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narrans · 1 month

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My Borrowed Son | 8 | Parker in the Park

Chapter Eight | Parker in the Park

“Momma? Can I have this?” Amanda looked over on the kitchen counter where Parker, the three inch tall boy, was standing and saw he was currently holding a single M&M. Somehow, he had managed to climb the edge of the lunchbox Amanda had set aside and had made it back out with the single piece of candy.

It was humorous, seeing that it was half the size of his head, and Amanda marveled that he was able to get in and out of the lunchbox without getting himself hurt. He had been climbing a lot more recently, which set her nerves on edge. Amanda was determined to find a way to make his climbing a bit safer using rubber bands or safety lines. Something!

In the meantime, she would just have to watch him a little closer, which was hard. He was quick and quiet, unnaturally so for a child his age. He also had a natural instinct for finding tight, quiet places to hide. Amanda had to all but ban playing hide-and-seek after she couldn’t find him for nearly two hours just the week before.

Parker, thankfully, was thoughtful and listened well enough when he heard the rising distress in Amanda’s voice as she called for him to come out.

“Please, momma?” asked Parker again as he readjusted his grip on the slightly melty chocolate candy in his hands. Amanda was brought back to the present and knelt to be at Parker’s eye-level. It was something she read in a parenting book once, and it often worked well.

“Parker, we are getting ready to have lunch. I don’t want you to spoil your appetite, but you can have a tiny piece on the way if you sit by the lunchbox patiently,” said Amanda. She knew waiting was hard for the toddler, but it was more about the exercise and less about ruining his lunch. Waiting and listening were essential skills and Amanda wanted to practice with him now.

“Okay,” smiled Parker as he toddled over to the lunchbox and sat down, keeping the candy in his lap and tapping the top as if it were a massive drum. Amanda knew this might not last long and quickly grabbed the rest of the things they would need including a few thick blankets for the ground, the books they were reading, a couple of toys, and a few little blankets in case Parker wanted to take a nap outside.

Amanda decided that it might be nice to take Parker outside instead of having him cooped up in the house. Childhood was about adventures, even when the child was barely the size of her thumb. There was a different park with trees and a little stream that Amanda found online, and it was barely a five minute walk away.

It would be a little risk, but a lot of kids were still in school for the day and Amanda thought it would be nice to get out of the apartment. She had taken two hours for lunch, taking off the necessary time, and was going to make the most of it with her adopted son.

Besides, he listened well, and Amanda would be paying close attention to him at all times.

Amanda packed her backpack, making sure the strap wouldn’t pinch her front pocket, and went back to the kitchen to find Parker still sitting in the place she left him. He was still playing the piece of chocolate like a drum and, predictably, it had melted slightly and dyed his hands blue. He looked up at her and smiled broadly as he wiggled his shoulders in a “happy dance.” He knew he had done well and was ready for his reward.

“Thank you so much for waiting, Parker. You’re such a good listener,” praised Amanda. Rather than reply, he pushed the M&M toward her and beamed, his eyes eager for his prize. Amanda fulfilled her end of the bargain by chopping up the piece of candy into more manageable pieces and giving Parker two of the small fragments. He gripped the pieces with his blue fingers and began eating immediately.

Amanda took the opportunity to secure the lunchbox to her backpack before snagging a few paper towels, wetting them in the sink, and shoving them into the edge of her pack.

“Ready to go?” asked Amanda now that she was fully prepared. Parker considered the question before nodding, stepping up to Amanda’s extended hand and climbing on. Amanda couldn’t help but still feel in awe that only a few months ago he was shying away from her hand and trembling if she moved too quickly. Now, it was almost as if this was how it had always been between them.

Just her and Parker.

Amanda lifted her hand from the counter and readjusted her shirt one more before asking, “Do you want to go for a pocket ride?” Parker’s soft brown eyes gleamed eagerly as he nodded. It was one of his favorite pass times, mostly because he liked being close to Amanda. His separation anxiety from her was getting better, but it was still a challenge when Amanda didn’t respond fast enough to his calls for her.

Amanda wanted him to know he could call, and she would always come, but being dependent on those feelings was not good. The adoptive human mother, however, didn’t mind bringing him along wherever she went. She liked having him nearby and listening to his questions and random stories.

She lifted her hand and held it flush with her pocket. Parker, knowing what came next, scooched over to the edge of Amanda’s hand and slipped his feet into her shallow pocket before falling right on in. His mess of light sandy brown hair poked out from the top as he stood as tall as he could to watch where they were going.

“Let’s go!” Parker cheered as he threw his sticky, chocolate covered hands into the air.

This pocket is going to need a wash Amanda thought as she gave Parker a little tap on the top of his head and left through the front door.

“Now, remember our game? Sneak and Peak? If I say sneak, what do you do?” asked Amanda as she locked the door behind her. Parker, who wasn’t listening as he was too focused on the chocolate fragment still on his hand, started humming to himself. Patiently, Amanda waited before asking the question again. “Parker? Remember your listening? What do you do if I say sneak?”

Parker’s eyes gleamed in recognition as he giggled and crouched down in Amanda’s pocket, hunkering down in the bottom and holding very still.

“Good job!” Amanda praised. “And what do you do when I say peak?”

Parker was quicker on the draw this time and stood, jostling the pocket as he fought the fabric for a good grip. His little head poked out from the top of the pocket once more as he looked up at Amanda.

“Good!” smiled Amanda. She clapped a few times which prompted Parker to start clapping and repeating, “good, good, good, good,” over and over.

She loved how talkative Parker was. It was almost hard to believe he was practically mute for the whole first month she knew him. It was understandable, given the circumstances, but there was nothing like hearing his sweet voice talk to her and ask her about the world around him.

It was a feeling Amanda knew she would cherish forever, just as she would cherish their games and little moments, which is what they were doing now.

Amanda continued playing the Sneak and Peak game as she walked down the sidewalk, across the road, and along the path until she saw the signs for the park she was headed toward. Amanda had a particular spot she was looking for and keeping the mind of a child from becoming impatient was the goal. So, it did. The game kept Parker occupied all the way until Amanda found a nice little place in the shade by a creek far enough away from trails or any potential people walking nearby.

It was perfect. There was shade and sun as well as dozens of things Parker could see and ask about. He had such a curious mind. This was the perfect place.

“Alright, Parker. Sneak, and no peaking,” said Amanda as she set down her pack and began setting up the area. It was going to be a fun surprise for the child; at least, Amanda hoped it would be something Parker enjoyed.

The blanket and towels made a kind of sanctuary on the ground. She set up the lunchbox and pulled out the books and a few little games that Parker usually enjoyed in a nice little area near the middle of their area. With everything ready, Amanda tapped the top of her pocket and knelt.

“Okay, Parker. Peak,” Amanda instructed. Parker giggled as he grasped the top of Amanda’s pocket and jumped up, soft brown eyes peering up at her as he smiled.

“Boo!” he exclaimed as he giggled, his whole body wiggling excitedly like an overstimulated puppy.

“Oh goodness, you’re so spooky,” chuckled Amanda as she pointed to their picnic. “Parker, look. What do you see?”

The child’s eyes pulled away from Amanda to the scene below him. He was still for a moment as he looked down and out. His silence almost indicated confusion, but seeing his toys and food laid out quickly processed in his mind.

