Caleb - Man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

[brokendoors]

True to his Mama's word, Caleb made it out of The Visit unscathed. And when they'd left, his mom did a lot of hugging to the point he'd actually started pushing her away with a totally age-appropriate 'ew, mom's hugging me!' gross face.

And he didn't think his mom minded, even!
It wasn't until the next day, when his mom was at work, that he made the tiny trek across the complex over to Casper's place.

He wanted to get Casper's input on things.

Comments

[lovestofly]

"Things don't have to change here, though. And, there should always be room for good people, shouldn't it?" There was a little emphasis on good.Casper felt like he was playing the devil's advocate, but then he didn't want to judge a man he didn't know.

[brokendoors]

"Well of course there's room for good people. But that's just it. I don't think he's a good guy." He says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

[lovestofly]

A slow nod. "If he isn't then I doubt you'll have to spend any time with him." He couldn't see Ivy going along with that. "Just give him a chance. Okay? And if there is anything, and you don't want to talk to your mom, you can always talk to me."

[brokendoors]

He tilts his head. Somehow he hadn't considered that, even though he knew he could go to Casper with anything. "Would you tell her what I said?"

[lovestofly]

"Not if you don't want me to." He felt Caleb needed to know that.

[brokendoors]

"Honest?" He sounds a little doubtful. What if he told Casper something that she should know?

[lovestofly]

"Unless it's something really important that she should know." At least he was honest about it. "But then I'll likely suggest you tell her, yourself. Or to put it simply, I'm not going to be going around you back and tell her things."

[brokendoors]

He visibly softens some. When did he get tense? He had such a strange body! "I guess that makes sense. I'll do the same with you." Like there was anything Casper didn't tell his mom, duh.

[lovestofly]

Casper flashed the boy a smile. "I'm counting on it."

[brokendoors]

"So what do ya think of that guy," because he doesn't think Jordan will ever be his actual dad, "comin' around Mom like that?"

[lovestofly]

"I don't know the man," Casper answered with a shrug. "There's not a lot I can think of him. As for him and your mom? I trust her far more than to be worried in any way." It was a bit of a conversation to be having with an eight-year old boy, but he could understand him wanting to know what was happening. Best just tell it straight, and not dumb it down.

[brokendoors]

He thinks that's kind of weird, really. He's seen TV shows where the boyfriend flies off the handle at the thought of another man comin' around his girlfriend, and he guessed that's what was supposed to happen. Maybe not?

"Mom's really trustworthy. She never makes me do somethin' she said she wouldn't. Like make up my bed."

[lovestofly]

True enough that there were people like that, who got jealous as soon as someone even looked at their significant other, and that their exes were The Enemy. But Casper had always been level-headed and rational about it. About exes, there were a reason why they were an ex and not a current, right?

Although... He had once been cheated on, and left for another. And that? That had hurt. But still, what kind of a relationship could he ever hope to have with Ivy if he didn't trust her?

"Precisely," he said, finishing off the last of the ice cream in his bowl. "So I'm not worried. And you shouldn't be either."

[brokendoors]

Somehow Caleb's ice cream had transported itself from his bowl to his belly, and he didn't even remember eating it. Sometimes that happens when he's busy talking. 'But it's hard. I don't want things to change."

[lovestofly]

"Change always happens, though. It's just a part of life, that nothing can stay the same forever. But that doesn't mean it has to be bad." Trust Birdbrain to be all philosophical. "So your father wants to spend time with you and get to know you. That doesn't mean that anything has to change here."

[brokendoors]

He wants to remind Casper that that's not his father, but he rather feels like it's a lost cause. "I.. guess."

[lovestofly]

Biologically speaking, he was. But if there was anyone who could understand that biological ties did not a parent make, it was Casper when he talked about his father, it was father with a definite bitter tone to it. Roger Robinson, on the other hand, the man who had taken him in, and along with his wife had raised Casper into the man he was today? He was dad, said with respect and love.

"Anyway, it's a nice day, so what are we doing indoors?" Fantastic weather, actually. Sunny and warm and with a nice breeze. "Want to go outside and see if we can find something fun to do?"

[brokendoors]

Eventually, in a few years, Caleb will understand this all too well. But now he's stubborn and hurting a little bit.

And there it was at Casper's words: The smile that melted Ivy to pieces. "Yes, please!" Outside! Yes!

[lovestofly]

Casper returned that smile with one of his own. Although... What to do? He'd usually just go flying, but obviously that wasn't an option.

"You can swim, right? 'Cause there's a nice lake nearby."

[brokendoors]

He'd only wanted to throw a ball around! This was decidedly better! "Yeah, I learned at the Y. My grandpa bought me a subscription so that mom and I could go swimming this Summer."

[lovestofly]

"Cool. Let me just call your mom real quick to ask. Maybe she'd want yo come too when she gets off work." Now where did he put his phone? Oh, right over there. These Nexus-lines were really awesome, to be able to reach everywhere. Must be magic.

[brokendoors]

Caleb waits with baited breath. He knows his mom will probably let him go, especially since it's with Casper. But it still felt really.. up in the air, he guessed.

Ivy sounds a little harried when she finally answers the phone. "Ivy Walker speaking, how may I help you?"

[lovestofly]

"Hi, hon. Busy day? Anyway, I'll be brief. I thought I'd take Caleb down to the lake. Is that okay?"

[brokendoors]

Her voice immediately changes, and it's quite obvious she's glad to hear from him. "Hi, honey. Yeah, that would be fine. Which lake?"

[lovestofly]

He didn't think she would say no, and if pleased that he was right. "There's one just nearby. If you wanna join us when you're done at work, just follow the path that goes over the hill behind my building. It's just a ten-minute walk."