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shatterpathAHHHHHH! But that felt DAMN good! I wrote a story! In honor of the Wild Hunt, I was inspired by some of my favorite wild characters. Hope you enjoy!
"No, no, Katie, baby. You're overreaching. Without lining up your spine to the target, you'll never make fifteen feet. Especially not at that upward angle."
Things like this are commonplace in my life. Combinations of words and action that would be foreign to most parents only make me pause to ensure my physical safety. then again, most parents wouldn't watch their four year old perform acrobatics that would make a circus artist blanch.
Wiggling with anticipation and not a small amount of frustration, Katie eyeballs the thick branch that lies several body-lengths away from where she crouches like a cat. Like the amazing woman who bore them, the girls are dexterous and seem possessed of too few bones to be merely human. Sandy is perched on the branch above her twin, characteristically waiting for the more overt sister to take the first plunge.
With a terrific effort, Katie zeros in on her target and uncoils like a spring. In the moments before impact, we all know she's blown it, flailing wildly as Sandy tenses in need to help. Cursing even as she blurs into action, Dace leaps to intercept as Katie scrapes against the tree truck and begins to plunge. Like a professional NFL receiver, Dace scoops a hand under the wiry little body and uses Katie's own momentum to swing her around and cancel out the pull of gravity. The whirlwind of movement morphs into a full body hug that accompanies Katie's wail of frustration and some small pain.
"Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamaaaaaa! I'm never gonna get it!"
"Pfft!" Dace scoffs and squeezes the girl until she squeaks breathlessly and the wail is cut off. "You get closer and closer every time you make the jump. And you can do stuff that even I can't. So take a deep breath and enjoy your hug for a minute before we try again." Like a giant snowball, Sandy plummets from the tree in carefully controlled freefall. Honestly, I have no idea how any of them stays so remarkably intact, as physical as they all are. Anticipating the falling body, Dace catches Sandy and squeezes her too.
"Can I try, Mama?"
Both of us grownups are surprised by Sandy's quiet request and Katie sighs gustily. She does love to be first, but never begrudges her sister anything. I join the cuddle and echo Dace's adoring expression to the two minxes. "My darlings," I croon and kiss both of their dirty, scratched cheeks. "You can do anything you set your minds to. Even if it takes time and many tries."
My kisses are returned, along with quick, hard hugs from their solid, wiry bodies. First Sandy, then Katie, accept their mother's careful toss into the branches and they crouch side by side on the same branch they have been launching from for weeks. I wrap my arm around my love as we look upward, putting out hearts behind the efforts of these amazing children. With a shared glance, the twins share a new determination, their blue gazes intent on the rough wood that is their goal.
And, together, they fly.
"No, no, Katie, baby. You're overreaching. Without lining up your spine to the target, you'll never make fifteen feet. Especially not at that upward angle."
Things like this are commonplace in my life. Combinations of words and action that would be foreign to most parents only make me pause to ensure my physical safety. then again, most parents wouldn't watch their four year old perform acrobatics that would make a circus artist blanch.
Wiggling with anticipation and not a small amount of frustration, Katie eyeballs the thick branch that lies several body-lengths away from where she crouches like a cat. Like the amazing woman who bore them, the girls are dexterous and seem possessed of too few bones to be merely human. Sandy is perched on the branch above her twin, characteristically waiting for the more overt sister to take the first plunge.
With a terrific effort, Katie zeros in on her target and uncoils like a spring. In the moments before impact, we all know she's blown it, flailing wildly as Sandy tenses in need to help. Cursing even as she blurs into action, Dace leaps to intercept as Katie scrapes against the tree truck and begins to plunge. Like a professional NFL receiver, Dace scoops a hand under the wiry little body and uses Katie's own momentum to swing her around and cancel out the pull of gravity. The whirlwind of movement morphs into a full body hug that accompanies Katie's wail of frustration and some small pain.
"Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamaaaaaa! I'm never gonna get it!"
"Pfft!" Dace scoffs and squeezes the girl until she squeaks breathlessly and the wail is cut off. "You get closer and closer every time you make the jump. And you can do stuff that even I can't. So take a deep breath and enjoy your hug for a minute before we try again." Like a giant snowball, Sandy plummets from the tree in carefully controlled freefall. Honestly, I have no idea how any of them stays so remarkably intact, as physical as they all are. Anticipating the falling body, Dace catches Sandy and squeezes her too.
"Can I try, Mama?"
Both of us grownups are surprised by Sandy's quiet request and Katie sighs gustily. She does love to be first, but never begrudges her sister anything. I join the cuddle and echo Dace's adoring expression to the two minxes. "My darlings," I croon and kiss both of their dirty, scratched cheeks. "You can do anything you set your minds to. Even if it takes time and many tries."
My kisses are returned, along with quick, hard hugs from their solid, wiry bodies. First Sandy, then Katie, accept their mother's careful toss into the branches and they crouch side by side on the same branch they have been launching from for weeks. I wrap my arm around my love as we look upward, putting out hearts behind the efforts of these amazing children. With a shared glance, the twins share a new determination, their blue gazes intent on the rough wood that is their goal.
And, together, they fly.
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Date: 2012-01-06 08:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-06 09:55 pm (UTC)