John Baptiste. [powered_otaku]

[sweetsalome]

        It's one of those perfect summer days, one that isn't too hot, too humid. Right after a hard, cold rain, that cools everything down and leaves just enough moisture in the reserves for when the sun shines high over head. Salome's Grandparent's house sits on three acres of land, enough for a great back and front yard, but not enough to be considered country. Far back away from the road, it rests on top of a slight incline, that is just right for sledding when the snow falls in the winter. Two stories tall, it's painted white with blue shutters, that get repainted every two years, a task that her grandfather complains about, but always does proudly. There is a front porch and a back porch, maybe some years ago they were connected, but it seems someone had gotten rid of it years before.

On the back porch there is a swing, it's chain rusted and when it rocks back and forth it squeaks. Not an annoying squeak, but steady and simple, it's sound changing with the back and forth movements. It's one of the things on grandpa's to do list, but never seems to get done. There are four old apple trees a few feet away from the back porch, in the spring their leaves turn dark and about mid-summer the married couple talk at great length over what is the perfect time to pick the fruit. In the end, their largest issue is what to do with the apples they don't eat, turn into preserves, or bake into pies. The setting is idyllic, and for the most part, so is life in the Snyder house.

But like most things the exterior does not match the interior.  The Snyder's have an almost rabid hatred for anything to do with Liam Collins, and who can blame them?  The man took away their daughter, and through lengthy court custody battles, have left them with very little money to survive.  Despite the fact that they can't get a third year law student to look at their case, they still hold out hope that they will one day have their daughter back.  It's painfully obvious, and a weakness that is easily exploited.

       This morning, Salome and Jonba sit on the back porch with finger paints and large sheets of paper.  An old book with pictures of paintings sits propped up on the railing.  Salome is trying to convince the boy to make a painting like the vase of flowers in the book.  The boy needless to say is having none of it.  He is much happier smacking his multi-colored hands down on the paper, or just rubbing his chubby fingers around in circles in globs of paint.  Painting is just not a talent that the Collins possess, clearly.  It doesn't seem to matter, the boy is laughing and having a great time of it.

Comments

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Jonba nods wisely, anyone who wants to play is okay in his book. He watches Hiro for awhile before turning back to his own sheet of paper. Leaning against the older man he starts to paint, trying to mimic what he sees Hiro doing.

Salome watched them both from the side lines, remaining quiet yet watchful. Jonba had just started being social and she wasn't sure how he would handle it. "How have you been, Hiro?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro looks up from his picture, still with the grin on his face. "I have been fine. I told Chuck about us. He was very happy for us." He dips his fingers into water that Jonba has probably not bothered rinsing his fingers in and goes back to yellow. He starts drawing stick figures in yellow. He doesn't know how to really draw human. He makes an obvious girl holding hands with a little yellow figure and another stick figure holding hands with the girl.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"You did, really?!" She sounds a little surprised, she's use to being kept a secret and she hasn't told anyone yet. The reason why is simply her age, anyone she would tell would roll their eyes and lecture her on the fact that she's too young to make a decision like this. As far as they are concerned, they can go pound sand.

Getting off the swing, she walks to both of them and kneels down next to Jonba. The boy looks up and smiles before pointing to the picture Hiro is working on. "Who dat?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"I told Katsumi first, then Chuck." He's not really sure he should tell her who Katsumi is. He doesn't want to scare her after all. "I invited them both to come."

He points to the yellow little figure. "That's you. And this is Salome." He points to the girl figure. "And that is me." He points to the last figure.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"You are doing much better then I am, I haven't told anyone yet. But there's a reason for that, last thing I want is another age lecture." Her fingers comb through Jonba's hair as he leans over the picture to study it more intently.

"Nice picture." He remarks, with the critical eye only a two year old could have. "We play picture?" Which loosely translated to ask what they were doing in the picture.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Pffft, age is hardly the problem here. It is not like I am 15 or more years older than you. And since we are waiting until after your 18th birthday, you will have every right to marry who you wish."

Hiro is not completely sure what Jonba means, but he certainly understands that they're now finished painting. "We can play swing Jonba, too."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Hey, you are preaching to the choir, but people have issues with it. You would be surprised how much crap I get about my age. Even when I am eighteen." Her voice is soft and she glances back toward the screen door, telling her grandparents was something she was going to do later. She has no idea how they are going to react.

"Swing, Jonba?!" The boy looks very interested in this and climbs up to his feet before offering his dirty hands to his mother. "Clean me!" Salome raises an eyebrow and he corrects himself. "Please!"

"Would you like to hose the boy off?" Now that should be interesting.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"I think it is that way everywhere. They think anyone in their teens is a bundle of hormones and cannot think for themselves." He actually knows that he was, but then he didn't have anyone interested in him. At that age he was still extremely awkward.

