# Empty Space

Author: redconundrum
Tags: Fox, outside

Just a short scene that I felt like writing down.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;"What are you doing out here? Everyone's inside watching the game," Lilly ran up behind me, but I didn't turn to look as she tugged my bushy fox tail. I didn't want to leave my daydreaming as I looked up at the clear blue sky.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You know I know don't like to watch sports, and I just felt like getting some air."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But it's so boring out here! And you don't feel like getting some air when you're hiding in your room?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You don't like to sit and look at the sky? Don't you like to imagine things to fill all that empty space?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It's pretty, but I'd rather play house. Can we play house?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Maybe later. If you're not going to go back inside could you at least keep quiet for a little while?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Okay," I smiled to myself as she pouted. My little niece was getting better at persuasion all the time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She let me be, but not for long. "Do you wanna play on the swing set?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Fine. I suppose you want me to push you?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes!" She jumped as she exclaimed that, and then bounced along beside me as we walked to the swings. "But not too high! It's scary."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You know I'd never let you fall. You just have to hold onto the ropes."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Still scary." We reached the swings and she got on the one lowest to the ground. I moved around behind her, and gave her a gentle push. She moved a few feet forward, then back to me.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Higher!" I pushed her a little harder in response, and she moved a little faster and forward a little farther before swinging back.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Higher!" I pushed even harder, and then backed up a little now that she was gaining some height.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Higher!" Another push and when she went forward to a 45 degree angle before coming back.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Higher!" This push sent my niece to nearly a 60 degree angle.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Too high!" I pushed again anyways as I laughed at her protest.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I told you. You just have to hold on and you'll be fine." She was getting over 70 degrees on her forward swings now.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But I don't wanna go that high!" She was coming out of a backward swing, and dug her heels into the ground to stop. She fell on her face in the grass as her momentum kept her upper body moving forward.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Lilly!" I shouted with concern as I ran over to her, kneeled, and carefully rolled her over.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That hurt!" She was starting to sob, but otherwise looked okay.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Are you okay? What hurts?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "My forehead." It did look a little red. "You said you'd never let me fall!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm sorry. I didn't expect you to dig your heels into the ground like that."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well it hurt!" She wriggled around dramatically, and I realized she really was fine.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Can you ever forgive me?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No? Not even for a tickle?" With that I started tickling the white fur on her belly. She tried to fight it, but quickly started giggling and wiggling around. After a minute I stopped so she could breathe.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Alright. I forgive you. With that, she stood up and hugged me as I continued kneeling. "Will you come inside now? I wanna play house and everyone else is too busy watching the silly looking men run back and forth on the TV."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Fine, but my house isn't going to be under the kitchen table again," I said as I stood up.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes it is."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No it's not."&nbsp;We continued arguing as we reentered the house.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/V1Y42XDn