That Stuff

Date/Timing: 24 December 2002
Setting: Hansen home; Medowie, Australia
Revised from a chapter of "Scarlet Spun Memories" with the same name
.
Herc stands at the kitchen counter, spreads delicious brown goop on one slice of toast, then another.
Angie drags herself in, looking like she's been on a ten-kay march, collapses at the table, head rolled back, eyes closed.
"He finally surrender?"
She grunts, whines at the ceiling, "Why won't this heat wave break already?"
"Maybe that'll be Mother Nature's Christmas gift."
Angie scoffs.
Herc inhales a toast.
"Remember to chew."
"m' /am fwewin."
Angie sighs.
Herc brushes crumbs off his front onto the plate, contemplates second toast.
The A/C kicks on, whining.
"Poor, overworked thing needs a new bearing."
"I put in the request yesterday." Herc rounds the counter. "Toast?"
"Not if you put that stuff on it."
"What stuff?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
Herc steps beside her chair, waves toast under her nose.
Angie sits up straight, swats—
Herc barely rescues toast from soaring to the floor.
—hisses, "Get it away!"
Herc sets toast back on the counter. "What's wrong with Vegemite?"
Angie grimaces. "It tastes like socks."
"You've tasted socks?"
"You haven't?"
"Well, yea, but I have an older brother. Why have /you?"
"Girls fight mean."
"Oh." Rubs the back of his neck, then grins. "Anyone ever taste yours?"
Angie smirks. "Of course."
"That's my Angie" Leans in for a kiss.
"Get away from me!" She shoves at his chest.
Herc dodges, leans closer. "Just one li'l peck, love!"
"No! Not after you eat that stuff!"
"'s honest Aussie food!"
"It's /awful!"
"How can you call yourself Australian and not like Vegemite?"
"I'm more Australian than you, ye fresh-off-the-boat Irishman," she huffs.
"Says a woman with a Dutch 'j' in her name," he teases back, "and who doesn't like Vegemite."
"Give me marmalade any day of the week."
Herc hangs his head. "How could I have married someone like you?"
"Pretty sure the reason's /finally fallen asleep in the nursery," drawls Angie.
"Is that the /only reason?"
"'course not." Angie smiles that way that makes Herc's heart flutter. "It's 'cause you love me."
"I love you." Herc kisses her crown.
"Ick! Did you just get crumbs on me?" Angie violently ruffles her hair.
"No. I don't—"
"I get enough of that from your son!"
Herc aims for 'charming'. "Acorn doesn't fall far from the tree, ay?"
"Yea, and you're both /nuts."
"About you."
Angie rolls her eyes.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Medowie (setting)
Category:Herc
Category:Herc's POV
Category:Herc (ficlet)
Category:Angela
Category:Angela (ficlet)
Category:Chuck H (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images