“What’s that?” he asked, his arm wrenching over the top of the pocket so he could point.

“It’s a picnic,” explained Amanda.

“Picnic?” Parker asked.

“Yes, a picnic,” Amanda repeated.

“What’s that?” echoed Parker.

“A picnic is when you eat and play games outside,” said Amanda as she reached toward her pocket. “Want to see?”

Parker nodded and, with little help, managed to climb out of the pocket and onto Amanda’s hand. Setting him on the blanket was a bit of a trick, seeing that the uneven and slightly unstable surface of the blanket seemed to make the miniscule child uneasy. It was the grass underneath that made the blanket a bit difficult to walk across, which was something Amanda hadn’t considered. She thought the blanket would make it easier for Parker to walk across, but elements actually seemed like a trampoline for Parker, giving way under his step and springing back when his entire weight wasn’t on it.

Still, it didn’t seem like he would be deterred for very long. It took only five minutes for Parker to understand how to move across this new terrain and, soon after, he started running and bouncing across the trickier parts of the blanket. It was like his own personal game.

“Momma? What’s that?” asked Parker as he pointed to anything and everything around them.

“That’s grass. It grows inside and outside from little seeds,” Amanda explained. She handed him a single blade and let him flip it around in his hands.

“It’s rough,” he muttered as he pinched it in his fingers. Amanda hadn’t really thought about the texture of grass before. To her, it had always been soft. You could cut yourself on the edges, sure, just like a piece of paper. Amanda then thought about Parker’s perspective and all of the things he saw with him being so much smaller.

His evaluation of the world wasn’t inaccurate, just different.

“Yes, it is a little rough,” said Amanda. “Just like this rock.” Amanda reached over by the creek and pulled a pebble from the edge that was more like a piece of gravel. She set it down in front of Parker, who crouched and rubbed his little fingers across the surface.

“Rough and smooth. Rough and smooth,” Parker repeated as he touched the rock and then touched the blanket. He flopped down on his bum as he continued examining the grass blade. “Momma? What’s that?” The child pointed at the tree currently shading them.

Patiently, Amanda explained everything around them over the next hour. She talked about the trees and the leaves and the grass and rocks. She talked about the creek and how the water helped smooth the stones.

Satisfied with her answers, Parker eventually stopped asking so many questions and simply listened to Amanda as she read some of the books she brought while he chewed on his sandwich and chips. He played with his toys and asked questions from time to time about the book Amanda read to him.

Like a little sponge, he absorbed all of her words and drank in every little answer she gave. It was mesmerizing watching him learn. They finished the first book and then the second and third. They were simple picture books, but it was still no accomplishment to be dismissed.

It was when Amanda continued reading part of The Hobbit that she had started with Parker during that storm that she realized Parker hadn’t asked any questions in a short while. She had been so enthralled in reading aloud to him and enjoying the day that his lack of questions hadn’t crossed her mind as unusual.

Amanda placed her thumb on the paragraph she was reading from and glanced away from the page to the spot where she expected Parker to be – but he wasn’t there.

Amanda’s breath caught somewhere in her lungs and in her throat. She had to force air in her lungs as she tried rationalizing where Parker was. Maybe he had gone back to the bag of chips? Maybe he went over to get his piece of candy from the lunchbox?

Amanda was careful when she pushed herself up so that she didn’t accidentally crush or hurt Parker and scanned the ground for her adopted son. Despite her efforts, Amanda couldn’t see Parker anywhere. He wasn’t by the lunchbox, and he wasn’t anywhere on the blanket.

Every moment that passed made Amanda’s heart race faster. Her mouth was dry. She felt her hands starting to shake. She abandoned the book, head whipping from side to side, as she searched the ground.

“Parker? Parker!” Amanda called as she carefully maneuvered around to see behind her and beside her. Still nothing. Amanda feared for a moment that he might be trying to play Sneak and Peak on his own without telling her. It had only happened one other time, but she was grasping for straws at this point.

“Parker, peak. It’s time to peak,” called Amanda as she tried to choke down the rising panic in her throat. She felt her whole body shaking as she failed to find him.

How could this have happened? He was right there! He was right there with me the whole time! How did he get away from me so quickly?

Amanda felt tears welling up in her eyes when she heard the smallest “oooff” sound. Her eyes immediately fell to the corner of the blanket by her feet, which was closest to the creek, and spotted Parker.

He was climbing back onto the blanket with something in his hands. There was a big smile on the child’s face as he toddled across the uneven surface back toward his spot on the blanket near Amanda’s shoulder.

Amanda choked back a sob of relief as she leaned over and scooped up the child, bringing him close to her face.

“Parker! Where were you? Where did you go? Do you know what could have happened if I couldn’t find you? What would have happened if you fell in the water? What would have happened if you got lost? You could have been really hurt, Parker. Do you know that?” asked Amanda. Her whole body was shaking. Parker’s bright eyes, which were filled with confusion, turned to sadness as he read her facial expression. He had no words and only a soft whimper escaped him as he held whatever it was he found closer to his chest. Tears started dripping down his cheeks.

She didn’t want to scare the child, but he needed to know it wasn’t okay to just wander off. She took a few deep breaths and carefully brushed Parker’s back with her thumbs, keeping him cupped in her hands carefully so he didn’t get scared. The last thing she wanted was to make him scared of being held or being near her, even if he was in trouble.

“Parker, I’m not mad. I was just scared. Okay? Momma was scared. I didn’t know where you went,” reassured Amanda. She rubbed his shoulders as Parker whimpered a little and wiped his eyes with the back of his hands.

He took a few deep breaths and sniffed pitifully.

“Parker, it’s okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just scared. I couldn’t find you. You shouldn’t wander off on your own, okay? It’s dangerous to go somewhere without telling me,” said Amanda.

It took a few minutes to help calm down the toddler, but eventually his breathing resumed normally except for the occasional sniffle. Guilt plagued Amanda. She was worried that she had spoiled a perfectly good day by scolding him for running off on his own.

To help turn it around, she nodded toward the thing in Parker’s arms and asked, “What did you find?”

Parker took a few deep breaths and held out the thing he found.

It was the top of an acorn with the stem still attached. It was about as big as Parker’s torso, but he didn’t seem to be having a hard time carrying it. It was such a sweet, innocent sight. He probably didn’t go too far to retrieve it, but that wasn’t the point. He had left and Amanda couldn’t find him. Any child vanishing would have sent any parent into a panic, but Amanda felt this feeling amplified ten fold because of Parker being so little. He was already so small and helpless.

Still, Amanda would find a solution for this later. For now, she wanted to make sure their day ended pleasantly. Her break was almost over after all.

“Oh? You found an acorn cap?” asked Amanda. She felt herself suck in another breath as she breathed calmly. “Is it rough or smooth?”

Parker ran his fingers over the top of the acorn and mumbled, “Rough.”

“Rough? Yes. It is rough. Rough and bumpy,” confirmed Amanda. Parker muttered “bumpy” over and over. Then, inspired by childish creativity, Parker raised the acorn to his head and placed it on top like a hat. He smiled bashfully up at Amanda, which made her laugh.

“Yes, that makes a wonderful hat,” Amanda chuckled.

