TM Prompt 272
TM Prompt #272: Do you have any pets? Would you like some (more)? Why/why not?
Pets? Like, animals?
[Locked]
The kitten frolics around her, ever-responsive to the small piece of string she dangles in front of it. One of its siblings watches warily from the corner, seemingly engaged in an internal debate as to whether it should join the game. Kara grins and looks up at the cats' owner.
"How old are they?"
"Three months," Chloe replies, then turns to Mr. Thrace. "Old enough to leave their mother, you know, if you'd like one."
"Daddy!" Kara leaps up and runs to her father, wrapping small arms around his waist. "Can we have one? Canwecanwecanwe? Please?"
"Well -"
"I promise I'll take care of her! I'll feed her and brush her and clean out her box every day! Every single day! You and Momma won't have to do anything, I promise! Please, please, please?"
"I don't know, sweetheart." He smiles down at her a little doubtfully, weighing the wonderful prospect of making his daughter happy against what he thinks - knows - his wife would say. The two factors are almost equal. "Are you sure you would have time? You've got school, and pyramid practice, and piano lessons -"
"Of course I'll have time! Daddy, please? I'll never ask for anything else in my entire life. I swear!"
"But what would Momma say?" Daddy bends and coaxes the shy kitten over; it takes a couple of steps towards him before changing its mind mid-stride and tackling its spotted sister. "You know how she says she's allergic."
That stops Kara for a moment. Thinking of what Momma would say always stops her. Now it is her turn to weigh costs and benefits, but in her seven-year-old mind, the joy that an animal would bring is worth a few slaps any day. "She wouldn't mind. She could stay in one room and the kitten in another."
Daddy sighs, like he always does just before he gives in. "Why don't we go home, and I'll think about it. We'll come back in a few days. Okay?"
"Okay!" In her mind that is as good as a yes. She sprints back to the wrestling kittens and scoops up the tuxedo-patterned baby she's had her eye on. "Just you wait, Socks. In three days you're gonna come home with me!"
In three more sleeps, this wonderful ball of fluff will be hers.
Three days is a long time.
In three days, Daddy leaves. He and Momma have a fight, one of their screaming fights that always end in slamming doors and bellowed oaths. But this time it's different. This time he packs a suitcase and he goes, and he doesn't come back.
She never sees the kittens again.
[Unlocked]
No. Don't want one now, won't want one ever. They're too much trouble on a battlestar anyway.
Muse: Kara Thrace
Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Words: 465
Pets? Like, animals?
[Locked]
The kitten frolics around her, ever-responsive to the small piece of string she dangles in front of it. One of its siblings watches warily from the corner, seemingly engaged in an internal debate as to whether it should join the game. Kara grins and looks up at the cats' owner.
"How old are they?"
"Three months," Chloe replies, then turns to Mr. Thrace. "Old enough to leave their mother, you know, if you'd like one."
"Daddy!" Kara leaps up and runs to her father, wrapping small arms around his waist. "Can we have one? Canwecanwecanwe? Please?"
"Well -"
"I promise I'll take care of her! I'll feed her and brush her and clean out her box every day! Every single day! You and Momma won't have to do anything, I promise! Please, please, please?"
"I don't know, sweetheart." He smiles down at her a little doubtfully, weighing the wonderful prospect of making his daughter happy against what he thinks - knows - his wife would say. The two factors are almost equal. "Are you sure you would have time? You've got school, and pyramid practice, and piano lessons -"
"Of course I'll have time! Daddy, please? I'll never ask for anything else in my entire life. I swear!"
"But what would Momma say?" Daddy bends and coaxes the shy kitten over; it takes a couple of steps towards him before changing its mind mid-stride and tackling its spotted sister. "You know how she says she's allergic."
That stops Kara for a moment. Thinking of what Momma would say always stops her. Now it is her turn to weigh costs and benefits, but in her seven-year-old mind, the joy that an animal would bring is worth a few slaps any day. "She wouldn't mind. She could stay in one room and the kitten in another."
Daddy sighs, like he always does just before he gives in. "Why don't we go home, and I'll think about it. We'll come back in a few days. Okay?"
"Okay!" In her mind that is as good as a yes. She sprints back to the wrestling kittens and scoops up the tuxedo-patterned baby she's had her eye on. "Just you wait, Socks. In three days you're gonna come home with me!"
In three more sleeps, this wonderful ball of fluff will be hers.
Three days is a long time.
In three days, Daddy leaves. He and Momma have a fight, one of their screaming fights that always end in slamming doors and bellowed oaths. But this time it's different. This time he packs a suitcase and he goes, and he doesn't come back.
She never sees the kittens again.
[Unlocked]
No. Don't want one now, won't want one ever. They're too much trouble on a battlestar anyway.
Muse: Kara Thrace
Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Words: 465