Tradition

Date/Timing: 2013 March 29
Setting: outside Rianne and Val's house; Koffiefontein, FS, South Africa
Inspiration: a comment ALC left on the Timeline
Notes: revision incorporates "Worth"
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== Revised text ==
After dinner, while Mamma and Sandra clear the table, Pietr grabs Ty's arm with one hand, snags Maarten with the other and tows them both into the carport.
Ty and Maarten lean against Ty's car; Pietr checks over his shoulder for eavesdroppers.
“What's this about, Piet?”
::I want to buy a ring. For Griet.::
Ty's eyebrows climb. “/The ring?”
::Finally?:: adds Maarten.
Pietr nods to Ty, sticks his tongue out at Maarten.
“How much do you have saved toward it already?”
::One hundred rand.::
Ty grimaces.
Pietr sags.
“Rings cost a lot more than that, kiddo.” Ty offers a smile. “The Bank doesn't give loans for this, but I should be able to help you.”
Pietr straightens a bit.
“We can invest part of what you have—help it stack up a little faster—and I'll talk to the family in the city about more work for you, but it's still going to take months to collect enough.”
::I know, but it's worth it. /She's worth it.::
“She certainly is,” smiles Ty.
Pietr beams.
::More than you, at least,:: snickers Maarten.
Pietr scowls—
::What? You said so yourself!::
—charges—
::Watch—!::
—catches Maarten high, rides him to the ground, straddles his stomach.
“I shouldn't 've taught you that.”
Pietr smugs.
“Are you gonna let me up?”
Pietr makes a show of considering.
A hand on his shoulder.
Pietr twists around—
Ty says, “I'll leave you two to—”
Pietr's tumbling—ends face-down on the driveway, Maarten's weight on his back. He squirms.
Maarten ruffles his hair.
Huffs, waves surrender.
Maarten slides off.
Sits up, dusts himself off, glowering.
Maarten taps his arm. ::You might be getting married first, but you're still my /little brother.::
::If you'd ask Daf, she'd probably say 'yes'.::
Maarten rolls his eyes. ::I'm not asking Daf to marry me. We're /friends.::
::Griet and I are—::
::/Just friends.::
::It'd get her pappa off her back~.::
::And onto /mine.:: Eyebrow up. ::You think he'd like me any more as a son than he does you?::
Concedes.
Maarten pushes to his feet, brushes off his knees, straightens. ::I've got an idea for some work for us—::
::What—?::
::Don't get your hopes up yet. I've got to talk to a couple people first.::
Pouts.
::Go daydream while you can.:: Maarten grins. ::You're going to be busy.:: Waves and heads off down the street.
Pietr takes a deep breath, shuffles over to the courtyard wall and perches, swinging his feet and soaking up evening sun.
A tap on his arm.
Pappa!
Pietr grins.
Pappa climbs up beside him, says, ::Ty says you came to him to borrow money.::
Pietr's eyes fall to his battered takkies.
Pappa taps under his chin.
Lifts his head.
::For /the ring?::
Nods.
::Why didn't you ask your mother and I?::
Swallows. ::Because you're not finding work, either, Pappa.::
::I have money set aside—:: Pappa smiles. ::—for just this.::
::But—::
Pappa pats the back of his hand. ::Grandpappa bought your mother's ring and I bought Marje's.::
Blinks. ::Is it?::
Pappa nods solemnly. ::It's a secret family tradition. I have enough set aside for both Griet and Maarten's wife—if he ever finds one.:: Sighs.
Snorts. ::He's not the type.::
'I know, I know', waves Pappa. ::You'll have to make up for him, then.::
Raises an eyebrow.
Pappa grins hugely. ::You'll pay me for the ring the same way I paid Grandpappa: with grandbabies.:: Nudges Pietr's foot. ::I want a lot of them to make up for Maarten.::
Schools his face out of a laugh into something sort of earnest. ::We'll do our best.::
== Original text ==
Pietr perches on the courtyard wall, swinging his feet and soaking up morning sun.
A tap on his arm.
Pappa!
Pietr grins.
[Pappa climbs up beside him, says,] ::Ty says you came to him to borrow money.::
Pietr's eyes fall to his battered takkies.
Pappa taps under his chin.
Lifts his head.
.::For The Ring?::
Nods.
.::Why didn't you ask your mother and I?::
Swallows. ::Because you're not finding work, either, Pappa.::
.::I have money set aside—:: Pappa smiles. ::—for just this.::
.::But—::
Pappa pats the back of his hand. ::Grandpappa bought your mother's ring, Piet, and I bought Marje's.::
Blinks. ::Is it?:: >the regional equivalent of 'really?'; cool!<
Pappa nods solemnly. ::It's a secret family tradition. I have enough set aside for both Griet and Maarten's wife—if he ever finds one.:: Sighs.
Snorts. ::He's not the type.::
'I know, I know', waves Pappa. ::You'll have to make up for him, then.::
Raises an eyebrow.
Pappa grins hugely. ::You'll pay me for the ring the same way I paid Grandpappa: with grandbabies.:: Nudges Pietr's foot. ::I want a lot of them to make up for Maarten.::
Schools his face out of a laugh into something sort of earnest. ::We'll do our best.::
Category:Ficlet
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr's POV
Category:Val
Category:Val (ficlet)
Category:Koffiefontein (setting)
Category:Griet (mention)
Category:Rianne (mention)
Category:Jakob (mention)
Category:Marjolein (mention)
Category:Vos family
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Ficlets with merges
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Ty
Category:Ty (ficlet)
Category:Dafne (mention)
Category:Maarten
Category:Maarten (ficlet)
Category:Sandra (mention)
Category:Isaac (mention)
Category:Ficlets (incorporated)
Category:Ficlets with comments
Category:Comments