“Cap hat. Cap hat,” said Parker. The tense atmosphere dissipated and, just like before, all felt good and wonderful; and just in time too. The alarm on Amanda’s watch went off, signaling the end of her lunch break.

“Okay, Parker. It’s time to go home. Ready to go?” Parker nodded in response to Amanda’s question and slipped into her pocket without issue. As Amanda packed up, Parker began repeating, “Sneak and Peak. Sneak and Peak,” while bouncing up and down in her pocket.

“Yes, sweetheart. Sneak and Peak. Ready?”

The adventure home was uneventful, and the game went flawlessly.

However, in the back of Amanda’s mind, she worried that she couldn’t go and do an activity like this again with Parker out of sheer worry that she would lose him. Her mind was already reeling with possibilities of how to keep him safe while letting him experience things like a normal child.

There was a solution. She just had to find it.

Until then, perhaps they would just have picnics inside.

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Continue

Beginning

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welcometomylittlelife · 13 days

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To my friends...

Hey there! My name is Parker and I'm a little new here. I like writing, poetry, tinkering, and I stream games and stuff from time to time. I'm also a bit of a space nerd and I usually have a favorite book every month, but my all time favorite is probably The Hobbit.

I hope you all like my stuff. I'm just putting it out there to get over my stage fright (fingers crossed).

Anyway, nice to meet you through the screen. If you have any story suggestions I should read here or cool art I should check out, just let me know!

Look forward to hearing from all of you out there and, hey, welcome to my little life!

So long! Parker

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ratcatcher0325 · 1 year

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Today’s my Birthday and I got a wonderful little (heh, heh) surprise from someone really awesome: @kitn-underfoot thank you for the wonderful birthday art!

#giant/tiny #g/t #g/t community #g/t writing #g/t related #size difference #gt #g/t fluff #a fraction of justice #oc:alexander #nobody’s fool #oc:penn #gt community #giant tiny #gtcommunity #g/t art

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angstylittleguy · 5 months

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Dalton's Drawings

An important bonding opportunity for Bennett and Dalton, though neither leave feeling any better.

tw: mentions of suicide

character context: Dalton is a size-shifter whose height is affected by his emotions. Bennett frequently gets stuck in time loops and the only way to get the loop to end is for him to survive the day.

word count: 2.5k

-> In Which Everything Goes Wonderfully Wrong masterpost link: Here

-> character introductions and moodboards: Here

Bennett stalked down the hallway, humming lightly to himself as he pulled his Air Pods from his ears and shoved them in his hoodie pocket, the music ceasing suddenly. He knocked on Dalton's closed door. "Yo, Dalton. You ready to go, man?"

When no response came, Bennett creaked open the door, peeking his head in. "Hey man, are you in here?"

The silence lingered as Bennett scanned the room. Dalton's bed was unmade, something that he never allowed to happen. The guy was a neat freak, never wanting anything in his space to be out of place. It made Bennett quirk a brow for sure. The second red flag was that Dalton's phone was laying on the floor, screen faced up and still playing music from the earbuds that were attached by a thin white cord. Next to it, a fancy crayon that had been snapped in half from the impact of it hitting the hardwood floor.

Bennett stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "Dalton?" He called, his voice much lower now. He picked up the phone and paused the music, placing it on Dalton's desk.

"Are you...?" Bennett got on his knees and peered under the bed. "Ah."

In the far corner of the room, pressed against the wall and almost totally concealed by the shadows of the bed, was Dalton, about the size of Bennett's hand.

Dalton glanced up miserably at Bennett, his heart pounding in his chest because of the massive eyes watching his pitiful form. He buried his head in his knees.

"Hey," Bennett murmured, trying to keep his voice low because he knew how much loud sounds affected him at this size. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, you know." The brunette dryly laughed, his voice betraying the humor he was attempting. "The usual."

Dalton tried to make a joke to lighten the mood, to make the fact that his friend found him sulking under his bed the size of a bug less pathetic, but it didn't help any.

"You're pretty small, did something happen?"

Bennett was aware of Dalton's abilities, they all were. But they didn't see it often— not the extremes, anyway— Dalton would always hide away in his room until the size-changing spell ended. They all knew he hated his abilities, just as much as Bennett hated his. Dalton found it humiliating, and they all agreed to give him privacy when things like this happened. It always felt wrong to Bennett to leave him be when he was going through one of his spells, however. They occurred because of how he was feeling, and to leave him alone felt like Bennett was abandoning him. Maybe when he needed them most.

When Dalton was this small, it meant he had a lot on his mind.

"Just thinking," Dalton said, his voice so small that Bennett had to strain to hear him.

Bennett laid down on his stomach, resting his chin on his folded arms as to not tower over Dalton as much as he could. It had to be frightening to just see a giant head watching him from a crack under the bed.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He already knew the answer, but he figured he might as well ask anyway.

Dalton shook his head. "Not really."

Bennett extended a careful hand, outstretching his arm across the length of the bed so that it almost brushed against Dalton's tiny form that seemed to shift deeper into the shadows. "Do you wanna come out? We can watch a movie or something until you're feeling better?"

He looked at Bennett's hand, it larger than life itself and he so impossibly small. Dalton was on high alert, worried that with one twitch of Bennett’s fingers he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from scurrying down the length of the wall and disappearing into the darkness.

"Listen, dude." Bennett interrupted his inner monologue with a frown. "It's totally okay to be scared right now. Hell, I would be freaking the fuck out if I were you. But you don't have to do anything you don't want to. We can stay in here and hang out, or I can go, you just say the word."

Dalton wiped frustratingly at his eyes, tearing his gaze away from Bennett's hand to look at him. "You don't have to go," he said numbly. "Can we just... stay like this?"

"Of course, man. I don't wanna do anything to make you uncomfortable."

He pulled his hand back to rest under his chin, causing Dalton to flinch with the unexpected movement. Bennett tilted his head to the side with a sad smile, watching his tiny friend wipe at his eyes as his ears flushed red.

"Ugh, this is so embarrassing." Dalton pulled down the beanie he wore so it covered his ears and nearly his eyes. "I hate this so much."

Bennett chose not to speak, and so Dalton continued. "I'm not scared of you, for the record. Just... uneasy, is all."

"That's totally fair, bro. It would we weird if you weren't."

Bennett tried to shift again, adjusting his position on the floor as Dalton watched him with a careful gaze. Finally, he pressed himself up into a sitting position with his hands, Dalton's vision no longer filled with Bennett's face, but rather his legs. He felt his heartbeat increase as the wooden floor creaked beneath the shift in weight.

"Sorry," Bennett chuckled, his voice now coming from high up and out of sight. "Uncomfortable on your hard ass floor."

He sat with his back against the bed now, his legs outstretched on the floor and facing the closed door. Dalton swallowed the lump in his throat as he forced himself to a stand, his entire body trembling as he walked out of the shadows on shaky legs.

(It’s fine. This is Bennett. You trust Bennett. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.)

Dalton bit the inside of his cheek.

(Not on purpose, at least.)

He paused just at the edge of Bennett's line of vision, staring up at his friend's mop of messy blond hair from his position on the floor. He was fidgeting with his hands, opening his mouth to say something but being unable to find the words.

