behind them and pulled the passi out of his mouth “I pway” he asked looking hopeful cause they would surely let him play. “No you’re a boy go play with the boys” said Nikki. Amita looked at him and back at Nikki “maybe he could play one game with us Nik” said Amita with a smile. “So you want to have cooties then Mita” asked Nikki rolling her eyes at Amita. “No but I feel sorry for him cause he has no one to play with” Said Amita twisting her finger through one of her puppy tails. “Look Amita boys have cootie’s it’s a fact they spread them like flies we need to stay clean or we’ll die in a hospital because of them” said Nikki shaking her head. “Oh your right” Amita said trying to get the thought of dying in a hospital out of her head “go away you have cooties” she said waving her arm around dismissing him. “Do not” Charlie said his lower lip stuck out passi still in hand “how does yew know girws don’t have cewties” he asked popping the passi back in his mouth. “Because stupid, girls don’t get cooties were too adorable” said Nikki. Charlie crossed his arms angrily and took the passi out of his mouth “am not stewpid yew awe” said Charlie putting the passi back in his mouth. Nikki looked at him furious and took his passi away. Charlie stood there “tat’s mine” Charlie finally said trying to get it back from her. “Nikki maybe you should give it back” Amita said trying to get for him as well. “So now you’re on his SIDE” said Nikki angrily and threw the passi across the room “go fetch cootie monster” it landed just beyond the mac and cheese spill. Charlie ran over to his mommy crying wanting her to pick him up which she did “what’s the matter baby” asked Margret though everyone was concerned. Charlie started to say something but a sob got in the way “th—those gerwls cawed me stewpid and stowe my benky away and, and few it ova thiew but I not stewpid they awe all I did was want to pway wif them and” he stopped to sniffle “and they say I have cewties” Charlie finish just as Don came over to see what happened. “What’s going on mommy what’s wrong with chuck” asked don hoping him calling Charlie chuck would lighten the mood a little. “Donnie I’s chawie not chuck” said Charlie with a sniffle. Allan was the next to speak “some girls where pickin on Charlie” he answered shaking his head. “Oh do you want me to go straighten them out mommy cause I will” said Don rolling up the sleeves to his jacket trying to look tough. “NO!!! Donnie I will take care of it” said Margret handing Charlie over to Allan “here could you take him I’m going to have a talk with those girls and go find his binky” she said looking at the girls. “ya Charlie it’s going to be ok.” Said Allan patting Charlie’s back he almost forgot Charlie was so vulnerable as a baby and smaller than any other three year olds you would think he was born early but he wasn’t he was on time just like Donnie. All of a sudden the baby returned to an energetic three year old again and start to yell “MOMMY I MADE A MAPPED PADWEN WHEWE I FINK BENKY IS” {if you don’t know what he said it was this ‘mommy I made a mapped out pattern where I think my binky is} a still very tearing up Charlie yelled. “Ok baby you can help me look for it once I get back” she said kissing him on the forehead and smelling of his hair which smelled like baby powder then she walked over toward the girls and sat next to them they were playing truth or dare. “Hey can I join your game” Margret asked calmly. “Do you have cooties?” asked Amita “I don’t want to die in the hospital from them” she said fear painted on her face. “What no sweaty I do not have cooties and you cannot die from them” Margret said trying not to laugh at the accusations. “Yes you can die my daddy told me” yelled Nikki “but sense you don’t seem to have them I guess you can play with us ‘truth or dare’ if you pick truth we ask you a question and you have to answer the truth if it’s a dare then you have to do whatever we dare you to do” Nikki said “now truth or dare” she asked standing up. “umm truth” Margret answered. “Ok is it true that those boys are your boys” asked Nikki, while Amita was pointing at all the boys. “Umm no just two of them the toddler and Donnie over there the one with short hair black sneakers” Margret answered. “Ok Amita your turn” Nikki said sitting down again. “Nikki truth or dare” asked Amita. “Dare” Nikki answered excitedly. “Ok I dare you to go touch one of the boys” said Amita pointing at don. Margret did her best to stifle her laugh. “Ok I will” said Nikki getting up running over to the boys and quickly touching don and running back over to them. “Wow” Amita said “I guess it’s your turn” she said pointing at Margret. Margret was still looking at don who was looking at them confused “oh yes I think I it’s time for a rule change as in you to match up against me now who’s the leader in your group” Margret said now putting her plan into action and before Amita could say anything Nikki’s hand shot up “ME” she yelled “but you have to have a team member to” Nikki told her. Margret sighed “ok but its still truth or dare just with team mates and if one of you pick