Relocating an old solo originally logged in his journal.
Backdated to 9/30/15.
Many would argue that doing homework was a far cry from "living life," but as far as Cliff was concerned he was living life right there at his desk, perfectly fine with doing his homework on a Saturday night. His friends had called him to see if he wanted to hang out, his parents wanted to watch a movie downstairs, but...no. There he was in his room, perfectly content. And why was this?
Because it was a night he'd spent out as a senshi for the past who knows how many months--basically since he was awakened--and for the first time he took the idea of it being a mandatory task and tossed it out the window. This Saturday, he was the one who was deciding where he spent his time and what he spent it doing. And tonight he was doing his homework ahead of time for once, so he could concentrate and get it done right. So he could understand it, and of course so he could pass his classes and make his parents proud.
A smile had etched itself across his features as he scribbled away, working on a book report on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. He'd spent most of Friday reading it (and also not going on patrol) and now he was doing the reporting part, and for once he was happy to do it. He wasn't rushing...he was going about it as he normally would have before all the craziness that came with being a senshi. Even just a chibi senshi. When finally he finished up the last sentence and dotted the last period he stapled the papers together and stuffed them in his folder.
"That's the last of it," he said aloud, wondering what else there was he could do to make the most of his Saturday night. In the midst of his thinking there was a knock on the door and he went to answer it, then gave a beaming smile up at his mother who narrowed her eyes curiously at him.
"You're in an awfully good mood, Cliff," she said a little suspiciously. Still she wore a smile and was carrying a small plate of cookies and a glass of milk on a tray for him. "I thought you could use a snack but...are you all done?"
"Yeah, mom!" was his enthusiastic reply. "I got through my book report and math homework and spelling homework!"
The smile on her face was one he'd missed very dearly, and once she set the tray down he hopped up to give her a bear hug. Or his version of one, anyway.
"Ohhh, I'm so proud of you!" she said as she tightened her hold on him. He laughed and returned the squeeze, and for a moment it was a competition of who could hug the other person hardest. He won, of course, and she let him go. "How about that movie, then? Your dad and I haven't started it yet, we couldn't decide what to watch."
Clifford watched her a moment before going to retrieve the cookies and milk she'd brought up to him. "How about the movie for the book I just wrote a report on, it's called 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe'!" Cliff walked alongside her as they made their way down, eyes on his mom the entire time. She put on a thoughtful look before finally nodding.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind a family movie," she said, then walked ahead of him. "Honey!"
Cliff hung back a little and sipped his milk before he changed his trajectory straight to the living room. He wanted to claim the best seat in the house after all. It was a family movie night! Now if that wasn't living, he wasn't sure what was.
645 (gdocs)