From Dalton's perspective, Bennett was colossal. He was a massive force that could do with him as he pleased and there would be nothing Dalton could do until he managed to shift back to his normal size. And even with this major power imbalance, Bennett was patient and trying his best to look out for Dalton, never doing something that he wouldn't want him to.

Dalton walked out from under the bed, doing his best to mask his uneasiness. "Tell me about it," he said, voice slightly wavering. "I've been stuck down here for the past two hours."

Bennett's eyes widened and he quickly snapped his gaze down to Dalton, causing him to nearly jump out of his skin from the movement. "You've been like this for two hours?"

Dalton nodded sheepishly, craning his neck to meet his eyes.

"Dude, I'm so sorry. If I had known I would have come to check on you sooner."

"Ah, no it's okay." Dalton waved his hands in front of him awkwardly as if he were swatting away the idea. "It's better this way, anyway."

Bennett's frown never shifted from his expression, but his eyes softened just enough for Dalton to notice.

Dalton looked down at his feet.

"So," Bennett said, but his voice trailed off and he never finished his thought aloud. His gaze shifted to Dalton's desk, and he was able to see whatever he was working on from his spot on the floor.

"May I?" He asked Dalton, finger pointed at the desk.

Dalton shrugged, and Bennett shifted a little to grab the unfinished drawing.

It was of Meiling, her smiling complexion colored with oil pastels that showed off her warm skin tone. Half of her shoulder-length black hair was colored as well, but the color abruptly ends and a single black line trails to the edge of the paper, even staining the desk as it was dragged towards the floor.

"This is really good, dude," Bennett told Dalton, looking down at his small form that watched him examine the drawing with cautious eyes.

"But," Bennett said, "I don't think she's into guys."

Dalton flushed red. "Ah! No! That's not why I was drawing her!"

"Dude, it's okay. I'm not judging. I just wanted to tell you you probably don't have a chance with her before you get your hopes up."

Dalton buried his face in his hands and threw his head back. "Noooooo, it's not like that! I just— inspiration struck, okay?"

"Yeah, man. I get it, she's pretty—"

"Oh my god, Bennett. No. Okay, look in my sketchbook at one of the last few pages."

Bennett stood, his height making Dalton dizzy. He stepped closer to the desk, running a finger along the rows of sketchbooks that lined the shelf. "Which one is it?"

"The black one."

"Like, ninety percent of them are black."

Dalton groaned. "Just— put me on the desk."

Bennett's head whipped downwards to stare at Dalton who stood uncomfortably close to his socked feet. "What?"

"Put me on the desk."

"You want me to put you...?"

"On the desk, yes."

"You want me to pick you up and—?"

"And put me on the desk."

"You want me to—?"

"OhmygodBennettjustdoitalready."

Bennett awkwardly squatted, laying his hand flat on the floor next to where Dalton stood. The brunette stared at it for a moment, before glancing up at Bennett's lingering gaze, and climbing on.

The moment Bennett's hand was in motion, Dalton fell to his knees, the uncomfortable feeling of skin surrounding him. He held on to Bennett's thumb for balance, knowing that a fall from this height would surely kill him.

Dalton was deposited on the desk in a matter of seconds, but his legs were weak as he struggled to force himself to a stand.

He trekked across the wooden surface, stopping when he reached the markings from the oil pastel that he was using when he shrunk. He rubbed at it, staining his hands black as he tried to wipe away the marking. Dalton pointed up at the shelf with a newly black finger. "It's that one."

Bennett grabbed the sketchbook, laying it down next to Dalton as he wiped his hands on his pants.

He flipped through the pages, finally landing on a self-portrait in the same oil pastels.

"What do you notice about mine compared to hers?"

Bennett hummed as he stared at the two drawings. "Well, one is obviously of you…"

"Yes, that's true. But what about our faces?"

"You have pale, pasty skin?"

Dalton pressed a hand to his cheek. "No, dumbass. She's smiling."

Bennett looked back to the drawings, seeing the one of Dalton expressing a deep frown, with the most defeated eyes Bennett had ever seen on a person. His face was somewhat red, especially around the eyes and the tip of his nose as if he had been crying just moments before. Compared to the drawing of Meiling, whose eyes were bright and full of life, her smile brighter than lightning, Dalton's self-portrait was depressing.

"Why... why did you draw them like this?"

The brunette blew air out of his nose, glancing down at his feet before looking back up at Bennett's massive form. "I'm sure you've noticed it too," he said, peeking over his shoulder to the drawing of Meiling that laid idly on the desk. Her smile seemed just as big as he was right now. "She's always so... happy."

Bennett cocked his head sideways. "And you're not?"

"How can I be?"

Dalton threw his hands up miserably, gesturing to himself. "I mean, just look at me. I am four inches tall right now. And for what? Because I'm a little sad? I'm a little sad all the time, so this is just my life now! And Meiling? She didn't get stuck with some shitty superpower that affects her everyday life. She's never been happier, and I'm—"

"Jealous?" Bennett finished for him.

"Yeah. I'm jealous."

Dalton sat down on the desk, propping his chin up in his hand. "I used to draw as a way to express how I'm feeling. It normally helps— or it used to— didn't matter if I was sad or angry or happy or whatever. But I can't do that anymore, because, well..."

He gestured half-heartedly to himself again, frown coating his lips. "I guess you wouldn't get it, though. You got pretty lucky—”

"Lucky?" Bennett almost laughed, shifting his position so he stood on his knees and rested his folded arms on top of the desk next to Dalton. "I would not describe my situation as lucky."

Dalton's expression seemed to say, 'then what?' so Bennett continued. "I would describe it as 'The Fucking Worst.' Do you understand how many times I've died? Like, actually, physically died? More than I would have wanted, which means more than once."

Bennett talked with his hands, and with each wild gesture thrown in Dalton's direction, he flinched, debating standing up and moving back further on the desk. If Bennett noticed, he didn't do anything to show it.

"And yeah, it could be useful if I needed a do-over or something, but like, to get that do-over I'd literally have to die. And that's so scary, dude. Like, I can't—"

His words fell short as he wasn't sure what to say next. He glanced down at Dalton who stared at him with big eyes.

"I'm sorry," Dalton said. "That does suck."

"I feel like it happens to me more often than others. Like, normal people only die once." Bennett paused for a moment. "Well, yes, duh, of course people only die once. That's not what I meant. I'm saying, if a guy somehow survives a terrible accident, what are the odds he's going to get into another one a week later? And then in another one two weeks later? Probably not likely, you know?”

Dalton nodded silently.

"But for me, it is likely. I'm like… cursed to die. I think it's the universe's way of forcing me to use my ability. I mean, Rory uses hers all the time. Josiah ends up invisible almost once a week. You use yours pretty often. When do I have a chance to use mine? Dying doesn't happen to someone that often, but the universe needs me to use my ability. So, things happen that force me to use it."

Dalton wasn't quite sure what to say, and Bennett dryly chuckled. "Didn't mean to ramble," he said. "Can we just agree that both of our abilities suck?"

"Yeah," Dalton nodded. "Our abilities suck."