dare you both have to pick dare alright” she said looking seriously at both girls. “Alright” said both girls. “I’m gonna get Allan to be my partner” Margret said getting up and noticed the passi on the floor and went over there and grabbed it. Once she got over there she noticed Charlie was asleep laying on Alan’s shoulder sucking on his thumb she automatically pulled his thumb out of his mouth and he woke up and tried to squirm out of Allan’s grip so Allan gave him to Margret “what’s going on Maggie I thought you were going to talk to the girls” he asked confused. “Ya I did but we are playing truth and dare and I put partners on the game and you are mine and before we do anything could you run to the bathroom and rinse this off” Margret asked handing him the passi. “Ya I can” he took the passi and went down the hall and washed it and returned handing the pacifier to Charlie who smiled real big and took it and put it in his mouth before reaching for Larry to pick him up again who didn’t hesitate this time and took Charlie. seeing all how Charlie didn’t really fit in there trying to make him feel better about his genius sounded better than ignoring his now very young friend cause he had heard stories about people picking on, beating up, and calling Charlie names so he thought I won’t add anymore turmoil to young Charles “Charles what do you like to do” he asked hesitantly. Charlie put his little finger to his chin in a thinking position “hmmmm……hmmm…hmm... the numbews I wike them thewe fun and nice awthough sometime they give me headaches but that’s ok cause thewe fun and they don’t call you anything” Charlie said with a big smile. “Oh that’s nice umm what about we play the numbers game Charles ok” Larry said sitting Charlie in a chair and bending down to meet Charles’s eyes. “OK” the toddler yelled just as some of the students started coming into the lecture hall. “OH MY” Larry yelled startled by the students after the incident he thought he called the administration and said the lecture was cancelled “sorry but the lecture is cancelled today if you would please come back tomorrow I’ll see how Charles is feeling better” after saying this he walked away forgetting about Charlie who sat there waiting for his game. All the students left accept one girl who had no other classes so she decided to stay and see who all the children were. Once up to the front she stopped as a toddler reached out for her to hold him she used to have a baby about his age but this one looked a little small to be three so she was hesitant because she didn’t know if she could pick him up but every grownup in the room seemed to be occupied by other little kids so she figure ‘ok this must be take your kid to work day’ so seeing as no one was paying attention to this little guy she picked him up and he started playing with her hair putting his hand through it and pulling gently but firmly she started to tickle him and pick him up over her head and whoosh him around like an airplane he giggled and kicked through the air happily then his tummy growled she wasn’t sure what to do then she just sat with the toddler in her lap and started searching for something in her back pack and found a candy bar and opened it and broke off little pieces for him so he wouldn’t choke as he ate them she ate a little bit then she started to wonder why he wasn’t being watched seeing as he was the youngest and the most vulnerable and couldn’t really protect himself he waved his hands around excitedly and started to clap and laughed a shrill baby laugh she looked up to see a little boy who couldn’t be more than 8 with two other little boys looking at her, the toddler in her hands clapped some more. “What are you doing with my little brother?” don asked quizzically. “Oh umm nothing I was just uhh just uhh watching him till professor Fleinhardt got back that’s all” she said standing up and putting down the toddler “well I guess since your here you can take care of him by the way he’s hungry” she said nervously. “Ya I’m here I can take care of him right guys” don said all tough like. “Ya” said Colby “so we’re watching you now” Colby added with a glare. “You dummy you’re not supposed to tell her that we’re watching her now she knows” said Ian angrily. “Oh ya we’re not watching you mam” said Colby trying to fix his mistake. “I would of never guessed you kids we’re” she said holding back a laugh. “Ya I guess you can continue what you were doing we’re leaving” don said while his new friends followed. “yes sir” she said and turned back to Charlie who had an angry look on his face “what the matter Mr. grumpy” she said baby talking him. “My name is chawlie not gwumpy” he said crossing his arms. “oh my I’m sorry Charlie I did not know” she said picking him up and tickling him Charlie laughed and instantly forgave her “wiw you pway wif me” asked Charlie with a hopeful puppy pout. “Sure what would you like to play Charlie” she asked him sitting down again. “the numbews game pwease” he begged and puppy pouted more. “sure how do you play” she asked expecting him to know. “I no know lawwy said he would show me” he said a puzzled expression on his face. “well why don’t we make up our own numbers game huh how does that sound” she said looking at his now thinking face. “ok” he said a big smile on his face. “alright what about the 123 game we count as high as we can go” she said not thinking about how intelligent he was. “OK” he yelled thrilled “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9”.
