Surprises come in small packages

[onlytolerable]

Remember, Alexandrie Berthier used to say, you simply must make time for yourself. The fine spring day finds Sophie settled at a table overlooking the green taking her arrière-grand-mère's* advice to heart. She closes her eyes a moment and enjoys the sun warming her cheeks before pushing aside cup and teapot so she can admire her handiwork. That buttery yellow yarn she'd been saving knits rather nice, even if she does say so herself.

She picks up her needles and swiftly casts on stitches for the second tiny baby bootie, all the while humming a lullaby under her breath.


[*great grandmother]

Comments

[sirforawhile]

He was coming over to say hi anyway, but the sight of the bootie will leave him standing in awkward silence for a moment or two until he finds his voice. "Okay, confess. Who's this meant for?"

He might mean to wear or he might mean to freak out. Whichever.

[onlytolerable]

Sophie holds up the tiny bootie and makes a show of checking it for size. "I'd say a baby. I doubt it'd fit anyone our size."

Why yes, she's finally realized why so many people have been asking her that question and can't resist teasing a bit.

[sirforawhile]

All right, he walked into that one. "Oh, harhar. How do you know there isn't someone out there with the world's smallest feet? They need warm feet too."

[onlytolerable]

She laughs. "Point taken. My sister just found out she's expecting so I finally have a chance to play with this gorgeous yarn I bought ages ago."

[sirforawhile]

"What, seriously? Congratulations to her, then, and good luck to you if you're getting babysitting duties. I'll get you an official Aunt card. Even got the knitting merit badge down already."

He's probably joking about the card. Probably.

[onlytolerable]

"Goodness! Do they actually make those? I suppose if anyone knows, you would. Anyway, I never mind babysitting. I'm fairly certain I treated my sisters as self-mobile dolls when they were toddlers."

[sirforawhile]

"Okay, honestly? One of my nieces did that when she got into the Deck Brownies. Said it was because I was the best uncle ever." Look how proud he is. Look. "A'course, then she made cards for the whole family, so..."

[onlytolerable]

"So nothing! She gave you yours first. She made them for the others so they wouldn't feel left out. Your family get-togethers must be chaos incarnate."

[sirforawhile]

"One branch is already bad enough, and we all live together. Or at least we did until the quakes." And now he was in the castle with the kids until the ones on top of the tree said otherwise. "Cousins scare the hell outta me. But- hey, come on. How far along's your sister- Irene, right? You should pace yourself for a full baby wardrobe."