Cloude ► Take your son to play something, the boy would like to spend more time with you
Cloude is a grown up man but he’s terrified of knocking on his own son’s door. He can’t help but laugh a bit of himself. But. He takes a deep breath and with a sudden spurt of bravery, he knocks.
“Jules? Can I come in?”
For a moment, silence. Then shuffling and then the door opens to the freckled pre teen. Still wearing his soccer team’s uniform. A bright white and green with hints of red.
“You’re early” he says with his usual accusatory and statement-setting voice. Something he often hears on Zarai.
“Finished work early” he shrugs. Something that shoots Julian’s eyebrow up. Cloude clears his throat “I wanted to, uh, make some time and, well, go to the park with you. You know. Play some soccer” Cloude was screaming inside in embarrassment at the way his son looked at him.
“Dad, Im sorry, but, you suck at soccer”
“Well, yeah. That’s why I was thinking maybe you could help this old man with a sneaky ball?” He licked his lips before letting out a shy smile. Julian stared at him for a while.
“Don’t you have lots of work to do tomorrow?” The kid asks staring at the floor. Noticing the sneakers on his father’s feet. Getting a bit of hope.
“Nope. Sundays are free days. Besides, Last day of summer before school, right? Must make the best out of it” The face Julian made was sincere surprise before it turned into a grin.
“...and would you teach me how to play chess after?” Cloude blinked. His favorite game? With his son? He couldn’t help but smile.
“You have a deal”
Cloude had made sure no sore knees from years of drinking got in the way of a promising late Saturday evening with his son. His stomach may resent it, but who cared? Not him. Not after Julian had eagerly taken his ball and walked down the stairs with him to get the chess board.