"Hose him off or throw him in a sink?"

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"It's crazy, forty years ago they were getting married at eighteen, that was the norm." She has massive problems with any sort of age of consent laws, especially since it seems so arbitrary. At least when she turns eighteen there won't be any question about it at all, and that's coming up. Soon, thank Jesus.

Jonba, hearing the word hose got very excited, "hoseee!" Salome nodded in agreement and picked the boy up. "We get to hose him down, the old fashioned way. There's a hose around the side of the house."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Not too much older than that they were getting married much younger. And still there are many places where very young people are married or even betrothed. As a matter of fact, my sister mentioned taking me to a pro nakodo a few months back."

Hiro trots off to find the hose. When he finds it, he turns it on, holding his thumb over the spray to blunt the force of it. "Ready?"

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"pro nakodo? What's that, it sounds very fancy. Point is, in America everyone thinks that you are too young when you are eighteen, and everywhere else thinks you are too old." Laughing she walked Jonba to the side of the house and set him down on his feet.

Holding his hands out to the spray he stamped his feet excitedly. "Weady! Gooo hose!"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"A...matchmaker, I think that is the term - someone who acts as a go-between to get people married. Eighteen is a good age, but it's an age of great fluctuation. Some people at 18 are very intelligent and know what they want, others are stupid and flighty and should not be trusted with a burnt out match."

"Ok, here it comes!" He moves his thumb more and more back until the water is at a tolerable level and starts spraying his hands.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Oh okay, like in Fiddler on the Roof. I wouldn't trust half of the kids at my school with a burnt out match, or a piece of string. Actually string might be considered a deadly weapon." Looking up at Hiro, she winked, and stepped back a little so she wouldn't get so wet.

Jonba laughs happily, rubbing his hands together as he dances under the spray. Without warning he sticks his head under the water and shakes his head like a dog.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Fiddler on the Roof? Maybe if it was a very small piece of string they could be trusted. Like an eighth of an inch. Definitely not a burned out match."

Hiro lets a little more pressure on the hose and lets him get his head wet. He wonders if Jonba wants to get completely wet. He lets a little bit spray the collar of his shirt.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you know, 'If I were a rich man. . .da da da da. . .' Jews, Cossacks, c'mon, not a big fan of musical theater?" Raising her eyebrow, she laughs, and then sighs. "You have no idea what damage one of those barbies can do with a burnt out match."

Jonba is so excited he starts running around in circles under the water before crashing into Salome's legs. She grabs him and goes down, before whispering in the little boys ear. Getting up, Jonba wiggled his butt before charging Hiro's legs.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"I do not know that. There is not much musical theatre at home. Barbies? Like the dolls?"

Hiro watches Jonba charge, then says "Oh no!" And pretends to back up in horror while keeping the water on Jonba.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"You stick with me, we'll watch some musicals. Yes, plastic, blond and perfect. They are beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside."

The little boy continues to giggle, fighting against the water, clearly trying to get Hiro. Getting up from the ground, Salome sneaks around to try and grab her boyfriend so Jonba can get him.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Ok. Just do not make me sing any of the songs. I do not like plastic women. Real ones are much better."

Hiro continues backing up, keeping his eyes on Jonba He lowers the pressure of the water a little bit so he won't have to fight so hard against it.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"I think we've had the singing discussion, and have you been with a lot of plastic women?"

The little boy finally grabs on to Hiro's legs, holding him tightly and soaking his slacks. Salome is laughing too hard to do much of anything but hold on to Hiro's shoulders.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Not been with as much as known a few. Girls who only care about certain boys and making sure their make-up was perfect. They also want to land the richest husbands or the ones that will be famous."

"Oh no!" Hiro cries in mock horror. "Now I am all wet!" He sprinkles the hose over Salome's arms. "I will not be the only one!"

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Grinning she presses her lips to his ear, she whispers softly. "I don't need the richest, or the most famous husband. Just you."

At the feeling of the water, she jumps back and wrestles the hose from him, spraying him with the water. "This means war!"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro picks up Jonba and shields him with his body. "Oh no, I will protect you! Salome is a meanie!" Of course, Jonba can see over his shoulder. He's not holding him hard, just in case he wants down. He's not sure how much Jonba likes to be carried.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Jonba wraps his arms around Hiro's neck and giggles. "Mean,'ome! Get 'ome!" He's having a blast, and laughs when Salome gives him a look. Now with the hose she sprays both of them, "I'll get both of you!"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Oh no you won't, Meanie!" Hiro starts running at her, still carrying Jonba, chasing her around.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"No! No! You'll never get me!" Still she runs, laughing before stopping to spray both of them before running again. Up against the house, she aims the hose at Hiro's middle.