Bailey kicked it’s legs to and fro on the back porch steps, humming a little diddly . Today was supposed to be a big day. But why? Was it someone’s birthday or were those mean neighbors finally moving? Oooh, maybe a present! Bailey hoped for that one. It wanted a pair of skates, like Timmy down the block had. He could go so fast with them and Bailey wanted to be cool too.
Lo stretched out a sheet of old gymnastics mats out into the back yard until all the green was swallowed up by blue and black. They were dirty, with a lot of holes and some stuck up at weird angles. She sat a plant pot on one end and turned back with a clap. “Stand up, Bailey, but stay there. You’re going to need height if you want to fly.”
Fly? That’s what this was about? “Grammy,” it whined. “I al’weady know how to fly.” To add emphasis, it jumped up and stayed suspended in the air as it’s wings beat. “See?”
“Yes, I do, but you don’t get very far. I can’t keep carrying you when you get tired, ya hear?”
Oh, today was just going to be bad, Bailey knew it. It ‘subtly’ back tracked towards the door. “Hold it!” Oh no! Caught in the act!
Lo motioned with her hands and reluctantly Bailey stepped up. “Now, just stand on that leg and kick off like you always do, but this time try to stay up for as long as you can. Alright?”
Bailey twisted it’s toes into the soft wood. It didn’t want to fly! Floating was fun, but flying was scary. What if it fell? What if someone saw or tried to shoot it down like a bird? It’s lip quivered. It didn’t want to die like momma!
“Oh, don’t cry, shuga.” For Heaven’s sake. She crossed the distance between them and picked the fae up for a snuggle. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Grammy promises, alright? Hang on a second – DARRIN! Darrin, c’mere! Shhh, it’s alright. Darrin’s gonna help, okay?”
A dark haired young man jogged around the house with concern on his face. “What happened?” He was used to his neighbor’s cat calls when he did yard work, but he always came, just because of her age. “Is Bailey alright?”
“It’s fine. I just want you to play helicopter.” She passed the toddler off onto Darrin. Both were momentarily paralyzed.
“Oooookay.” He looked around and saw the mats. Add that with a crying flying child and he caught on fairly quickly. “Up and att’em, kiddo.” Darrin hoisted Bailey over his head and took off at an easy jog, “Weeeeerrrrrrrrrrnneeeerrrrrr.”
In minutes Bailey was giggling, tears forgotten and arms outstretched. Even though Darrin was only six feet tall, it felt like Bailey was flying with the clouds. It closed it’s eyes, loving the feeling.
Lo made a severe slash across her throat when her hand and Darrin stopped, reluctantly releasing Bailey. Instead of falling, the fae jutted upwards at a slower speed and glided around in circles on it’s own.
The pair optimistically shared a thumbs up until Bailey screamed. Darrin barely caught the traumatized fae before it dropped to the mats.
“Well, that wasn't too good, but we'll try again. Take two!”
