After the brief incident with the street thugs, their mother seemed to place even greater emphasis on warmth and security within the family.
Perhaps it was the worry over her husband Claude’s prolonged silence, or perhaps it was the children, especially Mercy’s unspoken but vaguely revealed “self-defense ability,” that made her realize the outside world was not always friendly.
She decided to devote more of her free time to direct interaction with her children.
This weekend, the sun was bright, and the clouds in Radiant Star’s sky looked like fluffy cotton candy.
Their mother suggested a picnic at “Crystal Lake Park,” a place not far from home known for its tranquility and beautiful natural scenery.
“A picnic!” Robin clapped her little hands happily at the suggestion, spinning in place, her short blue hair and white wing-like halos dancing along with her.
“Mom, can we bring the picnic blanket with the star pattern?
And also, I want to bring Bella!” Bella was her favorite cloth doll in a puffy dress.
“Of course, my little princess.” Their mother smiled gently and began to methodically prepare the picnic basket, filling it with homemade sandwiches, fruit salad, small cakes, and juice.
Sunday, meanwhile, took the initiative to help check the inventory, making sure nothing was forgotten, such as wet wipes, sunscreen, and emergency bandages.
Like a little adult, he meticulously sorted and placed each item.
Mercy watched her busy mother and brother, her heart warm yet tinged with a faint, almost imperceptible bitterness.
She knew her mother was using these moments to fill the void left by their father’s absence, trying her best to keep the family whole and happy.
She bounced over to Robin and said cheerfully, “Robin, how about Sister makes you a flower crown later?
Wearing it on your head would look perfect on our little angel!” “Really?
Thank you, Sister!” Robin’s big eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Once they were all ready, the family headed to Crystal Lake Park.
True to its name, the park’s center featured a large, crystal-clear lake that reflected the blue sky, white clouds, and the weeping willows swaying along its shores.
The lawn was a vibrant green, like a giant carpet dotted with unknown wildflowers.
The air was filled with the fragrance of grass and earth, occasionally punctuated by the crisp chirping of birds and the distant laughter of children playing.
Their mother spread out the blue picnic blanket adorned with silver stars and arranged the food.
Sunday helped secure the corners of the blanket to keep it flat and stable.
Robin, with great care, placed her Bella doll on the cleanest corner of the blanket so she could also “enjoy” the view.
“Alright, my little darlings, time to enjoy our picnic!” their mother announced.
The children cheered and gathered around the picnic blanket.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled spots of light on them, warm and comfortable.
“Mom, this sandwich is so good!” Mercy took a bite of the ham and cheese sandwich and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.
“Mm!
The fruit salad is so sweet too!” Robin used her small fork to pick up a strawberry coated in yogurt, eating it with such gusto that a bit of white cream smeared at the corner of her mouth.
Sunday ate his portion slowly and methodically, occasionally offering an “objective” review.
“The saltiness of the ham pairs well with the richness of the cheese.
The softness of the bread is also just right.” Their mother watched the children eat with relish, a happy smile on her face as she temporarily set aside her worries about her husband.
She picked up the pitcher and poured cool juice for each child.
After they finished eating and rested a while, Mercy remembered her promise.
“Robin, come here!
Sister will make you that flower crown!” She took her little sister’s hand and led her to a nearby patch of flowers where many small white and yellow wildflowers bloomed, along with soft foxtail grass.
Though Mercy was not particularly skilled with her hands, she made up for it with patience.
She carefully selected the flowers and wove them together with the foxtail grass.
Sunday followed them but did not join in.
Instead, he stood to the side like a quality inspector, occasionally offering “suggestions.” “Sister, the stem of that flower on the left appears to be 0.3 centimeters shorter.
It may affect the overall structural stability.” Or, “The ratio of yellow to white is approximately three to seven, which conforms to the visual aesthetics of the golden ratio.” Mercy laughed at his comments but kept working.
“I know, I know, little expert Sunday!
Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Robin gets the most stable and beautiful flower crown in the whole world!” Robin crouched beside them, resting her chin on her hands, watching her sister’s fingers work with wide, unblinking eyes.
Her little face was full of admiration and anticipation.
Before long, a slightly rough but rustic and childlike flower crown was finished.
Mercy carefully picked it up and, as if performing a sacred ritual, gently placed it on Robin’s head.
The small white and yellow flowers dotted her blue hair, complementing her pure white wing-like halos beautifully.
She truly looked like a little flower fairy who had stepped out of the forest.
“Wow!
It’s so pretty!” Robin was overjoyed.
She carefully touched the flower crown on her head, afraid of damaging it.
She ran to her mother, twirling to show it off.
