Fly

Timing/Date: early February 2019
Setting: grocery store, Koffiefontein
Inspiration: OTPprompt
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Pietr loads Elize and Izzy into the market trolley.
Izzy plops right down, threads his pudgy fingers through the wire mesh.
Elize bounces on her toes, beams at Pietr, says excitedly, ::Fly, Papa!::
Pietr gives her a Look.
::Izzy wants to fly, too!::
Izzy nods earnestly, wispy curls flopping into his eyes. He shoves at them, brow wrinkled in annoyance.
Pietr taps Elize's hand. ::Ribbon, please?::
Elize assents.
Pietr undoes one of the streamers from her hair, finger-combs Izzy's bangs off his forehead, ties them into a topknot with the ribbon.
Izzy shakes his head, giggles.
Pietr kisses his crown.
Elize pats his cheek.
He kisses her forehead.
::Fly!::
Pietr casts a suspicious look around the shop, holds a finger to his lips.
Elize and Izzy nod earnestly.
He strolls them to the long, back aisle, puts a foot on the trolley's crossbar, pushes off—/hard—
Elize leans her tummy against the trolley's front, throws her arms wide.
—they glide!
Mrs Pillay and her trolley step into their path.
Pietr whistles—
She looks up, eyes huge.
—blobs against the handrail.
Mrs Pillay's groceries fly.
Pietr straightens, wheezing.
Elize stands, tiny hands on hips, talking agitatedly to a red-faced Mrs Pillay; Izzy wibbles a little bit beside her.
Pietr gets himself between the trolley and Mrs Pillay, reaches back and sets on a gentle hand on Elize's head—
She squirms.
—puts on his most apologetic expression, gestures for calm.
“Pietr?” She blinks behind thick glasses. “You're home?”
He nods sheepishly.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?!” She envelopes him in a well-padded hug.
Pietr squeezes, pats her back.
Mrs Pillay pulls back, asks, “There will be a party?”
Pietr shrugs, ‘I dunno’.
She narrows her eyes. “There /must be a party!”
The trolley shakes as Elize hops.
“Help me pick up this mess and I'll start gathering the necessaries.”
Pietr snaps a salute.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Elize
Category:Elize (ficlet)
Category:Izzy
Category:Izzy (ficlet)
Category:Mrs Pillay
Category:Mrs Pillay (ficlet)
Category:Izzy's hair
Category:Pietr is a dad