Jon felt a slight shake to the bed. He tried to ignore it as he rested in
the state of "more-asleep-than-awake." The mattress jiggled again. He
groaned and rolled over on his side. He opened his eyes and saw a wide pair
of brown ones staring straight at him.
He yelped, startled by his unexpected visitor who shrieked and burrowed
underneath the blanket.
Releaizing it was Nathan, Jon sighed with a smile. His giggling son tried to
crawl away but was caught by the ankles. He squealed as Jon pulled him out.
"Mommy!" the tyke exclaimed, flailing his arms and laughing.
Renee yawned loudly as she reluctantly sat up. Her dark locks were sticking
up everywhere. Nathan immediately flung himself at her, clinging to her
neck.
"Ow, ow!" said Renee, pulling some of her hair away. "What makes you think I
can protect you?"
"Cause!" came his answer before he erupted into hysterics as Jon tickled
him.
Renee threw a tired glance at Jon. "Today, he's yours."
A short time later, Jon was buckling a fidgety Nathan in his car seat.
"Daddy," Nathan said. "I wanna go in the big seat!" He stretched his arms
out to emphasize his plea.
"Not yet," Jon said, getting in the driver's side.
Nathan pouted. Jon noticed him in the review mirror and couldn't help but
smile.
"I big boy now," Nathan protested.
Jon frowned. "Not yet," he repeated. But soon, he thought sadly.
The car slid into the cramped parking spot. As soon as Nathan was unbuckled
his climbed out and shot off. Jon followed slowly, squeezing his adult frame
between the too-close parked cars. He jogged after Nathan, whose little legs
were running as fast as they could to the swingset.
"Push me!" Nathan begged, his hands holding onto the chain of the swing.
Jon had to only give a gentle shove which launched Nathan up. He giggled
happily as he swung up and down. After a few moments, he wanted to stop.
"I'll race you to a swingin' contest!"
"Okay," Jon agreed. "Want me to give you a starting push?"
"Nuh-uh," declined Nathan. "I can do it myself."
Jon carefully eased himself into the small swing. "Ready?"
"Yeah!" Nathan used all of his might to swing forward. Jon waited until
Nathan was somewhat airborne before he moved. He kept low, wanting to give
Nathan the feeling that he could beat his father.
Jon smiled as he watched his son pump his legs with the determination of
getting higher and higher. He felt a twinge of jealousy, seeing his pure,
carefree boy, unscathed by society, was easily amused by a hunk of plastic
suspended from two chains. He secretly wished he could have childhood
innocence for just one day.
"Daddy!" Nathan's whine interrupted his thoughts. "Come on, you're not
trying!"
"Sorry," he said. "Hey, do you want to go get an ice cream?"
"Yeeah!" Nathan jumped out of the swing like a monkey and landed in the sand
on his feet. He waited for Jon to join him, then slipped his little hand
into Jon's hand.
A feeling of extreme overprotectiveness came over Jon. He looked around
warily as they walked toward the ice cream vendor. It seemed everything was
out to get Nathan, to poison him with their ways, to steal his childhood, to
drag him down.
They passed a group of teenagers sitting under a tree. A vulgar rap song
blasted from their boombox. Nathan peered inquisitively at them.
"What does 'fuck' mean?" he asked.
Jon's stomach churned. He walked faster. "Nothing. I don't want you to say
that word ever again."
"Okay," Nathan said, confused.
They approached the ice cream man whose face was shaded by his hat as he
kneeled, handing a popsicle to a little girl. "Hello there, neighbors!" he
said in a cheery voice, standing back up. He flashed a grin at Jon and
Nathan.
Jon's face blanched. The peppy-sounding man had a frightening resemblance to
that of Mister Rogers. Jon quickly took off in a brisk walk, dragging Nathan
with him.
"Daddy, I thought we were going to get ice cream," he complained.
Jon stopped for a moment. "We'll get some at home, okay? I'll make you a big
sundae."
"With sprinkles?"
"You bet." He picked up Nathan, and holding him protectively, broke into a
run for the car. The adrenaline rushed in his veins as he ran. He had to get
away, get Nathan away. He wanted to keep his boy innocent as long as
possible before it will be raped away and never given back.
A seed not yet grown