Photos in Frames {Logicality} - Contest Entry

Photos in frames on the mantelpiece are full of memories. Done correctly, they tell the story of the household within. Each one is a precious memory captured into a tiny photograph. And this mantelpiece, was full of them. Beginning with the left-most frame...

Awh, Lo I love it! Patton smiled, clutching a small, unwrapped box, in which was a beautifully crafted bracelet with charms of a paw print and two small hearts. I'm glad you do. I designed it myself, Logan said, also smiling but at the joy across Patton's face. You did? Patton asked, surprised. Logan nodded. He lifted the bracelet from the box, and took Patton's hand and wrapped the chain around his wrist, clipping it together. It suits you, Logan said, letting go of Patton's wrist. Patton beamed, and took his phone from the arm of the couch, tapping the camera button. Lean in. I wanna remember this, Patton said, putting an arm around Logan's neck. You're so soft and I love it, Logan laughed. He leaned in close, and Patton lifted his arm from around Logan's neck to show the camera his gift which was glinting with the summer sunlight pouring through the window behind them. And with a click, it was captured, a memory, forever.

Along the mantelpiece we go, to a small, plain frame.

"Woah!" Patton exclaimed, clutching Logan's arms as he clumsily slid across the ice rink. Trees were full of gold, orange and red leaves, floating down and landing in little piles on the grass. The ice rink was surrounded with wooden fences, openings to the grass on every corner, and they could feel the crisp autumn breeze through the park. "Don't worry, I have got you," Logan assured, holding Patton tight. They slowly moved across the ice, getting more and more acclimatized to the feeling of skating. Well, Patton was, Logan already knew how to skate. "Okay, slowly let go of me but hold my hand, and put one foot in front of the other," Logan instructed calmly, and Patton nodded, pushing himself a reasonable distance away but still holding Logan's hand nervously. He skated forward, gaining confidence with every step. Maybe a bit too much confidence, as he gained speed, slipping onto the ice floor and sliding into the fence edge, letting go of Logan's hand. Logan burst out in a hearty laugh and skated over, extending a hand to help Patton up which he accepted gratefully. Patton rested his head on Logan's shoulder, hugging him for warmth. "Do you want to go home?" Logan asked quietly in Patton's ear. Patton nodded gently, and Logan moved so he could skate Patton back to the grass. Patton took his phone from his pocket, and yet again with a click, the memory was captured in photo form, forever.

Further? Yes, the next photo, a beautiful memory, is this one.

"The city is beautiful in this light," Patton said, holding Logan's hands as they strolled casually through the winter beginnings of the town. Remaining autumnal leaves were frosted on the ground, and the sun was setting on the busy city. Patton locked eyes on a simple bench, looking out to the sea, and diverted the twos walk direction towards it, sitting down and watching the sea lap against the rocky coast. "It is very aesthetically pleasing, I have to agree," Logan replied calmly, snuggling closer to Patton who smiled , pecking Logan's cheek. Logan stood up slowly, and pulled Patton's hand up so he'd get up. "What are you doing?" Patton asked, tilting his head like a confused puppy. Logan took both of Patton's hands, took a breath and tried to relax. "I have been in love with you for a long time now, Logan began, Patton slowly realizing what was happening, I believe that I will continue to for the rest of my life. That being said. Patton started to tear up, and Logan bent down on one knee and took a small box from his pocket and opened it, presenting a beautiful yet subtle diamond ring. "Will you marry me?" Logan smiled. "Yes yes yes of course I'll marry you, I love you so much!" Patton exclaimed between sobs of happiness. Logan stood, taking the ring from the box and putting it on Patton's finger, and Patton pulled him into a warm embrace. A smirking friend in a purple hoodie walked suspiciously casually past them with a camera pointed at the scene, and capturing the moment, forever, with a click.

Lets continue, shall we? For the next, is quite a heartwarming sight.

