Collared Visions: Family

“Awright Wynnie, when you jump, you want to tuck your core in! When you hit the ground, very quickly start to roll! Shift your weight from yer toes to your knees, onto your hands, and roll with it! If you stay still, you’ll proooooobbbaaabbbblllyyyyy feckin’ break yer legs! Got it, luv!?” Derwyn stood underneath the barn, neck craned up to see his daughter hanging off of the weather vane. His hands cupped at his forehead, using his palms to protect from the sun and project his voice.

Tears streamed down her face. Climbing up the barn was easy… getting back down was another. Her black and green gingham dress fluttered in the Hillsbrad wind, pigtails braided tightly down to her elbows, even the ribbons fluttered up here. As she looked down, her stomach twisted in knots.

“Pa! I’m scared!” Wynnie yelled down.

Derwyn chuckled to himself, bringing his hands to rest on his hips. He craned his neck again to yell, “Well! If you don’t make it down by supper, ya won’t get any! You got yerself in this mess, figure it out, kiddo!” He walked under the canopy of the barn, out of Wynnie’s sight.

A smaller boy walked from the home and craned his neck up to see Wynnie’s precarious position. He shook his head, sighing heavily. He joined Derwyn underneath the canopy.

Up above, Wynnie crouched down, a rock steady hand still gripping onto the weathervane.  She let go of the weathervane, before quickly grabbing onto it again. She wailed, still crying.

“Just! Jump! Honey!” Evelyn’s voice called out from the window of the home.

“Maaaa! Tell Paaaaa to come n’ get me! I can’t without him!” Wynnie wailed.

“Derwyn McEny! Go git yer daughter before she breaks her feckin’ neck!” Evelyn called out from the window.

“Evie! She’s gotta learn on her own. We won’t always be there to bail her out!” He shouted back.

“I SAID GIT!” The tiny wife raged out of the window.

Derwyn rolled his eyes, grumbling. He ran a hand through the smaller boy’s hair. “Emrys, thank the Light yer not like yer sister.” His eyes trailed to a nearby barrel, “Yet. Aneee-way…”

The tall, lanky, rat sauntered his way to the barrel. A practiced foot hooked his boot into it, lifting himself onto a rafter, and then up onto the barn’s roof. He sighed, “Feck Wynnie, I ain’t done this shite since ya was born. Yah would take aftah me…” he grumbled.

The old codger had not lost a beat, perpetually calloused hands finding the right roof shingles to grab to. He made his way over the curvature of the roof and sat at it’s peak, eyeing the crying girl. He extended his arms, “C’mere, luv.”

Wynnie’s eyes trailed down below. She took a tentative step to the other side of the weather vane. She let go- quickly falling into his arms. He hoisted the girl, setting her to rest on his forearm and to look over his shoulder. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

“Tahmorrow, we’re goin’ tah practice on somethin’ a lil’ easier. How’s that sound?”  With his free hand, he rubbed her back.

“No. No. I don’t want to be this high up ever again.” Wynnie's words whimpered and whined through snotty, hiccuping tears.

“Well, too damned bad, kid. Consider it punishment, then.” Derwyn snickered. Garnet irises traced the curvature of the barn down below. He stood, with a little bump to ensure Wynnie held on tight. His eyes found pathway down the other side, a bail of hay within jumping distance.  He slid down, holding her tight, and the two fell from the barn into the bail of hay.

Through her tears, Wynnie had begun to giggle. They landed, so that Derwyn’s back took the front of the fall, Wynnie clutched tight to his chest. There was an audible groan from him, “Shi’ I ain’t gettin’ any younger…” he huffed, looking over his much cheered up daughter.

“Y’awright, Wyn?”

She nodded, still laughing to herself, “Ya Pa! Can we do it again?” she looked at him.

“Go clean up for supper before I wallop ya.” His nose crinkled in his grin, strained, but, amused.