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territorial-utopia · 1 year

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Hello fellow gt enthusiasts! I’ve got some news to share in regards to the gt media list: In Search of Gt. As of now, the list is fully in @gtschnickschnack’s control! I realised I don’t have time to update it so I decided rather than stress about it endlessly I should leave it in the more capable hands of us two C: (Look at how pretty and easy to read it is, that’s all Nick’s doing!)

I apologise for causing extra work on you guys but if you’ve suggested additions to this list to me in DMs or in my inbox and still don’t see them up on the list, could you please go give Nick your additions instead so those movies/series/comics/etc can be added on. Also one more thing to note: this link is a new one. The old one will be decommissioned eventually.

Thank you for your understanding and thank you @gtschnickschnack for starting this document with me in the first place 💖

#giant/tiny #gianttiny #giant tiny #gt community #gtcommunity #i am now in my tying up loose ends era #where i will admit to it when i've taken too big of a bite to chew hah #anyway #aaaa

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cybersoldier82 · 1 year

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Hey vore/gt community? Which setting do you prefer for gt and/or vore?

Sci fi-🛸

Fantasy-⚔️

Or modern-🏠

Reblog/comment which you prefer for either one, you can like all of em or just one, it don’t matter to me I’m just curious lol

Also I’m on team sci fi for both :3c🛸

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selastheblue · 2 months

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Rest in Risenloaf

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Rest in Risenloaf

Within the walls of Risenloaf Flicker rested in amongst the hanging hammocks, cozily curled in one of the larger ones with Hangar behind him holding him tightly, and another borrower girl named Page in Flicker's arms. Both were still asleep even as he lay dozing, slowly waking. He took a deep breath and smiled as he let it out slowly. The colony's main space was wonderfully warm and always seemed to smell of freshly baked bread and sweets.

It really would have been perfect. he acknowledged to himself as he yawned, It's good that a colony is here, even if it ruins my plans. Trying not to wake his new friends he shimmies up and peers below to the other borrowers moving about.

It seemed that he was one of the first to wake as there were only a couple up and about this time of afternoon. There were the chefs, preparing the afternoon meal of course. A couple rearers eating and chatting. And one very very old looking borrower woman that he recognized as Mittens.

Hair greying now and perhaps a bit heavier around the waist then he remembered, she sat away from the other groups of borrowers. Preferring it seemed to watch that goings on. But she did manage to spot Flicker looking down at her from above and waved to him.

He smiled back and waved a bit before working to extricate himself from his two sleeping buddies. Trained in being as quiet and careful as possible, he slipped out fairly easily, with but a groaned snore from Hanger before the bigger borrower squeezed Page firmly in his sleep.

Flicker grinned as he watched them get comfy once more, as he slipped away and grabbed his things. But he didn't bother to dress yet. It was far too hot in this colony to put much on. He could dress after his waking meal, before he headed out into the cold of the bean streets. So instead he descended down to the eatery, and picked a plate of buns cut in half and stuffed with a meat he didn't recognize until he took a bite.

Pork!! His eyes widened as he sat down across from Mittens, "Ham? How do you get your hands on it?"

The older lady chuckled, "Oh they keep a bit in tha kitchens. We take the little scraps they canna make nothin' from. Good, ain't it lad?"

"Mmm.... second favorite." he agreed, swallowing, "Next to fish. Fresh fish!"

"Now where a young lad like you getting fish, let alone fresh fish, eh?" she grinned, leaning back in her chair as he scarfed down his second sandwich.

"Markets. With Buckle years ago. Caught a guppie that fell out of a fisherman's basket. From the lake upstream Buckle said." Flicker answered, "Best thing I've ever had."

"No doubt. I've only had it twice in all me life." she smiled warmly, "May you delight it more than I did. Carefully, though."

Flicker nodded, then changed topics, "I.... have a bit of news from Damperflue."

"Well tella ole Mittens." she encouraged him.

Hesitating for a moment he decided to get the big one out of the way first, "We.... we uh lost Buckle. Just a couple months ago. I'd have brought the new sooner but-"

And Mittens raised a single hand as he went to excuse his absence as a Wayfinder amongst the colonies, "Ye took the time ya needed. And on my word ya could use a bit longer yet. But grief is a funny thing, and maybe wayfindin' in his place'll help ya realize he ain't gone. On his Big Climb, aye. But not gone, he's leavin' you a way ta follow." she said as he sat there silent.

Flicker still couldn't help but look down at his hands, "But-"

"No buts. Or ifs, for that matter." she shook her head firmly, closing her eyes, "Ye need to care yerself a'fore ye can wayfind for the colonies."

The younger borrower sat with that for a minute before he spoke up more quietly this time, "You're.... taking it well. You two were littermates, right?"

"Aye, we were. Long ago in Dartmouse." she nodded once, "Don't take my composure for apathy lad. I'm just a bit more accustomed to loss by now. Buckle ain't the first I seen go.... but perhaps the hardest on tha heart. How'd he pass?"

"In Damperflue, surrounded by the colony. He collapsed one day as we were gearing up to go wayfinding, the healers said it was his heart going." Flicker answered, eyes a bit wet, "Pale and shaking...."

Mittens opened her eyes, and frowned, "Ay, don't remember 'im like that. Tell me, lad, when he was showin' you to be a Wayfinder, what was your first borrowin'?"

Flicker took a breath as he remembered, "Uh it was, my climbers hook."

"Bring 'er here." she encouraged him, gesturing to his pack he'd placed at the end of the table, "Lemmy take a look." Flicker obliged, grabbing his clothes as well as he did. He handed over the hook, before donning his pants. "Hmm, a good one. Steel. With a double hook on 'er."

"Yeah, Buckle suggested that one, out of the other fishing hooks in the box." he smiled slightly before chuckling, "I almost gave us away though, tripping over the edge of the tacklebox, and I fell into the pile of sharp hooks! Buckle covered my mouth to stifle the scream I let out. We got out and away from beans enough that he could patch me up."

She smiled at that, "Oh an' I can betcha he gave ya a right scoldin', eh?"

"Oh like you wouldn't believe!" he smiled, tears threatening to spill over, "He got me to name it. My hook. Seemed a bit silly to me to name it at the time. But he said a good hook is a lifelong friend."

"Ha, ole fool. He always named his things, if they lasted. What'd ya name it, lad?" Mittens prompted him.

"Cat's Claw." he responded as he took it back from her, looking it over for a moment before re-hooking it to his bag.

Mittens smiled a bit wider, and let that feeling sit for a moment as Flicker's eyes got lost in memories. Eventually she says softly, "That's what ya need to hold onto, lad. What time ye did have. All yer days wayfindin'. All his lessons. That's the way he's leavin' ya to follow."

Flicker's face was red again, but he smiled with Mitten's words as he wiped at his eyes, "Thanks Mitt."

"I aint done more then remind you what matters." she shook her head once again, then with a brief moment as pause she added, "Caught a whisper you an Buckle were to make this place a colony. While I'm sorry ta say I beat the ole fella to it, there was another prospect he had his eye on. Back in tha day of course. Might do ye just as well."

Flicker looked to her, interested and happy to get some relief from the weight of grief. A distraction welcome, "Oh? Where, and why didn't you two make a colony there before?"

"Cross the river from Damperflue, on the corner O'Maple drive an' Main street. Little old abandoned shop it was. Little cold in the winter, and sparse in food. But it could work, if ye get hands hearty an' skilled."