Petals were scattered across the simple church floor. Patton and Logan were standing opposite each other, exchanging the vows as those in the pews sat and watched, smiling happily. Logan's best man came forward, the same friend who wore the purple hoodie that one time, and handed the rings to both men, who put them on each others ring finger. Patton's friends brother, a rather disturbed person shouted, "NOW KISS!!" across the church, causing those in the room to erupt in laughter. Logan smiled, kissing Patton gently, and the priest happily pronounced the two of them, married. Patton burst in a fit of joyous tears, holding Logan's hand tightly as they walked back down the aisle and out of the church doors, petals thrown at them along with happy cheers. The typical, 'Just Married!' car was parked nearby, and the chauffeur opened the car door for them. And on their way to it, the photographer sealed the memory forever with a click.

Oh, were at the end, just one more to go before we reach the present. Shall we?

"Here comes the tickle monster!" Patton shouted playfully, covering a giggling little girl with tickles. A younger boy ran up and jumped on Pattons back, Patton pretending to have been tackled to the ground. The girl wiggled away and stood up, running at Patton and clinging to his arm. Patton laughed, and he took the boy from his back and the girl from his arm, enveloping them in a giant bear hug. "Mabel! Liam! Dinner is on the table!" Logan called from the kitchen. The two kids jumped from Pattons arms and skipped excitedly to the table, climbing onto the big chairs. "Yay I love chicken nuggets," Liam said happily, grabbing one and nibbling the edge of it. Mabel went straight to the fries, picking the longest, crispiest one and dipping it in the ketchup, putting it straight into her mouth and chewing contentedly. Patton came in from the living room, and wrapped Logan in a hug, pinching a spare fry from the tray and munching it, smiling. Logan pecked his forehead and served a plate of food for him handing him the plate before removing the apron from around his torso. Patton took his food to the table and sat down, tucking it whilst chatting to Mabel and Liam about the playtime adventures they had at school that day. Logan joined them with his food, which was different to the others meals, a chicken Parmesan with lightly salted new potatoes. Lets just say Logan liked to cook. "Hey wait a minute, I need to get my camera," Mabel said in the sweetest voice, skipping to the toy box to get her kid camera. She put the camera next to Patton's plate and climbed on Logan's lap, hugging him tightly. "Dada take a picture for the mantel!" She giggled, beaming. Patton did as told, and with the happiest click of his life, he sealed the final memory, forever.

And now we reach the end, just in the nick of time, thank goodness, the family are home.

"I don't care if Stacy has one, I'm not buying you a macbook! Your laptop is perfectly fine as it is, Logan said firmly as he unlocked the door and walked through it along with an older Mabel and Liam. Mabel is around fourteen now, and Liam is twelve, but they both still have their mischievous nature. Patton ran down the stairs safely, and scooped his kids in a hug. Hi dad, Mabel laughed, kissing her father's cheek and hugging him back warmly. "Hey dad did you see any cute dogs at work today? Can we adopt one?" Liam asked excitedly, bouncing up and down after they let go of the hug. "I did. And in fact.." Patton smiled, leading them all to the living room, where a small pet travel bag sat in the middle of the floor. Logan looked firmly at Patton, who smiled guiltily and ran over to the bag. Hearing motion, the cutest golden Labrador puppy poked its head out the top of the open bag, and jumped out of it, wagging its tail happily and bounding onto Patton's lap, licking his hand. Liam and Mabel awed, running and sitting down to meet the bundle of fluff. Logan followed, reluctantly scratching the puppys head." What are we calling him then?" Logan asked, looking at the kids for a response. "Toast," Liam said confidently, causing the rest of them to laugh. "Lo, I think you mean, them," Patton said, waking another puppy from the bag. "Wow really? Two?" Logan raised an eyebrow. The kids awed again, petting the sleepy puppy gently. "This one is a girl. What do you say, Lo? What shall we name it?" Patton asked. "Lyra. After the constellation," Logan said, after brief internal deliberation. "Lyra and Toast, what a duo," Mabel joked, as her fathers and brother laughed together. Mabel took her phone from her bag, which she had dropped at the sight of the puppy. She went to the camera app, and gathered everyone around the bag, lifting the puppy from the floor back into the bag with his sister. She held the phone in front of the bag, and the puppies looked at it inquisitively, as the family smiled for the much awaited click. "I gotta have this printed," Mabel said, looking at the photo, smiling.

Because, photos in frames on the mantelpiece are full of memories. Done correctly, they tell the story of the household within.