literature

Welcome to Burbin Street - Ch 2

Deviation Actions

TheMadHattersCup's avatar
Published:
164 Views

Literature Text

Breakfast was always at eight thirty in the morning, no matter what happened Kate was determined to keep as much the same as she could. Lyra was always the last one to come down stairs, groggy from sleep, hair in small tangles in the back of her hair, eyes crusty from sleep. Roland was already slumping in his chair, batting his eyes to try to stop himself from falling back asleep. Tim would be looking over documents on his laptop, finishing last minute changes to something before he left for work after breakfast; always dressed in his suit, his hair pulled back with styling gel, heavy bags under his eyes he hid almost too well with a large grin to his staggering daughter.

“As usual, my little princess isn’t a morning person.”

Kate shook her head, giving the eggs one more stir. “Is anyone in this house a morning person?”

“The sarcasm hurts, dear,” Tim said, tossing his shoulder over the top rail of his chair to look back at his wife with a goofy smile that earned him another headshake. “Tone it down just a bit.”

“Oh, shut up or I won’t give you any eggs.” She laughed, taking the eggs of the stove and moving it toward a set of plates that were lined on the counter.

“Can I eat Papa’s share if he doesn't get any?” Lyla asked. She yawned, stretching her arms behind her back. Her arm hit Roland’s head on the way down, but all he could muster out was a groan that didn’t even last a second, caught in his scratchy throat.

“If Papa doesn’t get any, you can, hunny.” Kate smiled toward her husband, looking at her with a horrified look on his face, as if not getting his eggs would literally kill him. She laughed as she shook her head again. “You’re too much,” she giggled out, setting down the plates in front of her two children.

The doorbell rung, echoing throughout the layered house. Lyla stopped her forkful of eggs right in front of her open mouth just to stare at walkway to the front door. Everyone else seemed to do the same, focusing their attention on the sound as if it were a question on a test that no one had ever saw before. Kate smiled, ruffling her husband’s hair. “Get your own eggs, I’ll go get the door.”

“Kate,” Tim pouted in protest, huffing as puffing like a child as he got up.

She sighed, chuckling to no one as she hugged herself. Even in summer, the morning air left a slight chill in the air, and dressed in a tanktop and shorts, her clothes didn’t provide help in blocking the breeze out. Kate smiled as the lemon blond that stood on her porch, smiling back up at her.

“You have a nice smile, do you know that?”

“Really?” Tommy blinked once, then smiled again. “Thanks. I like smiling. It makes you and other people happy.”

“Well, that’s a very nice thing, but what can I help you with today, little sir?”

“Tommy.”

“Right then, what can I help you with today, Tommy?”

“Can I play with Lyla? And Sn-Roland.” He cleared his throat at his almost slip up, dashing his eyes to the wooden porch. Roland’s new name in Tommy’s eyes was Snotboy; he wasn’t stupid enough to use that name in front of his parents, though. There was a time and place and now definitely wasn’t either.

“Sure, but they’re eating breakfast right now. You’ll have to wait until they’re finished. I hope that’s okay with you.” Tommy nodded and Kate give him a final smile. “Then come on in. I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you came over to play with them.”

Regardless of just meeting them yesterday, Tommy didn’t hesitate in the slightest to rush into their house. It was something about their relaxed nature, their friendly smiles and loud giggles that Tommy felt safe around. He felt welcomed and wanted, and that was enough for him to want to be there. Even if he only knew where their kitchen was, he decided that the Goodwynn house would be his second home. No matter what happened he wanted to stay with them.

“Well, Tommy-boy!” Tim’s voiced boomed throughout the kitchen. Like the other day, he held a newspaper in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other (it wasn’t only Kate that liked to keep things the same, known or not). With half a cup of coffee in his stomach, he was radiating energy that’d be gone in a good three hours with the way he worked. That wasn’t even close to stopping him from being his over zealous self, even if he was draining more energy than he could account for. “Here’s a big surprise. I got this feeling like you’re gonna be a regular here. Hey! Here’s an idea: Want some eggs?”

“Tim,” Kate tried to scold. She only managed to growl his name out before he was jumping out of his seat and dashing to the counter with the pan of eggs in it. “Well,” she said, giving into her husband, glancing down at Tommy, “I hope you like eggs. I promise they’re good, and no matter what Tim says, I didn’t poison them or get them from undead chickens.”

“I think it’s more realistic if we say mutant, undead chickens.” Tim smiled to his glaring wife, then to his chuckling kids. “Have a seat Tommy-boy; join the family.”

A smile crept up on Tommy’s face, a small blush highlighting his cheekbones. The Goodwynn family didn’t hesitate to welcome Tommy; Tommy didn’t hesitate to become part of the Goodwynn family. That was how it went, like it was natural, a long lost child coming back home after a short absence, welcomed and loved. There was a tingling in his heart as he laughed and joked around all through breakfast. It was the feeling of being loved, and he liked it, really liked it.