"I think I have seen the place once, from the outside. A big front window on both levels, with big bean doors on the right and left side of the ground floor? Old red chipped paint?" he clarified.

"That'll be her." Mittens affirmed.

"I'll take a look, I think." he nodded a few times, "We already had colonists ready to help us, and I'd rather not dash their hopes. Many were excited for the chance."

"Then I say why not, eh? Give 'er. Do the ole fella proud."

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#g/t #borrowers #gianttiny #giant/tiny #gtfluff #g/twriting #gt #micro #wayfindertales #OCFlicker #OCDahlia #borrower #gtcommunity #g/t writing #giant tiny

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gt-con · 3 years

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Gartic Phone today 10.10.2021 in 2 hours at 3PM GMT / 11AM EDT

Join our Discord server to gain access! Lurkers are also very much welcome C:

Don’t know what Gartic Phone is? Here’s a handy link to find out more: https://garticphone.com (the rules scroll by on the right side of the screen)

#gtcon #gianttiny #giant/tiny #gtfluff #gtcommunity #gt community #size tumblr #g/t #sfw gt

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witcherfan · 2 years

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#giants #history #tiny #gtcommunity #gianttiny

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tinyliltina · 4 years

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I don’t wanna get political but here we go

Giants who call tinies little one?

👉👈😔

Please keep doing it thanks

#tina talks #trope time #the little things man #looming over tinies and calling em little one?#god tier #gt #gianttiny #giant tiny #gtcommunity #giant tiny community

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rosella35 · 2 years

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G/T Stories Appreciation

For everyone who’s followed my stories over the years, you may already know that I’m a pretty inconsistent contributor to the G/T community, but this year has been by far the most challenging! As much as I’ve wanted to keep writing Borrowed Courage and post more art (and fanart) on here, I’ve been struggling through the final year of my psychology degree at university, and while it’s almost over, it’s taken up a lot of the time that I used to spend engaging with the amazing creators here on this platform.

So basically, I’m writing this post to give all of my favourite giant-tiny stories (and their authors) a well-deserved shoutout! There have been a few series that I’ve binged while stressed from thesis-writing this year, and a heap more that got me through high school and plenty of other stressful times in life, so without further ado, have some recommendations!

A Tall and Small Collection by @narrans - Definitely one of my staple reads this year! For anyone wanting a wholesome yet angsty story about a borrower family and their resident human, this one is a must! Narrans is an incredibly talented writer, and I can’t wait for the much-anticipated paperback of ATaSC coming out soon!

Watch Your Step by @not-a-space-alien - Hands down one of the most creative takes on the ‘human catches fairy’ trope. Thistle is such a well-developed character, and the interactions he has with his human roommates are so entertaining (and have literally made me laugh out loud at times!). If you’re after a slow burn trust-building story, then I couldn’t recommend this one more!

Nobody’s Fool by @ratcatcher0325 - I binged this whole story the other night after submitting an essay and it was incredible! I usually don’t read too many pet trope works anymore, but this one warmed my heart for a good reason. I loved the journeys each character went on throughout the story; especially Penn’s. It's always so empowering to read about a character overcoming prejudices and using their story to inspire others!

A Fraction of Justice - another one by @ratcatcher0325 which deserves just as much praise as Nobody’s Fool! Alexander is such a strong yet vulnerable character, and I am loving he and Natalie’s story so far. Seriously amazing writing, especially during the emotional scenes!

Online Dating Can Be Hard by @duckit7 - Seriously such a sweet story about two people developing feelings for each other in a mixed-size world. I love the world-building in this one, and how realistic the characters and their struggles are. Definitely worth a read if you like slow burn romance with a sprinkle of angst!

Gulliver’s Children by @rosabea6 - This one’s a webtoon about a teenager with a size-shifting disease. Once again, some crazy world-building, and scarily realistic scenes. Also, the art is absolutely incredible! I’ll flag that this one is for mature audiences since there are some violent scenes, but overall hands down the most amazing G/T themed comic I’ve read!

Perspectives Series by @hiddendreamer67 and @arc852 - I'm not part of the Sanders Sides fandom, but this series was wild! I can’t believe how many different scenes and tropes you guys managed to write over such a short period; it’s beyond impressive. If I had to pick a favourite, it would have to be ‘Switched Perspectives’, since I’m a sucker for size switching shenanigans (and in this case angst)!

Borrowtober Series by @Nicole08196 over on deviantart - This one doesn’t get old! A super cute story about a family of borrowers and their two resident humans, with a really fresh perspective on the lives of borrowers. Nicholas and Darius would have to be my favourite pair; their guitar practicing bonding sessions are so wholesome!

Trust Series by @creatorofuniverses and @neonthewrite over on deviantart - As if I would forget mentioning the trust boys. This one has a special place in my heart, since I basically went through high school following along with the series (and now here I am at 23)! For those who haven’t read it yet, Trust follows the lives of two viri (who pretty much live like borrowers) and their human counterparts, and has four main AUs so far. Definitely worth checking it out!

Spirit of Adventure - also by @creatorofuniverses , with a supernatural twist! Basically a viri who can see ghosts, his ghostly friend and a team of human detectives out fighting crime. What could go wrong?

The Prince and the Faeling - another amazing series by @creatorofuniverses which you can find at @askthefaeling . It’s an angsty story about a spoiled prince and his snarky fae companion.

Brothers Apart by @nightmares06 - This series definitely takes the throne for most prolific! Even if you’ve never watched Supernatural, Brothers Apart and its many AUs explore just about every G/T theme under the sun, and with incredible writing to boot! If I were to pick a favourite, it’d have to be a tie between ‘Brothers Adopted’ and ‘Brothers Lost’, but all of the AUs are amazing in their own right ^_^

I also want to give a special mention to @neonthewrite ’s Bowman of Wellwood, @keydekyie ’s The Moth and the Bear, and @bittykimmy13 ’s Christian and Gloria stories for being my G/T nostalgia bombs, the first two of which are now published! If you haven’t already, go check them out!

I’m sure there are many more writers who I’ve missed, so please add them in if you’d like! Huge thank you to you all for doing what you do! ^_^

#gianttiny #gtcommunity #g/t community #g/t writing #g/t author #author appreciation #the borrowers

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narrans · 22 days

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My Borrowed Son | 11 | First Day of School

Chapter Eleven | First Day of School

Parker wasn’t sure why he was so jittery. Well… he did, and yet he didn’t. There were a million things going on in his mind, and yet he couldn’t summon the right words.

His mom had done it. He was going to school.

Well… kind of.

He was in virtual school, which was the next best thing. Parker knew he couldn’t attend normal school because of his condition, but that didn’t matter. Now, he would get to see other kids and hear all sorts of new things from his teachers. There would be homework and reading assignments and, if he was lucky, he would make some friends.

Parker had on his best shirt and made sure everything was tucked in and that his hair was combed out thoroughly. He had been waiting for this moment all summer and he was not about to leave a bad impression or get off on the wrong foot.

Something in the little boy was making him shiver and shake with both excitement and nerves.

What if the other kids didn’t like him?

What if he wasn’t smart enough to keep up with the work?

What happened if he was too smart?

Would he be bullied?

Or would he be welcomed with open arms like any other kid?

