.. suiting up ..
“I don’t know, darling angel.” Cressida regarded her son thoughtfully. “I really think you ought to have a proper costume. I mean, you already look like a little knight twenty-four, seven. It’s not much fun dressing as yourself.”
Quixana looked down at his tabard and shrugged. “But it’s comfy,” he replied. “An’ a knight is a good thing to be.”
Sinking to the floor beside him, his mother absently rearranged her skirts before holding out her hands. After only an instant’s hesitation, Quixana took the cue and cuddled up on her lap. The lap seemed smaller, he thought. Either he was growing or Mommy was shrinking. He closed his eyes as she gently began playing with his hair and shifted to rest his head against her shoulder. “Well,” she said finally, “there are other things that are like knights.”
He considered this solemnly as she continued to stroke his soft, brown hair. Then, after a long few moments, he lifted his head and smiled at her. “Okay. I can be like a knight. Um… What’s like a knight?”
“Well…” She laughed and bent down to press her nose against his. “Do you remember those movies you and Daddy were watching the other night?”
“The cowboys?” He pulled back so he could nod without injuring her. “They all had horses an’ guns an’ talked… like… this… Pardner.” He giggled at his own childish attempt to mimic John Wayne.
“Exactly! Clever boy.” Cressida heaved her son back up onto his feet and then flowed to her knees so she was in front of him with both hands on his shoulders. “How about a cowboy?”
He considered this and then nodded. “Only if I get a white hat,” he insisted. “Those are the good guys an’ I’m a good guy.”
Laughing, she kissed the top of his head before standing and offering a hand. “You’re always the ultimate good guy, darling angel,” she agreed. “You’re my knight in shining armor. Come on, then. We have to find you a cowboy hat.”
“Okay.” He looked over his shoulder. “C’mon, Courage. We’ve gotta go shopping.”
If a feline face had been able to express a dubious look properly, Courage would have been doing so in spades as she stood to follow them.
I’m not going to be your horse, Xana. He only laughed and squeezed his mother’s hand. Maybe she would let him help pick out Anemone’s costume, too. That would be lots of fun!