.

“So, what do you want exactly?” Lyla asked. After breakfast was over, Tommy took them outside to play. She and her brother walked down the street with Tommy, walking slow, not really saying anything, just walking, taking in the other person’s presence.

“To play,” Tommy answered, matter-of-factly.

“That’s it?” Lyla asked, skepticism ringing throughout her tiny voice.

“Sure.” Tommy shrugged like Lyla had the other day looking straight ahead. “What else would we be doing? We could treasure hunt, if that’s what you mean. I know a couple good places here and there.” He furrowed his eyebrows together. “No one else knows about it, though, so it would have to be our secret.”

“I don’t really want any secrets with you. You look like trouble.” Lyla stopped walking. Her arms were crossed and her usually plush lips were pulled down into a frown. “If I had to say something about it, you’re annoying. You seem bossy, but you look like a lost puppy. It’s all the wrong things. I don’t want to play with you.”

“I seem bossy!” Tommy snorted, holding his stomach as he laughed. “Have you looked at yourself?”

Lyla blushed, taking a step back, her mouth slightly parted, her hands falling to fists at her side. Her nose was curled up, her eyebrows furrowed together. A flash of anger shot through her eyes. “So what? If you have a problem with it leave!” She huffed, bringing her arms back up to her chest, her eyes drifting to the patch of road by Tommy’s feat.

“I never said I did.” Tommy looked straight at her, watched her eyes snap up to his, wide and nervous. He smiled. “I think it’s cute.”

It was Lyla’s turn to blink. She squeezed her arms closer. “Thanks, I guess,” she mumbled.
Roland shifted behind his sister. His voice was soft and weak, fragile and unresolved. “Umm, where are we going?”

“You’ll see when we get there, Snotboy,” Tommy replied. He turned on his heel, ready to continue on, until his wrist was tugged back by Lyla’s hand.

“Who’s a snotboy?!” she screamed, practically fuming. It reminded Tommy of those dragon’s he read about in bedtime stories. Then he remembered it was only Lyla—she wouldn’t be bossy without a temper. He smiled at the thought, chuckling to himself, which only resulted in Lyla fuming more.

“You’re brother, now come on, we’re late.” Tommy grabbed Lyla by the wrist and pulled her up next to him. He grinned at her scowling face, making her scowl in discontent.

The three walked all the way back to the place where Tommy had taken them the first day they met. Again there was a large group of children waiting, already formed into their half-semicircle positions. Tommy and Lyla walked up to the front (more so Tommy dragging her with Lyra screeching at him) while Roland made his way to the front row again. There was a stout boy with a buzz cut who looked like he could wrestle a bear that stood next to him. He always had this glowing expression on his face whenever he saw Tommy. Roland tried his best to stay as far away from the kid as possible, but with the mass of kids combined with the small space they had, there wasn’t much chance for him to get away.

Tommy spoke clearly and efficiently to the crowd of children who were more than happy to shut up and listen to whatever he had to say. When he seemed like he was done, Tommy scrolled through the crowd of eyes that were pinned on him. “Right. If everyone gets what we’re doing next meeting, then I’d like to reintroduce the new kids for anyone that wasn’t here. If you don’t already know”—Tommy placed his hand on Lyla’s shoulder—“this is Lyla and the one over there in the front row is her brother Snotboy.”

“He name isn’t Snotboy!” Lyra screamed at him, swatting his hand away.

As if her constant arguing didn’t affect Tommy at all, he went on with a clear demeanor. “And Lyra is my woman, so hands off.” He turned towards Lyla with a crooked smile. “Do I get my kiss now?”

Lyla stood there glowering at him with clenched jaws and fists. There were some things she didn’t take no matter what, and Tommy Bohem was one of those things. She lifted her fist, took one large swing, grabbed Roland, and walked off like nothing had ever happened. If Tommy was going to stick around, there was going to be none of that, Lyla swore on that—she was the one in charge, not some stupid kid who thinks he can do what he pleases.

There was a part of Lyla that hoped Tommy would get the hint and leave, however, if punching a boy in the face was supposed to be a turn-off, Tommy didn’t seem to understand that. His face practically glowed as he looked at his swollen cheek in the mirror that night. What he loved more than a girl who stuck up for herself was a feisty woman.

Of course when Kate found out that her daughter had slugged Tommy square in the face (after Roland broke down and ratted her out), she was less than pleased. For punishment, Lyla made sure to tell Roland the most scary ghost stories she could come up with that night before bed.
Chapter 2: The House Across the Street

I don't like the end. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do there, so I pretty much kept it the same as the original. The rest of the story is cute. :3 



Previous (Chapter 1): themadhatterscup.deviantart.co…
Next (Chapter 3): themadhatterscup.deviantart.co…
Comments0
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In