“Practice’s over everybody. Make sure t’get lots of rest b’fore the big game.” The boys on the field, mud-caked cleats and dusty smiles, darted from the field, cheerful grins on their face, as they headed to the minivan-ridden parking lot. One man stuck his head out the window, tired eyes half hidden by a mop of curly black hair and floppy plaid hat.

“C’mon boys, haven’t got all day.” Two little faces looked upwards, and immediately started running towards his scarlet suburban, the shorter one faceplanting, before scooting himself back up and continuing the dart towards the car. They were obviously brothers – both shared the same thick curls as their father, but there was a clear difference. One of them was tall and lean, with the same black hair as his father, but a faint olive hint to his skin. Although from a distance, he seemed normal, up close you could almost notice a pale green glint. The other boy was shorter, with rounder features , a freckled face and russet-colored hair. Both had the same eyes, pale gray and round.

“Don’t be slow Stephen. Dad’s not gonna wait for you.” Said the taller boy, darting ahead, while the shorter one kept close on his tail. The red suburban’s horn honked in an agitated show of impatience, while the two boys leapt into the back of the car.

“’Bout time.” Said the father, meeting their gaze in the mirror. A pleasant smile was on his face. “How was practice?” The dark-haired boy spoke immediately.

“We did really good. I think we’re gonna win on Friday, I even think I’m gonna score the goal. Coach said I’m the best forward on the team.” He said proudly, smiling ear-to-ear and sticking out his chest. The father nodded, his eyes going to the other son.

“That’s nice Stephen. What about you Danny? How’d your practice go?” The other boy looked up slightly, then back down with a timid frown.

“I did alright Dad. I had an assist. Not as good as Stephen’s goal, but I tried really hard.” His voice was barely above a whisper, as he shoved his hands in the back of his pants, a nervous habit. Usually they went in his pockets, but with soccer shorts that wasn’t really an option.

“I bet you did great.” Replied the dad, keeping his eyes back on the road, then drifting back to Danny. “And please, for the love of god take your hands out of your pants.” The boy followed immediately, embarrassed coloring flooding sheepishly to his face. The trio continued driving, miles drifting by, when suddenly Danny looked up at his dad, eyes gleaming with a question.

“Hey. Hey, Hey Dad? I have a question.”

“What’s your question Danny? Shoot.”

“…Where do babies come from?” Their father’s eyes went blank, and for a brief second if you looked on from the outside, the car swerved a little to the side. Stephen looked over at his brother, dark eyebrow raised.

“Why’re you asking Danny?”

“I dunno. Just kinda wanted to know the answer. Figured Dad knew. You know?” He looked down, and then back at his brother, hands drifting towards the back of his pants again.

“No… No I don’t know. Dad?” Although it wasn’t visible, their father’s heart was beating out of control, the tension around him too thick to cut with a knife. He opened his mouth to say something, but shut it in thought, the words that finally did arrive appearing in stuttering pieces.

“Um. Well. You see. Babies come form the stork. This bird…thing. He brings ‘em to people’s houses.” He said awkwardly, adjusting his floppy hat, sweat forming around his hairline.

“The Stork? I think I’ve heard that before.” Stephen mumbled, biting his lip slightly. “But I don’t think it’s true. Mrs. Betty from across the street had a baby, and I didn’t see a bird.”

“That’s because it’s…. magical. And invisible. So no one tries to steal the baby.”

Danny’s head cocked slightly to the side. “Who’d want to steal a baby? And why was she all fat before she had the baby?”

The dad heaved slightly, letting out a small sigh. “When a mommy and a daddy want to have a baby, they go into a room and um… talk about it. And then she eats something that makes her all fat, so that she knows that when she’s the fattest the Stork’s on the way.”

“Did you eat some of the fruit? Because there’s some funny pictures in the basement of you all fat-like.” Stephen said, Danny nodding in full agreement.

The driver, looked up and down, looking for something to say. “No… your daddy just used to weigh a lot more than he used to is all. It doesn’t happen to boys. Only mommies.”

Stephen looked at his dirt-covered arm, which almost looked mossy with the faint green tint, then back up. “My mommy is a boy though. You told me that one time.”

“Yeah Daddy. I think you’re lying. Besides, Mrs. Betty was a couple hours away when she had the baby. The stork wouldn’t know how to find her.” Both boys had furrowed brows, staring daggers through their squirming father, who finally pulled the car over and stopped.

“Okay. Listen up. I’m only gonna tell you this once, and only because I want you two to grow up to be normal young men. Alright? And the rule here is that you can’t tell anyone. Tell a soul and I’ll ground you both till you’re fifty.”

They nodded vigorously, and listened with eyes as wide as saucers. A few minutes later the car pulled away, and drove home, not a whisper being heard in the suburban. When they got home it had started to get dark, the boys sitting quietly watching TV, a look of disbelief still not faded from their young faces. The doorbell rang, and they got up in a trancelike motion, answering the door.

“Hello?” Stephen said quietly, Danny standing behind him. A little Brownie scout stood in the doorway, blonde hair pulled up into fluffy high pigtails. She smiled cheerfully.

“Hi. I’m from Troop 396. Can I interest you in some cook-“ The door was abruptly slammed in her face. The boys ran screaming, throwing themselves underneath their blankets as fast as they could, while the little girl scout stood with a perplexed frown, before slowly walking away.