Finding The 4077th

Learning

Chris needed this story, to think about something other than that horrid dream. He needed to feel safe again, and right now his dad could do that. He needed that feeling of dread to disappear.

“Okay, let me think,” Hawkeye said thinking about which story to tell.
“Did I ever tell you the story about when I convinced your grandpa to take me shopping, I was sixteen at that moment and I wasn't allowed to drive on my own after I crashed the car.”

Chris gave a small sniffle and wiped his eyes, before snuggling close again.

“It was just a scratch! Barely a dent at all. But grandpa was not happy at all.” Hawkeye always told stories about his father and always referred to him as grandpa, this way Chris would know the man as grandpa as they met.

Hawkeye crossed his legs, one arm behind his head and the other around Chris. Chris thankfully stopped crying, and now he looked really tired. His eyes kept falling shut.

“You see, I was trying to impress this beautiful girl. I think her name was Stacy or Mandy…something like that.” 

Chris yawned deeply as his dad soothed him by pulling him closer, he felt his fear drain away as he listened to the voice of his dad. He felt safe, his dad was here and everything was okay.

“Do you know how embarrassing it is to be driven to your date by your father? ” Hawkeye laughed softly. “You will probably find that out for yourself, especially if you crash the car.”

Chris let out a tired chuckle as Hawkeye playfully nudged him.

“I was telling her how great she looked and everything. She had red hair with these really cute bangs that framed her face.” Hawkeye smiled to himself, thinking about it for a minute.

Hawkeye heard Chris's breathing get deeper, meaning his kid was almost asleep. He gently brushed over the child's head as he continued the story. Trying to sound gentle and happy and confident at the same time.

“I was a real smooth talker, or at least I thought I was, but your grandpa kept snickering in the background. He was a real sport about giving us our space but that man got a great hearing and kept laughing at me. I tell you, that man got ears like a bat!”

Hawkeye grinned, “Not the actual ears of course,” He looked at his son and saw Chris had fallen asleep.

The child looked so peaceful right now, he hoped that he would stay like this for a while, Chris needed his rest.

He gently lifted the boy and moved him over to his bed. Chris made a disapproving groan but didn't wake up. He placed a pillow under the little one's head, the blond hair sticking out in several directions.

He felt a tug in his heart, a feeling that made him smile, he reached out to run fingers through the kid’s hair putting it back into shape. He got undressed and laid down again before drifting off to sleep, thinking about that girl.

The next morning was warm, sunny, and quiet as well, Chris helped Radar with his mail round before breakfast. It would count as his chore today. He also helped feed Radar's animals this morning, but that didn't count as a chore, even though Chris thought it should count as one, his dad refused.  

Chris didn't mind, and he liked delivering the mail, he liked hanging out with Radar, this way they could talk and he could check up on people, making sure they are okay.

Radar seemed in a very good mood today, he was telling about his mother, her birthday was coming up and the two were debating what she would like as a present.

Chris asked if he could write a letter to her instead of buying something, he didn't have any money but he still wanted to say hi. She was the one who bought Wally, and the bunny was perfect! So he wanted to thank her for it, and wish her a happy birthday. Maybe she would like a drawing or a story.