Ivan got his wish for Jack Frost, though he and Glenn were the only ones enjoying it. Beverly was content to watch the snow and Brandon was too busy fighting his eyelids. Already four years old, his naps were numbered, but he'd been protesting them since being born. All the fresh air, exercise, and warm food however, he lost the battle after twenty minutes and was snoozing away with the end credits.
What Beverly didn't expect was for Glenn to be snoozing right along with him! Normally, he'd try to get some work done during nap time.
Not today. Beverly motioned to Ivan with her eyes as she dimmed the lights. Ivan snapped the TV off and Beverly took up one of their mammoth blankets. Past experience dictated not moving either of them, so she draped it carefully over her husband and child. She wanted to laugh at the lumpy pair they made, but settled for a snicker as she cleared the pokers and sticky napkins into the kitchen. An accumulating mass greeted her from the sink, which, Beverly knew, would only get worse after dinner. Napkins discarded in the trash, Beverly stared at the dishes and almost convinced herself to tackle them.
But then Ivan tapped her arm. He stood beside her with a box. "Scrabble?"
No wait, dishes first! Beverly's common sense protested- faintly- before she smiled. "Absolutely."
They set up on the dining room table, minding the cheap clinks of the wood-letter tiles. Beverly was tempted to play more music, but another glance at the windows and she felt a break in the wintery silence unnecessary. She had barely set up her tiles when Ivan was out the gate with ADMIT. Beverly shook her head. "Reading the dictionary again?"
"Our teacher uses the phrase 'well, I admit' a lot." Ivan studied Beverly's first word, MOAT.
"What's she admitting to?" Beverly ventured. Ivan paused, then moved TAXES onto the board. "Not knowing the real answer."
Beverly cupped a hand over her mouth, staring at her son. Ivan cocked a brow. "What?"
"You..." Beverly shifted her tiles, forming her next word. "You just make me very PROUD."
Ivan's face lit up with the praise, grinning at her. "And you make this too easy, Mom."
GALLOP. Beverly blew hair from her eyes, adding to his score grudgingly. The best she was able to follow up with was LAD. Only for Ivan to respond with ANVIL.
Lord, I was lucky to pass 6th grade English! Beverly gave a familiar rant. How is this kid mine?
Beverly ran a hand over the table's smooth surface, hoping to will an outmaneuver to appear. It didn't and she had to go with US. She waited for Ivan to stun her again, looking up when he didn't. Rather, he was glancing out the window at the snow. He looked back, his grin softer. "Days like these are nice."
Beverly eyed the snow as well; still falling, still coating the world in its sugary brilliance. Much like the snow, there was no hurry- from anywhere or to anywhere. There was just; sleeping, sipping hot chocolate, and playing a game. She shared Ivan's grin. "That they are."
What Beverly didn't expect was for Glenn to be snoozing right along with him! Normally, he'd try to get some work done during nap time.
Not today. Beverly motioned to Ivan with her eyes as she dimmed the lights. Ivan snapped the TV off and Beverly took up one of their mammoth blankets. Past experience dictated not moving either of them, so she draped it carefully over her husband and child. She wanted to laugh at the lumpy pair they made, but settled for a snicker as she cleared the pokers and sticky napkins into the kitchen. An accumulating mass greeted her from the sink, which, Beverly knew, would only get worse after dinner. Napkins discarded in the trash, Beverly stared at the dishes and almost convinced herself to tackle them.
But then Ivan tapped her arm. He stood beside her with a box. "Scrabble?"
No wait, dishes first! Beverly's common sense protested- faintly- before she smiled. "Absolutely."
They set up on the dining room table, minding the cheap clinks of the wood-letter tiles. Beverly was tempted to play more music, but another glance at the windows and she felt a break in the wintery silence unnecessary. She had barely set up her tiles when Ivan was out the gate with ADMIT. Beverly shook her head. "Reading the dictionary again?"
"Our teacher uses the phrase 'well, I admit' a lot." Ivan studied Beverly's first word, MOAT.
"What's she admitting to?" Beverly ventured. Ivan paused, then moved TAXES onto the board. "Not knowing the real answer."
Beverly cupped a hand over her mouth, staring at her son. Ivan cocked a brow. "What?"
"You..." Beverly shifted her tiles, forming her next word. "You just make me very PROUD."
Ivan's face lit up with the praise, grinning at her. "And you make this too easy, Mom."
GALLOP. Beverly blew hair from her eyes, adding to his score grudgingly. The best she was able to follow up with was LAD. Only for Ivan to respond with ANVIL.
Lord, I was lucky to pass 6th grade English! Beverly gave a familiar rant. How is this kid mine?
Beverly ran a hand over the table's smooth surface, hoping to will an outmaneuver to appear. It didn't and she had to go with US. She waited for Ivan to stun her again, looking up when he didn't. Rather, he was glancing out the window at the snow. He looked back, his grin softer. "Days like these are nice."
Beverly eyed the snow as well; still falling, still coating the world in its sugary brilliance. Much like the snow, there was no hurry- from anywhere or to anywhere. There was just; sleeping, sipping hot chocolate, and playing a game. She shared Ivan's grin. "That they are."
I know a similar game, Quiddler, that would fit magically into this snowy, hot cocoa sipping scene. I can feel it!
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