He imagined worst case scenario But the one thing Allan didn’t imagine was that a three year old Charlie in Liz’s hand, and an eight year old Don over in a corner playing army with Ian an seven or eight year old to and Colby a six or seven year old and in the other corner where two girls Amita who was five or six and the one he thought to be Nikki who was seven or eight. Charlie woke when he heard don yell ‘DADDY’ the three year old stretch around trying to see where his daddy was then he spoke his first word since he turned into a toddler “DADDY” he yelled almost dropping his passi but didn’t and tried to get out of Liz’s arms who just about dropped him, she let him down and he ran over grabbing Allan’s leg “we go home now daddy” the toddler said to Allan grabbing his hand, trying to drag him and Allan who had the look of shock on his face. He picked up his youngest son and checked him over not a scratch and this toddler did look a lot like Charlie when he was younger and the eight year old did look like Don when he was younger but there was no way that could of happened right he wasn’t sure he could take care of a three year old genius and an eight year old alone just when he was about to speak he heard a voice a familiar voice a voice he hadn’t heard in a long time say “Allan what is going on” his heart nearly leapt out of his chest with hope, fear, and all else turning with the three year old in his arms he saw Margret. “Allan where is Charlie and where did that baby come from” asked a now very confused Margret as she saw an eight year old don she noticed him because she remembered thinking how much he looked like his father at that age seeing pictures of Allan at that age and seeing pictures of don side by side “Donnie?” she asked. Don hugged her “can I go play with my friend’s mom” asked Don. “Yes you can Donnie” Margret said very confused and then noticed the toddler reaching out for her from Allan’s arms “Allan what’s going on why are our children so young that is Charlie isn’t it” asked Margret setting down the sack of food and taking the now wailing and screaming toddler from Allan and started to rock him gently back in forth “shhh.. Shhh… Shhh… shhhhh” she said kissing him on the head. “Maggie how what when” questions where jumping out at him all at once he settled for a statement which was a true statement “it’s good to see you” said Allan hugging her. She smiled at him “good to see you to” once Charlie was calming down she bent down to pick up the passi Charlie dropped but David got it before her “I’m just going to go wash it off before he puts it back in his mouth I’m David by the way you must be Margret” said David. She smiled “oh thank you David and yes I’m Margret” she said still rocking Charlie. Don was running all over the place with the other older boys while Liz and Meghan had to explain everything that happened to Margret and Allan. After that Margret sat down with Charlie in her arms “how old are you Charlie huh my little baby boy Charlie how old are you?” she said as she started baby talking him. “Twee” Charlie almost yelled “I twee” Charlie was laughing and waving his arms all about in emphasis. “Yes you are Charlie you are three aren’t you” she said still baby talking him Charlie laughed and started to clap his hands. Margret stood back up and started to sway Charlie back and forth humming like if music where playing somewhere in the room. David came back and handed Charlie the passi. “What do you say Charlie” ask Margret. “Fink yew” said Charlie smiling and started to say a few numbers then popped to pacifier in his mouth and started looking around. “Charlie do you want down to go play with Donnie and the rest of the kids” she asked him as she saw two girls in the corner and the boys hiding in various places. Charlie nodded and she sat him down she went over and started talking to the group of other grown up. Charlie went up to Colby who told him to go away or get shot with his pretend gun “BAM, BAM I shot you Ian your dead” Colby yelled as don came in close to getting shot but shot Colby instead “your dead Colby I killed you” yelled a thrilled don “Charlie you’re in my way” Don complained “go play with the girls” Charlie hesitated but went over to the girls who were playing ‘truth or dare’. “Truth or dare Amita” asked Nikki. “Truth” answered Amita. Charlie came up behind them and pulled the passi out of his mouth “I pway” he asked looking hopeful cause they would surely let him play. “No you’re a boy go play with the boys” said Nikki. Amita looked at him and back at Nikki “maybe he could play one game with us Nik” said Amita with a smile. “So you want to have cooties then Mita” asked Nikki rolling her eyes at Amita. “No but I feel sorry for