[World Refugees]
"Mama! Mama!"
Amy was in the kitchen setting out cereal bowls on the island for Eli and Ashlyn when she heard her son calling. She looked up in time to see him come bounding in, still in his pjs, with a wide smile on his face.
"Morning baby. More good dreams?"
Eli clambered onto a stool in front of the island, wobbling for a second as he seated himself. "Uh huh. Me an' aunt Song talked forever and ever. She showed me how to be a- a...um." His little face scrunched up as he tried to remember, and Amy nearly melted on the spot. At almost five he was (still) absolutely adorable, and looked almost like a little Jalen-clone. When he did things like this she just wanted to scoop him up and hug him silly. Restraining herself with a mighty effort, Amy simply picked up the cereal and began to pour it into his bowl.
"A dragon?" She offered.
"Yeah! A dragon!" Her son flapped his arms wildly. "A real big one! Like as big as daddy! An' she told me 'bout uncle Orpheus some more an' then-"
Amy laughed. She'd added milk while he'd rambled on, and now she pushed the bowl towards him. "Did she also tell you that you should tell mommy the rest after you eat your breakfast?"
Spoon, she forgot to give him a spoon. She moved to fetch one and when she turned back, arm extended, Eli was knuckle-deep in milk.
"Elijah! We don't eat cereal with our fingers, remember?"
The little boy pouted at her, all big brown eyes and disheveled hair. Good grief, he'd inherited her 'kicked puppy' look. Jalen certainly never made that face.
"Eli- just-"
He reached out milk-covered fingers and took the spoon. Just as he seemed ready to actually eat properly, he let out a loud "I forgotted!", dropping the spoon into the bowl with a clatter.
"'I forgot'", Amy corrected absently. "Tell me after breakfast." She could hear Ashlyn coming down the stairs and grabbed the other bowl.
"Nu-uh! Promised I'd tell you! Aunt Song said to!"
She paused, watching him. Since he'd first started telling them about getting to see Song (Almost two and a half years ago now), she'd only received a hi once. Strangely, it didn't bother her. She'd had her time with her friend. Eli deserved his.
"Okay, what's this really important thing she has to tell me?"
Eli drew himself up straight and proudly announced in a loud, clear voice, "Swing set!"
For a fraction of a second Amy considered banging her head against the fridge, but instead thanked her beaming son and went back to making Ashlyn's breakfast as the little girl finally made her appearance.
Maybe no personal messages from Song was a good thing.