Was his condition going to make the others uncomfortable?

What if they asked too many questions about why he got to stay at home and go to school virtually?

Parker took a breath to calm down his mind. It was something his mom taught him. To reinforce the calm he was trying to bring over himself, Parker remembered his conversation with his mom.

“Now, Parker, remember what I said about your condition?” Amanda had asked him earlier that day and every day for the past two weeks.

“It is a rare condition that the doctors are still figuring out. I’m just like you, just a bit fragile,” recited Parker at the drop of a hat.

“If there are other questions about how you’re fragile?” prompted Amanda.

“It’s hard to explain, but it’s basically what it sounds like. My body is delicate. I can break bones easier and stuff like that and being outside makes my body react poorly. It also means I grow differently, so I’m a bit small for my age,” explained Parker. At that moment, Dr. Melissa Hargrove’s words also rang in his ears about how Parker’s body was just like any other kid’s body, just a bit smaller.

For whatever reason, Parker wondered why Dr. Hargrove, his pediatrician, knew about his condition, but he couldn’t find a lot of information about it online.

It’s not like it mattered in the long run.

What mattered was that Parker was getting what he wanted – a chance to be a normal kid.

His entire setup was a bit unorthodox, but it was necessary. Parker had a webcam perched on top of a few wooden blocks so that he was front and center, just like some kind of CEO in a company. His mom had purchased a nice desk for him as well as some bookshelves for him to put his notebooks.

Not only had his mom purchased a nice desk and bookshelves for him, but she also made an expansion to his room so he could have a study space. Everything was set up nicely, making Parker feel like he was in an office room like his mom’s office. It made him feel very grown up.

A computer was nearby so Parker could watch the screen and feel like he was part of the class. If he had a question, he had a few buttons he could press to raise his hand virtually. If he was having some tech issues, his mom was permitted to assist. If he misbehaved, his special permission to be virtual could be revoked.

But Parker was determined to make sure he never lost these privileges.

He intended to be the best student that ever was at this school.

As he readjusted his camera and his desk with his paper and pencils arranged just so, his mom paced not so quietly nearby. Her footsteps sounded like small earthquakes to him. It made the table tremble rhythmically. His mom’s pacing was usually soothing. The miniscule child had fond memories of falling asleep to his mother’s pacing. This time, however, it was making him feel anxious.

It wasn’t until he heard his mother’s signature tongue click that he knew she wanted to say something. He suspected she had a few things on her mind, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to hear.

“Parker, sweetie, do you need anything else before class starts?” she asked.

“No, momma. I have everything,” said Parker. Something about the apprehension in his mother’s eyes made Parker feel uncomfortable. There was a part of him that was afraid she would change her mind at any moment about him going to school, not that she had done anything like that in the past.

“You sure? You don’t want any water or a snack?” asked his mom. Parker shook his head and smiled up at her.

“I’m sure, but thank you,” said Parker. “Momma? Don’t worry. I’ll be good. I’ve got all my supplies and I’ll be fine. I promise.” He pushed himself away from his desk, glancing at the computer screen to make sure he was still on time, and walked over to the edge of the desk.

“I know, and I’m trying not to worry. I just want you to have a great first day.” His mom approached and knelt, her eyes lingering on his eyes. A child’s intuition and innocents are unparalleled, and now was one of those moments. Parker didn’t understand all of the emotions his mother was going through, but what he did know was that she needed reassurance. The moment felt right, so Parker reached out and rested his hand against his mother’s cheek.

“I’ll make you proud, momma.” His words immediately brought tears to his mom’s eyes, and it took everything in her willpower to not scoop him up and pull him away from the world. He was too sweet – too pure – to be exposed to the outside world.

If a mother’s worries were astronomical, Amanda’s were incomprehensible. The terror of Parker being revealed as a miniscule child that could fit in a human hand was almost crippling. The fear of him doubting himself or not succeeding in everything he deserved to succeed in made Amanda want to cry. The desire for Parker to be accepted and to make lasting friendships was stronger than adamantium.

She knew parenthood was going to be a challenge, especially with a small child like Parker, but she didn’t think emotions this intense would possess her.

Amanda wanted to say so much more, but the flicker of the computer screen revealing a classroom caught both her and Parker’s attention. He looked back at her and beamed, a smile spread from ear to ear, as he hurried back to his desk and pressed the “on” switch to his camera.

There he was on screen. The image flicked on and revealed the classroom on the big screen. It made Parker feel like he was watching a movie with his mom, except this one was interactive – real.

The camera picked up all of the sound of the buzzing classroom, which made Parker’s hair raise. It was an odd sensation, but something in the back of his mind begged him to flee and hide away from the camera. The other part of him that ended up winning out had him stay put on the camera and sit patiently as he waited for class to begin.

Where did that sensation come from?

Why was it always nagging him in the back of his mind?

Parker pushed it from his mind as he focused on the other kids in the classroom, absorbing every detail of the classroom. There were at least twenty other kids, all of them around Parker’s age, and they were walking around the room and talking to one another. Based on his position in the room, Parker suspected he was at the front of the room by the teacher’s desk since he couldn’t see it in the picture of the class on his screen.

The desks were arranged in groups of five, making Parker think that his area was set up at one of these five desks since he could only see four other desks around his screen but five desks at all of the other spots in the room. It made him wonder who he was going to be with and if they would get along. His palms felt sweaty and his insides flipped and churned nervously.

The clock at the front of the room was counting down to 9:00 a.m. Each second, Parker felt a fluttering nervousness swirling inside him. He spotted a few of the kids looking and pointing at the camera, many of them covering their mouths and leaning toward one another as they whispered.

It made Parker squirm uncomfortably. Were they talking about him? And, if so, why not just come over and talk? He recited the questions and answers in his head that he and his mother rehearsed, the anticipation of talking to someone new for the first time starting to make him antsy.

Still, he wanted to put his best foot forward. He smiled and waved at some of the nearby groups, but that only made the other kids look away.

The miniscule boy wondered why.

He was just like them, just not there in person.

Perhaps they just know one another from the other grades? Friends gravitate to one another from grade to grade. Maybe they’re just as scared as me?

Parker smiled again and waved as a group of three girls walked past his screen. All of them had this weird look on their face, like it was a mixture of confusion and disgust.

Were all girls like this? Parker wondered.

It felt like a punch in the gut, but Parker was determined; at least, he started off determined.

When the bell rang and no one approached, Parker was feeling defeated. Could the other kids see him? Did he look like some kind of screen robot? Or was this just how things were going to be?

Oh well… I wanted to go to learn too… Parker thought. I guess making friends is harder than I…

“Hey, are you new here?”

Parker was pulled from his thoughts to see a massive face of a girl about his age leaning forward toward the camera. She had charcoal black eyes and black hair that was spun in tight, curly spirals. She had a little gap in between her front teeth, and it was clear she had lost a tooth recently at the bottom left of her jaw.

Again, that instinct to flee and hide welled up inside of him, but Parker choked it down as he fidgeted with his penicils.

“Um… uh… yeah. Hi! Sorry. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Parker. What’s your name?” asked the anxious ten year old. The girl leaned away and stared at the screen, her penetrating eyes making Parker feel like she was actually looking at him, before she looked directly into the camera.

