FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Jill Then

Jill sat with the wrapping paper, tape and the shoe box with her present inside.

"you need any help sweet pea," Daddy asked from the kitchen.

"No I'm a big girl, I go to school now," she said trying to fold the paper, "Stop crinkling paper, bad."

"You sure you're ok," Daddy asked.

"Yes I can do it," She said, "Paul will like it."

"I'm sure it's exactly what he wants for his birthday," Daddy said.

"He wants to meet his daddy for his birthday, that's why I got him the camera and frame, he can get a picture before his daddy goes away again," She said.

Daddy's newspaper rustled.

"Honey, that's what he told you," Daddy asked coming to sit on the floor with her.

"Yeah, when we had ice cream Mommy Russo said she would ask him to come," She said giving up and wrapping the ends in tape to look like a tootsie roll.

"Honey she didn't promise that," Daddy said, "She couldn't have."

"But that's all that Paul really wants," she said.

Daddy winced.

"It's ok, toys isn't as good as a mommy and daddy," she said.

"Aren't as good... honey Paul's daddy won't be there," Daddy said.

"Why not that's the only thing he wants," She asked getting up then hopping to put the present on the kitchen counter.

"Sweet pea do you know what war is," daddy asked.

"Yeah mom said it's when a lot of people get in a fight with a lot of other people," She said coming and laying in his lap, "But Paul said it's how you become a king, and Timmy said it's like King Arthur... who was king Arthur?"

"He was a fabled king of Britain, honey it is like a big fight but one's people don't get better from... remember that bruise from being pushed in the mud," Daddy asked.

"Yeah, I hate mud puddles," She said.

"Your moms sewing thanks you for that, but Sweet Pea, a war is a fight where people get more than hurt," Daddy said, "People get killed."

"So you can't become a king from war," She asked.

"Not anymore, but some become heroes, Paul's Daddy became a Hero but he got killed," Daddy said.

"So Paul's daddy isn't coming," she asked.

"He can't come, someone pushed him in the mug and he could never get back up," Daddy said.

"But that's not fair," She said.

"No it's not and that is why I was concerned to hear he is expecting his dad," Daddy said

"Well, its ok daddy, you're a great daddy you be his dad too now," she said.

"You wouldn't get jealous," Daddy said eyes twinkling.

"No, I'm amazing, and generous," she said jumping up, "Daddy, Daddy, did you see mommy got me Toy Story and Pocahontas, lets watch them."

"Not very humble," Daddy muttered then said, "Oh... I'd love to watch them, Again. But we should get to the birthday, Mommy is helping mommy Russo already over at Paul's house."

"Ok, daddy we can watch them after, can you pass me the box," she said from under the counter.

"Sure, here you go honey," daddy said and they headed out the door.

"Daddy Paul doesn't know his daddy was in a war," She said.

"No, Mommy Russo has wanted to tell him but it was near his birthday," Daddy said.

"Why didn't she tell him before," she asked, the wet soil from the recent rain tickling her nose as they walked.

"She was worried he was too young or would be really sad," Daddy said, "She tries very hard to make sure he is happy."

"Oh he would be sad," she said.

"Yeah so for now it is a secret ok honey," daddy said.

"Catwoman is a master of keeping secrets," She said skipping along.

"Like a ninja," daddy said.

They reached Paul's house, she ran inside following Paul's excited scent to the backyard, she set her present on the table. Said hi to Mommy, and Mommy Russo, waved at the Clarks and ran outside.

Timmy, and several other children from school were having a foam sword battle but all the swords had been taken. But she laughed maniacally grabbing a swimming noodle and charged into the fray.

She and Timmy held off the others when Paul tripped on a root.

"Thank you my ladies," Paul said to them.

"You're welcome my king," Timmy said.

"What are we playing," she asked.

"King Arthur," Timmy said, "Paul is Arthur and you're the princess."

"Xenia warrior princess," she said flailing the noodle around, "What are you?"

"I'm the lady in the lake," Timmy said.

"Why aren't you a knight," she asked.

"I want magic," Timmy said.

"Then why aren't you Merlin," Jill asked.

"He's too magical," Paul said.

They fended off another charge

She smacked everyone in the face even Paul and Timmy.

"That's not fair," one of the other team said.

"It's never fair when you're facing a warrior princess," She cackled.

"Everyone the foods ready, Mommy Russo called, "and afterwards there is cake and presents."

Everyone cheered and rushed inside, the table was only big enough for the guess so the parents hovered by the counter.

Jill took the seat across from Paul and Timmy sat opposite the countertop Paul's right. Momma Russo passed about the paper plates and opened two pizza boxes in the middle of the table, Paul grabbed a slice of the sardine pizza, and Mommy Russo passed her one as well, Timmy took a vegi slice.

Mommy Russo asked, Daddy and Mrs. Clark, "it's not weird to have the children say grace is it?"

"I think it's fine," Daddy said.

"Everyone before we eat we give thanks for the food," Mommy Russo said.

Everyone bowed their heads.

Mommy Russo prayed, "Thank you for this day and that we get to enjoy it together, may it get better and better for everyone here, and please help this food bless our bodies, amen."

After amen everyone got even louder than before.

She ate big bites, but Paul didn't eat much.

Three small bites then he tugged on his mommies Jeans, "Can we do presents I'm ready for my surprise?"

"Presents are after cake and ice cream come on finish your pizza," Mommy Russo said.

"You're going to make him wait that long," Paul asked.

"If by him you mean you then yes, eat your dinner Pauliwog, you love pizza," Mommy Russo said.

"I'm too excited," Paul said bouncing.

"Well it is your birthday, be excited that's good honey, come on you can finish that slice for me right," Mommy Russo said.