“Mom, look!
Sister made me a flower crown!” Their mother’s eyes were filled with tenderness and admiration.
“It’s beautiful!
With this on, our Robin is the prettiest little girl in the whole park!” Robin then ran to Sunday and looked up at him.
“Brother, does it look good?” Sunday examined it seriously for a moment, then nodded and gave his highest praise.
“Yes.
The structure is stable, the color coordination is harmonious, and its compatibility with your overall appearance is over ninety-two percent.
Very…
good-looking.” Robin was completely satisfied and burst into giggles.
Her crisp, melodious laughter sounded like the most beautiful birdsong in the forest.
She began running joyfully across the lawn, like a truly happy little bird, the flower crown on her head glinting in the sunlight, her skirt fluttering behind her.
“What a lovely little Robin,” Mercy said, watching her little sister’s joyful figure with heartfelt admiration.
She turned to Sunday and winked.
“Right, Sunday?” Sunday watched his little sister, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He gave a soft “Mm” in reply.
Their mother took out her portable camera and captured the heartwarming scenes.
Robin running with her flower crown, Mercy and Sunday standing side by side laughing, and the sunlit, shimmering lake in the background.
After running around until she was tired, Robin returned to the picnic blanket, her little face flushed and beaded with sweat.
Their mother gently wiped her brow and handed her some juice.
“Mom,” Robin nestled against her mother and said softly, “I wish Dad could have come too.
Dad would have said my flower crown was pretty too.” The air fell silent for a moment.
Their mother’s smile froze briefly, then softened even more.
She held her youngest daughter closer and spoke in a slightly subdued voice.
“Mm…
Dad is busy with work.
When he comes back, we’ll all come together again, okay?” Mercy and Sunday exchanged a glance, both catching a trace of shadow in each other’s eyes.
Mercy quickly tried to lighten the mood.
She pulled something out of her system space, making it look like she was taking it from her small bag.
It was an item that had appeared in the shop a few days ago: a [Dancing Sunflower Potted Plant].
It was a small, toy-like mechanical sunflower.
Pressing the button on its base made it sway left and right to a simple built-in tune, its golden petals glowing.
“Look, Robin!
This is a dancing sunflower!” Mercy pressed the button, and cheerful music began to play.
The little sunflower started swaying in a comical manner.
Just as she had hoped, a child’s attention was easily diverted.
Robin was immediately drawn to the novel toy and leaned in with curiosity.
“Wow!
It’s really dancing!” Even Sunday was intrigued.
He crouched down to examine its mechanical structure.
“It uses a simple gear and eccentric wheel mechanism to achieve the swaying motion.
The glowing part is a low-power LED…
The design concept is quite clever.” Their mother shot Mercy a grateful look and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
In the afternoon, the sunlight grew lazier.
Their mother leaned against the shade of a tree, resting her eyes.
Sunday brought out his book, Interstellar Civilizations Myths and Legends: Continued Volume, and read quietly.
Robin, tired from playing, hugged Bella and the dancing sunflower, leaned against her sister, and began to nod off, her little head bobbing drowsily.
Mercy looked at Robin, who was leaning on her shoulder, her breathing gradually steady.
Her long eyelashes were like two little fans, casting faint shadows on her rosy cheeks.
The flower crown remained firmly on her head, making her look so serene and lovely.
This was the smile she wanted to protect.
This was the peace she wanted to safeguard.
She adjusted her position slightly to make Robin more comfortable, then relaxed herself, savoring this rare, warm afternoon.
A gentle breeze swept across the lake, carrying the moist air and the fragrance of flowers and grass.
In the distance, the faint sounds of laughter from the amusement park could still be heard.
“Sister…” Robin murmured in her half-asleep state, a vague dream speech.
“…love…
everyone…” Mercy’s heart swelled to the brim.
She lowered her head and replied in the softest voice, “Mm, Sister loves Robin too.
Loves Sunday.
Loves Mom…” And Dad.
She added silently in her heart.
Wherever you are, whatever you’re facing, please come home safely.
Sunday looked up from his book at his sisters huddled together, on the verge of sleep, then at their mother resting nearby.
He closed his book.
He said nothing, simply sitting there quietly like a little guardian, watching over this brief, precious moment of peace that belonged to them.
A real bird with vibrant plumage landed on a nearby branch, tilting its head curiously at this warm little family.
It let out a few crisp chirps, as if calling out in response to the “little Robin” in her dreams.
Sunlight.
Lawn.
Lake.
Family.
And a little Robin so lovely she could melt anyone’s heart.
This was perhaps the gentleness most worth treasuring before the turmoil arrived.