“I’m Bailey. Bailey Johnson. Don’t you have a last name? Daddy always taught me to say your first and last name when you meet someone new,” said Bailey as she folded her arms across her chest and leaned forward on her desk.

“R-right,” stammered Parker, feeling like he was starting to flounder already. He wasn’t going to shy away from this though. He cleared his throat and straightened up. “I’m Parker Silverstein. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” beamed Bailey as she shimmied in her seat. “Um… why are you on a screen? It’s the first day. You sick or somethin’?”

Parker didn’t have a chance to answer, not that he was eager to do so. It was the first time he was going to put his question answering to the test, but it was cut short by someone striking a triangle that hung over the whiteboard.

“Alright, everyone sit down and get ready. We’ve got a lot to cover today and, if you were in my class last year, you know the drill,” said a tall man at the front of the class. He wore black rimmed glasses that reminded Parker of the ones Clark Kent would wear in the comics to disguise himself from being Superman. The man had sandy blond-brown hair, much like Parker’s hair, but he had pale blue eyes that reminded Parker of glacier ice that he had seen in his science books. The man looked young, but he held himself with the confidence of someone older than him. The man began to pace back and forth at the front of the room and continued to speak, which quieted the room.

“For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Mr. William Tamplin. You may call me Mr. Tamplin unless you’re my mother, which I don’t think any of you are, and I’m your homeroom teacher. I’m also you English instructor, math tutor, and I sometimes hold kickball tournaments for your grade range. I play the French horn and give piano lessons on weekends. Tracking?

“Good. Now, today is very simple despite all we have to do today. First and foremost, let’s get up from our chairs and give ourselves a little shake. First day jitters always keep me moving, and I can see some of you squirming in your seats already. So, let’s stand and shake.”

It was an unorthodox method to begin with, but a little more coaxing had the students standing and shimmying and shaking. Some of the kids started laughing, and even Parker stood and found himself laughing a bit at watching everyone get out their first day jitters.

Already, this was making him feel comfortable.

“Alright! Everyone back in your seats. We’re going to be doing a lot of these things throughout the day, so stay still until I ring this bell. As soon as you hear it, stand and get out those jitters. Okay?

“Good! Now, first and foremost we need to introduce ourselves. We’ll take turns, but let’s start small. Look at your classmates and shake everyone’s hand and introduce yourselves. You have thirty seconds. Go!” instructed Mr. Tamplin.

Parker had to admit that his teacher had a special way of conducting the room, and soon he had the names of the other five kids at his table. There was Bailey, of course, but also Davis, Lyanna, and Billie.

All of them asked, almost in unison, why Parker was on a screen and not at the table. Lyanna seemed less interested like Davis, who was currently drawing on his desk, but Bailey and Billie seemed genuinely curious as to why Parker wasn’t there with them.

“Well, it’s a bit complicated, but I have a medical condition. It just makes me a bit fragile, so I have to have school at home,” replied Parker.

“Lucky,” mumbled Davis as he continued drawing on the desk.

“Davis, you shouldn’t be doing that. It’s disrespectful,” scolded Bailey as she turned her charcoal eyes back to Parker.

“So, you’re sick a lot? That’s gross,” said Billie. “But you look fine to me. When I’m sick, I have snot, like, dripping down my face like the nasty monster. Like this. Blleehhh!” Billie proceeded to pretend snot was coming out of his face as he dragged his fingers down his nose.

“Ew! You’re disgusting,” Lyanna said as she rolled her eyes.

“You’re disgusting,” Billie shot back.

Parker was about to interrupt, but Mr. Tamplin rang the bell again and everyone stood and got out their jitters, something Parker was enjoying. It made him feel relaxed and connected to a class he could only see on a screen. It also distracted his table from the current argument they were about to engage in.

“Alright, now everyone needs to introduce themselves to the class, okay? One at a time so we can get to know your face. Just like I did, stand and tell us your name and a little something about yourself. It can be something you like doing. It can be your favorite television show or book. Ready? You have ten seconds and then the first student is whoever I point to. Go!”

One by one, the students stood up and introduced themselves, willing to participate in this game-like activity set forth by Mr. Tamplin. Parker was having a great time until, finally, he saw Mr. Tamplin’s eyes focus on him and his finger point directly at the screen.

“Okay. You. Who are you?” asked Mr. Tamplin. Parker suspected Mr. Tamplin already knew who he was, but it was part of the activity. Suddenly, Parker’s heart was in his throat and every thought was wiped from his mind.

Who was he?

What was his name?

What was he supposed to say?

Parker felt a mixture of nausea and excitement as he stood up from his at-home desk and cleared his throat. His heart was pounding a hole through his ribs. The edges of his vision seemed to blur and refocus.

Then, somehow, the words just came to him.

“Hello, my name is Parker Silverstein. My favorite book is The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, and I like inventing and making things,” said Parker. He took a breath of relief as he waited for Mr. Tamplin to instruct him to sit back down.

“Well, Parker, nice to meet you. Everyone say ‘Hi Parker’.”

“Hi Parker!” Everyone echoed back. It was the same thing everyone had done to one another the entire class.

“Now, Parker, would you like to explain why you’re on a screen? Or do you want to save that for another day?” asked Mr. Tamplin. The ten year old child felt a pit form inside him. It made him feel a bit awkward to be called out in front of everyone, but he kind of wanted to get it over with all at once.

Plus, Mr. Tamplin had given him an option of now or later.

“Um… I can tell them now. Um… so… I have a… um… medical condition. It’s a bit rare and it basically just makes me a bit fragile, so I have school at home,” explained Parker.

“Wonderful. Thank you for sharing Parker. Now, onto the next!”

Just like that, without any extra hassle, Parker had explained to over twenty other kids that he was just a little bit different, and no one had any other questions.

Though it was bound to happen, Parker was grateful that Mr. Tamplin didn’t open up the floor for discussion. He didn’t like all of that attention on him if he was being completely honest. It made his skin crawl and he felt like he needed to duck away and hide under the desk away from the camera.

At the same time, it was exhilarating. Parker had just made so many new friends, and some of them were right there at his table.

The day continued, for the most part, without incident. There were a few teachers that came into the room and had additional questions for Parker who emphasized to the class that he was going to get all of the same homework, additional lessons, and supplementary material like everyone else, but no one seemed interested in the particulars.

There was one teacher, Ms. Kendall Kain, who pulled Parker’s monitor to the side to ask, as she said, some “follow up questions.” Many of them were about specifics of his condition followed by a somewhat implying statement about Parker not looking sick. At some point, Parker called in his mom to answer some of Ms. Kain’s questions, which quieted Ms. Kain for the rest of the day.

Parker loved all of his teachers, except for Ms. Kain with her wrinkly brow and thick rimmed glasses held on by a gaudy beaded chain, and he was more than ready to tackle the literal stack of homework he was given.

After that incident with Ms. Kain, Parker’s mom peered in from time to time to give him a little thumbs-up, to which Parker always returned the gesture.

The rest of the day ran smoothly, ending once again with Mr. Tamplin.

Parker logged off from class and, with excitement, rushed out to his ladder to run to his mom to tell her all about the day he had at school. This was a promising start to his educational journey, and a tart to even greater things to come.

Parker was sure of it.

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

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