"Ok, mommy then presents," Paul said.

"After you blow out the candles," Momma Russo said then she headed to help other guests.

"Jill did you hear that he's coming," Paul said across the table.

"I don't think he is," she squeaked.

"What I can't hear you," he asked, "let me finish my pizza then, I can have the cake and he'll be here."

She pushed her plate away, getting up to find mommy or daddy.

Daddy wasn't in the kitchen when she wove her way through the forest of legs and criss crossed tails.

"Hey little one," Timmy's daddy asked, "do you need something?"

"I can't find mommy or daddy," she said.

"Oh I'm not sure where your daddy went but your mommy is in the living room," Timmy's daddy said.

"Thank you," she said and ran off.

"Mommy mommy mommy," she said running up to the chair mommy sat in talking with Timmy's Mommy.

"One second dear," Mommy said.

"It's just dress up there's nothing wrong with that right," Timmy's mommy asked.

"I doubt it, I'm pretty sure Edwin would say it's just a bit of normal development," Mommy said.

"Mommy its important," She said.

"Honey, I said one second," Mommy said.

"Oh, it can wait it sounds like they are getting ready to do the cake, I'll see you afterwards" Timmy's mommy said.

"Mommy that's what I need to talk to you about," She said.

"Ok honey, whats wrong," Mommy asked.

"You have to stop the cake," she said.

"Stop the cake why would we stop the cake," Mommy asked.

"Paul is going to wish for his daddy to come," she said.

Happy birthday chorused from the other room.

"Why would he wish... she hasn't told him," Mommy said standing up.

"He asked at ice cream for his daddy," She said, "and Mommy Russo said he would get his wish at presents."

She followed mommy to the kitchen as Paul blew out the candles. Everyone clapped.

Someone asked, "what did you wished for?"

Someone else said, "Don't say or it won't come true."

Paul asked, "Mommy can I have my surprise now?"

Mommy Russo laughed, "Present focused I see you can have my present now."

He tilted his head at the box she passed him, "No mommy I want to see daddy."

The parents all got very quiet.

Timmy fidgeted so his mommy placed her paw on his shoulder.

"Honey your daddy can't come," Mommy Russo said.

"You said I had been good so he could come," Paul asked.

Mommy Russo's wide eyes darted around the room, "Honey, no he can't come."

"Why... he doesn't love me does he," Paul said.

"He did he loved you so much but-"

"I thought his daddy died mommy," Timmy asked.

Paul's widening hurt eyes crawled over everyone's face resting on Mommy Russo's.

He breathed deeper, louder, and faster.

"I'm sorry honey, he can-"

"Liar, you're a liar," He yelled pushing away from the table then ran from the room.

No one spoke.

Someone asked, "Can I have cake now."

Mommy Russo said, "Gloria can you handle things here."

She left the room.

Mommy left her to cut cake and everyone calmed down.

She walked to the hallway.

Mommy Russo stood outside Paul's door, "Honey, can I come in."

"Leave me alone," Paul cried.

"I didn't want you to find out like this honey," Mommy Russo said.

"Go away," Paul screamed through the door.

Daddy came over, "Honey come finish your food."

"Is Paul ok," she asked.

"No, sweet pea but he will be," Daddy said, "He just wants a daddy."

"But I'm sharing," she said.

"I know, but I don't think he knows that," Daddy said, "Take your seat and finish your food."

"Daddy you spend time babysitting, is that when you became his daddy," She asked.

"Honey I don't think he sees me as a dad," Daddy said.

"Why, he wants a daddy and you're a good daddy, my daddy," she said.

"Sometimes people aren't happy till they feel it's theirs. See it's like your pizza, if it was my pizza would it be ok to eat it," Daddy asked.

"Not unless you gave it to me," She said playing with the slice of pizza.

"Eat your food then we'll go home ok," daddy said.

She peeled the sardines off the slice then passed the bare pizza to daddy, "Hold this I have another present."

She took the plate of Sardines to the hall.

"Pauliwog, I won't come in but I love you, I'm sorry honey," Mommy Russo said.

"scuse me, can I go in," She said tugging on Mommy Russo's pant leg.

"He doesn't want to see anyone right now, honey," Mommy Russo said but still stepped back for her.

"Paul, can I come in," She said.

"No, go away," Paul yelled.

"Can you help me eat my sardines I'm full and daddy said I have to eat them before I can go home," She said.

Mommy Russo moved out of view into the other room.

Paul opened the door, "Fine I'll help."

"Thanks Paul," she said pushing passed him.

"Paul need a hug," she asked.

"No, I want my daddy," Paul said.

"You need a daddy, my daddy is your daddy now," She said.

"You can't give me your daddy," Paul said.

"Ya-huh, he's mine so he's yours now," she said holding out her sardines.

He grabbed one from the plate and wiped his eyes.

"See now we both have a daddy," she said.

"Are you sure," he asked.

"Yep," she said hopping onto the side of his bed.

"No take backs," Paul said.

"It's a present, silly, you don't take back presents," she said he sat next to her.

"Thank you."

"You want to play house, I can be the mommy and you can be the daddy," she asked.

"I don't know how to be a daddy," he said.

"You just hold the baby," She said, "and make dinner when the mommy isn't holding the baby and making dinner."

"Ok."

"Daddy can teach you he is good at being daddy," she said taking his paw and leading him to the play room.

Many of the other children left with their parents.

Timmy still sat at the table with three plates of cake, he held one out to Paul, "You didn't have the first bite."

Paul took the plate.

"I'm sorry," Timmy said, "Hug?"

Paul took a bite of cake then set the plate on the table.

Timmy jump up and gave him a big hug.