him cause he has no one to play with” Said Amita twisting her finger through one of her puppy tails. “Look Amita boys have cootie’s it’s a fact they spread them like flies we need to stay clean or we’ll die in a hospital because of them” said Nikki shaking her head. “Oh your right” Amita said trying to get the thought of dying in a hospital out of her head “go away you have cooties” she said waving her arm around dismissing him. “Do not” Charlie said his lower lip stuck out passi still in hand “how does yew know girws don’t have cewties” he asked popping the passi back in his mouth. “Because stupid, girls don’t get cooties were too adorable” said Nikki. Charlie crossed his arms angrily and took the passi out of his mouth “am not stewpid yew awe” said Charlie putting the passi back in his mouth. Nikki looked at him furious and took his passi away. Charlie stood there “tat’s mine” Charlie finally said trying to get it back from her. “Nikki maybe you should give it back” Amita said trying to get for him as well. “So now you’re on his SIDE” said Nikki angrily and threw the passi across the room “go fetch cootie monster” it landed just beyond the mac and cheese spill. Charlie ran over to his mommy crying wanting her to pick him up which she did “what’s the matter baby” asked Margret though everyone was concerned. Charlie started to say something but a sob got in the way “th—those gerwls cawed me stewpid and stowe my benky away and, and few it ova thiew but I not stewpid they awe all I did was want to pway wif them and” he stopped to sniffle “and they say I have cewties” Charlie finish just as Don came over to see what happened. “What’s going on mommy what’s wrong with chuck” asked don hoping him calling Charlie chuck would lighten the mood a little. “Donnie I’s chawie not chuck” said Charlie with a sniffle. Allan was the next to speak “some girls where pickin on Charlie” he answered shaking his head. “Oh do you want me to go straighten them out mommy cause I will” said Don rolling up the sleeves to his jacket trying to look tough. “NO!!! Donnie I will take care of it” said Margret handing Charlie over to Allan “here could you take him I’m going to have a talk with those girls and go find his binky” she said looking at the girls. “ya Charlie it’s going to be ok.” Said Allan patting Charlie’s back he almost forgot Charlie was so vulnerable as a baby and smaller than any other three year olds you would think he was born early but he wasn’t he was on time just like Donnie. All of a sudden the baby returned to an energetic three year old again and start to yell “MOMMY I MADE A MAPPED PADWEN WHEWE I FINK BENKY IS” {if you don’t know what he said it was this ‘mommy I made a mapped out pattern where I think my binky is} a still very tearing up Charlie yelled. “Ok baby you can help me look for it once I get back” she said kissing him on the forehead and smelling of his hair which smelled like baby powder then she walked over toward the girls and sat next to them they were playing truth or dare. “Hey can I join your game” Margret asked calmly. “Do you have cooties?” asked Amita “I don’t want to die in the hospital from them” she said fear painted on her face. “What no sweaty I do not have cooties and you cannot die from them” Margret said trying not to laugh at the accusations. “Yes you can die my daddy told me” yelled Nikki “but sense you don’t seem to have them I guess you can play with us ‘truth or dare’ if you pick truth we ask you a question and you have to answer the truth if it’s a dare then you have to do whatever we dare you to do” Nikki said “now truth or dare” she asked standing up. “umm truth” Margret answered. “Ok is it true that those boys are your boys” asked Nikki, while Amita was pointing at all the boys. “Umm no just two of them the toddler and Donnie over there the one with short hair black sneakers” Margret answered. “Ok Amita your turn” Nikki said sitting down again. “Nikki truth or dare” asked Amita. “Dare” Nikki answered excitedly. “Ok I dare you to go touch one of the boys” said Amita pointing at don. Margret did her best to stifle her laugh. “Ok I will” said Nikki getting up running over to the boys and quickly touching don and running back over to them. “Wow” Amita said “I guess it’s your turn” she said pointing at Margret. Margret was still looking at don who was looking at them confused “oh yes I think I it’s time for a rule change as in you to match up against me now who’s the leader in your group” Margret said now putting her plan into action and before Amita could say anything Nikki’s hand shot up “ME” she yelled “but you have to have a team member to” Nikki told her. Margret sighed “ok but its still truth or dare just with team mates and if one of you pick dare you both have to pick dare alright” she said looking seriously at both girls. “Alright” said both girls. “I’m gonna get Allan to be my partner” Margret said getting up and noticed the passi on the floor and went over there and grabbed it. Once she got over there she noticed Charlie was asleep laying on Alan’s shoulder sucking on his thumb she automatically pulled his thumb out