“It means you’re being mean.” I clicked my tongue, a sound of pure annoyance.
“Not like I can actually do anything.” “He’s just being a child,” Garrett said calmly, his voice carrying that infuriating patience that made me want to throw something at him.
“Let him be.” “Oh?” I smiled.
It wasn’t a nice smile.
“Wonderful.” Garrett suddenly sounded cautious, his head tilting slightly.
“…What?” “I have an excellent idea.” “I don’t like the sound of that.” “Doesn’t matter” I closed my book with a decisive snap, the sound echoing through the quiet room.
“This is absolutely perfect” I stood up, brushing imaginary dust from my clothes.
“What’s going on?” Garret asked skeptical.
“Why don’t you put him to bed tonight.” I said.
He thought he was smart?
If he wanted to support Theo then he was going to deal with the consequences that came with taking care of him.
It was my house and I made the rules.
I was going to teach him a listen.
He was going to be drained as hell when I was done with him.
Garrett immediately shook his head, a gesture so quick and vehement it was almost comical.
“I can’t.
What are you-” Before he could say anything else— “Mister!” Theo spun around so quickly he nearly tripped over Gogo.
His eyes were wide, his face split by a grin of pure, unadulterated joy.
He ran bs k into the house.
“Are you putting me to sleep tonight?” Garrett opened his mouth, desperation flashing across his features.
“No—” “Yes,” I answered for him, my voice bright and cheerful.
Garrett turned toward my voice, his expression a mixture of betrayal and alarm.
“I did not say yes.” “I can’t possibly move into Theo’s future castle.” I shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance.
“So you’ll have to start learning how to take care of him.” “I absolutely will not.” Garret said.
Theo gasped happily, his small hands clapping together.
“Really?” His eyes sparkled like twin stars, his excitement so palpable it seemed to fill the room.
“Mister is putting me to bed?” “He’s joking,” Garrett said quickly, his voice taking on a desperate edge.
“I’m not.” Garret said, shaking his head.
His opinion didn’t count though.
He was going to put Theo to bed regardless of if he wanted to of not.
And Theo was excited about this too.
“Theo.” I pointed toward the goat, my gesture firm and final.
“Go tell Gogo goodnight.” “Then Garrett will tuck you into bed.” Theo practically bounced with excitement, his entire body vibrating with barely contained energy.
“Yay!” He stuck his tongue out at me, his expression dripping with triumph.
“Better than you.” I stared.
“…This child.” Theo giggled, the sound bright and infectious, before running outside.
His small feet pattered against the wooden floor, then the porch.
He crouched beside Gogo, his voice carrying clearly through the open door.
“Goodnight, Gogo.” The goat answered with a loud bleat, the sound echoing across the mountain.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Another bleat.
“Don’t be lonely.” Bleat.
“I’ll become rich soon.” Bleat.
“I’ll buy you your own mountain.” Bleat.
“…Good.” He nodded as though the goat had wholeheartedly agreed with his financial projections.
As if the animal had just confirmed that yes, Theo would indeed be a millionaire by next Tuesday, and yes, Gogo would absolutely get his own personal mountain.
Finally, he hurried back inside with the biggest smile on his face, his cheeks flushed with cold and excitement.
“I’m ready!” Theo ran back into the house.
He was so excited about Garret putting him to sleep.
He was trying to get back at me.
In his little head we were in a fight.
I give him till tomorrow morning to forget about this fight and start yapping about some dream he had.
Before Garrett could escape, Theo grabbed his hand with both of his tiny ones, his grip surprisingly strong for such a small child.
“Come on, Mister!” Garrett stumbled to his feet, his usual grace completely abandoned.
“Theo…” “No.” Theo tugged harder, his small body leaning into the effort.
“Bedtime.” “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” Garret said trying to escape.
“I’ll teach you.” Theo said.
Of course he will.
I learnt it too.
“I don’t think that’s how this works.” Garret said.
No matter how much Garret tries to escape and tries to get out of this situation he wasn’t going to escape.
Theo had chosen him as his favorite this night.
Theo ignored him completely and continued pulling, his determination unwavering.
Garrett sighed the sigh of a man who had accepted defeat, his shoulders slumping in resignation.
As Theo dragged him toward the stairs, Garrett turned his face toward my voice, his sightless eyes somehow finding me in the darkness.
“I hope you’re happy.” “Oh, I am.” “Very happy if I must say.” I smiled at him.
“You’re so annoying” Garret groaned.
I simply smiled back.
There was nothing left to say.
Theo kept pulling, his small voice chattering away about bedtime stories and songs and the proper way to say goodnight to all his toys.
“Hurry, Mister!” Garrett reluctantly followed behind him, one careful step at a time, his hand still trapped in Theo’s possessive grip.
I leaned back against my pillow with the biggest grin on my face, my earlier frustration melting away into pure, vindictive satisfaction.
Served him right.
If he wanted to side with Theo over that ridiculous goat…
Then he could deal with Theo’s bedtime routine.
I certainly wasn’t going to warn him that bedtime involved saying goodnight to every single one of Theo’s friends.
Including the dead beetles and every dead friend of Theo.
And all the children and nieces and nephews and so on.
The sound of Garrett’s reluctant footsteps faded up the stairs, followed by Theo’s cheerful instructions and the occasional, bewildered question from the poor man who had no idea what he had just signed up for.
I closed my eyes, still smiling.
For the first time all day, I felt like I had actually won something.