Ficlet: Hallmark

[dawning-star.livejournal.com]

Title: Hallmark
Fandom: Shelter
Characters: Cody
Rated: G
Disclaimer: Shelter isn't mine.
Summary: Today was Mother's Day.



Today was Mother's Day. Cody stared at his calendar, hung innocuously on one wall in his room. The date was red, the small text almost mocking him.

The first year he and Zach lived with Shaun, Cody had been finishing up his first year of school. His teacher, Ms. Gunn, had helped the students in her class create a masterpiece to present to their mothers on the special day.

Zach and Shaun had told him how beautiful the picture of flowers, shining sun, flying birds truly was. Zach had carefully helped Cody wrap the picture and mail it off to Jeanne.

It took her six months to call and say 'thank you'. By then, he had already forgotten.

That first effort set the tone for the next three years. Cody would make something -- or buy something, once he had allowance. Zach or Shaun would dig up whatever address Jeanne had at that time. Cody would mail it off and hear nothing for months. Same for Christmas. Same for his birthday. Nothing changed, but Cody still tried.

Cody was almost nine. Zach would have helped him mail anything he'd wanted to this year. But he had forgotten to prepare, or maybe part of him was coming to accept the reality of his nonexistent relationship with his mother. Still, the other part of him sometimes wanted to peek out front windows to see if she would come walking up. That was the part that spurred him to guilt when he noticed the date.

Somewhere in the house -- probably Zach's studio -- he could hear his fathers lightly bickering and laughing. Zach was probably critiquing his own work too harshly. Shaun was probably pointing out every reason why the self-criticism wasn't deserved or even had a basis in reality. Normal sounds, safe sounds. The sounds of home.

Cody left his room to join them. He didn't want to dwell on what he couldn't have, would never have, when he already was blessed with so much.

//end//

Comments

[justaotherwitch.livejournal.com]

So sweet!

[dawning-star.livejournal.com]

Thanks! <3

[lil-1337.livejournal.com]

That was lovely and speaks strongly to the fact that good families don't always fit into traditional boxes.

[dawning-star.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the best families are the ones you build for yourself. Thanks for reading! :)

[glitzy09.livejournal.com]

Aww, lovely <3

[dawning-star.livejournal.com]

Thanks sweetie. :)

[pairatime.livejournal.com]

they need to hug Cody

[dawning-star.livejournal.com]

I imagine he's getting plenty of hugs. :)

[tjs-whatnot.livejournal.com]

Normal sounds, safe sounds. The sounds of home.

;______;

That was lovely.

♥

[dawning-star.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[figaro23.livejournal.com]

This is exactly as I imagine Cody's inner world to be once it sinks in that he's been left behind by him mother. The sweet ending with his two dads is lovely.

[dawning-star.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed this. :)

[sleeper6.livejournal.com]

Lovely and sad but sweet.

[dawning-star.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading. :)

[snowrose.livejournal.com]

Very nice