of his mouth and he woke up and tried to squirm out of Allan’s grip so Allan gave him to Margret “what’s going on Maggie I thought you were going to talk to the girls” he asked confused. “Ya I did but we are playing truth and dare and I put partners on the game and you are mine and before we do anything could you run to the bathroom and rinse this off” Margret asked handing him the passi. “Ya I can” he took the passi and went down the hall and washed it and returned handing the pacifier to Charlie who smiled real big and took it and put it in his mouth before reaching for Larry to pick him up again who didn’t hesitate this time and took Charlie. seeing all how Charlie didn’t really fit in there trying to make him feel better about his genius sounded better than ignoring his now very young friend cause he had heard stories about people picking on, beating up, and calling Charlie names so he thought I won’t add anymore turmoil to young Charles “Charles what do you like to do” he asked hesitantly. Charlie put his little finger to his chin in a thinking position “hmmmm……hmmm…hmm... the numbews I wike them thewe fun and nice awthough sometime they give me headaches but that’s ok cause thewe fun and they don’t call you anything” Charlie said with a big smile. “Oh that’s nice umm what about we play the numbers game Charles ok” Larry said sitting Charlie in a chair and bending down to meet Charles’s eyes. “OK” the toddler yelled just as some of the students started coming into the lecture hall. “OH MY” Larry yelled startled by the students after the incident he thought he called the administration and said the lecture was cancelled “sorry but the lecture is cancelled today if you would please come back tomorrow I’ll see how Charles is feeling better” after saying this he walked away forgetting about Charlie who sat there waiting for his game. All the students left accept one girl who had no other classes so she decided to stay and see who all the children were. Once up to the front she stopped as a toddler reached out for her to hold him she used to have a baby about his age but this one looked a little small to be three so she was hesitant because she didn’t know if she could pick him up but every grownup in the room seemed to be occupied by other little kids so she figure ‘ok this must be take your kid to work day’ so seeing as no one was paying attention to this little guy she picked him up and he started playing with her hair putting his hand through it and pulling gently but firmly she started to tickle him and pick him up over her head and whoosh him around like an airplane he giggled and kicked through the air happily then his tummy growled she wasn’t sure what to do then she just sat with the toddler in her lap and started searching for something in her back pack and found a candy bar and opened it and broke off little pieces for him so he wouldn’t choke as he ate them she ate a little bit then she started to wonder why he wasn’t being watched seeing as he was the youngest and the most vulnerable and couldn’t really protect himself he waved his hands around excitedly and started to clap and laughed a shrill baby laugh she looked up to see a little boy who couldn’t be more than 8 with two other little boys looking at her, the toddler in her hands clapped some more. “What are you doing with my little brother?” don asked quizzically. “Oh umm nothing I was just uhh just uhh watching him till professor Fleinhardt got back that’s all” she said standing up and putting down the toddler “well I guess since your here you can take care of him by the way he’s hungry” she said nervously. “Ya I’m here I can take care of him right guys” don said all tough like. “Ya” said Colby “so we’re watching you now” Colby added with a glare. “You dummy you’re not supposed to tell her that we’re watching her now she knows” said Ian angrily. “Oh ya we’re not watching you mam” said Colby trying to fix his mistake. “I would of never guessed you kids we’re” she said holding back a laugh. “Ya I guess you can continue what you were doing we’re leaving” don said while his new friends followed. “yes sir” she said and turned back to Charlie who had an angry look on his face “what the matter Mr. grumpy” she said baby talking him. “My name is chawlie not gwumpy” he said crossing his arms. “oh my I’m sorry Charlie I did not know” she said picking him up and tickling him Charlie laughed and instantly forgave her “wiw you pway wif me” asked Charlie with a hopeful puppy pout. “Sure what would you like to play Charlie” she asked him sitting down again. “the numbews game pwease” he begged and puppy pouted more. “sure how do you play” she asked expecting him to know. “I no know lawwy said he would show me” he said a puzzled expression on his face. “well why don’t we make up our own numbers game huh how does that sound” she said looking at his now thinking face. “ok” he said a big smile on his face. “alright what about the 123 game we count as high as we can go” she said not thinking about how intelligent he was. “OK” he yelled thrilled “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9”.
