bookblather: Lucy Hale looking back over her shoulder with a smile. (in the heart: Ahava: Lucy Hale)
bookblather ([personal profile] bookblather) wrote in [community profile] rainbowfic2013-09-06 01:48 am

Stars and Stripes 1, Nile Green 1: Go Fourth

Author: Kat
Title: Go Fourth
Story: In the Heart
Colors: Stars and stripes 1 (“If our Founding Fathers wanted us to care about the rest of the world, they wouldn't have declared their independence from it.”), nile green 1 (Scarab) with shadowsong's paint-by-numbers (Ahava and Duncan and creepy crawlies))
Supplies and Materials: Canvas (Duncan and Ahava are about six), stickers (Fireflies and glow-worms are neither flies nor worms. They are both beetles.), beading wire (fireflies), feathers (start with 3| the best day, end with c| hugging a friend), seed beads.
Word Count: 518
Rating: G
Summary: A good day.
Warnings: Bugs. That's it.
Notes: Kiiiiids.


"I found a bug," Duncan said, and held it up for Ahava's inspection.

Ahava turned over and examined the bug, which was a very good bug—it had at least six legs and a hard, shiny shell that shimmered under the last few flickers of sunset. "That's a cool bug," she said, at last. "Hey, Tim! Duncan found a bug!"

Tim, secure in his dad's lap, didn't so much as blink. On their other side Elspeth shrieked "Ew!" and Jeannie, huddled over a book and a flashlight, rolled her eyes.

"Keep your bugs to yourselves, kids," Ahava's mom said, calmly. "Elspeth, come look at this."

What Elspeth was supposed to come look at, Duncan didn't know, nor did he bother to find out. Instead he brought his cupped hands back to his lap and let go. The bug sat in his palm for a moment before it whirred off into the night.

"Bye, bug," he said, rather sadly, and Ahava, beside him, bumped her head against his knee, comforting.

Honestly it had been a really good day. He'd been allowed to sleep over at Ahava's house, and first thing in the morning after Ahava's dad's pancakes they'd got to paint the dogs red, white, and blue (they'd had to walk them first but worth it). Archie, the golden, had been like way into it, but the Sheltie had wiggled a lot. Then they'd all gone swimming and in the afternoon Ahava's family and Duncan's family and a bunch of other families had a block cookout and he and Ahava had beaten everyone else in a three-legged race (they'd been practicing for a month and had set up the race special). And now they were all lying in the park waiting for the fireworks, because it was the Fourth of July and that was what they did.

But the fireworks were late and Duncan was bored, so he was looking for bugs.

"Oh!" Ahava said suddenly, and jumped to her feet. "The fireflies are out!"

Duncan looked up and there they were, little flickers of light against the gathering dark. "Mom—"

"Go," his mom interrupted. "Just stay in sight, okay?"

"Okay!" he chirped, and tore off after Ahava.

Behind him, Jeannie was saying something about them not really being flies, but whatever, Jeannie was being such a know-it-all lately anyway. Elspeth was complaining and Mom was trying to get them both to be quiet, but it didn't matter, because Ahava already had caught three whole fireflies and he only had one.

Seven fireflies later and they were even, playing catch and release, until the little sparks of fire were drowned out under a splash of green and red across the sky.

Gasps and oohs rippled across the crowd, and Ahava threw her arms around Duncan. There was a firefly stuck in her hair, he saw, and he put both arms around her, hugging his best friend for all he was worth, because she was there and it was summer and there were fireworks and bugs, and there was no way life could be better right now. No how.
kay_brooke: Stick drawing of a linked adenine and thymine molecule with text "DNA: my OTP" (Default)

[personal profile] kay_brooke 2013-09-06 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, this is beyond adorable! I love Ahava and Duncan's friendship.

(Did I read that right? They painted the dogs?)
isana: (chopsticks)

[personal profile] isana 2013-09-06 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I really like this, how you've taken a moment of childhood summer and captured it perfectly. I can smell the barbecue and suntan lotion from here even though it's September and beginning to cool down in my neck of the woods.

[personal profile] sharpeningthebones 2013-09-06 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww, this is precious <333 These kids are just the most darling little things.
blossomdreams: (Default)

[personal profile] blossomdreams 2013-09-07 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Aww this was so cute. :)
shipwreck_light: (Default)

[personal profile] shipwreck_light 2013-09-12 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
OMG.

Catching fireflies was one of my favorite childhood pasttimes.

And you...

Seven fireflies later and they were even, playing catch and release, until the little sparks of fire were drowned out under a splash of green and red across the sky.

I didn't get to do it this summer! BUT I GOT THIS. AND I AM HAPPY.

Thank you, luv.
shipwreck_light: (Default)

[personal profile] shipwreck_light 2013-10-11 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
YES

AND NOTHING BURNED DOWN

...that's kind of an issue here.

*HUGS*
dark_kana: (Writer's block)

[personal profile] dark_kana 2013-10-01 01:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, don't we just love the summer. Such happy childhood memories. ^^
I'm a bit jealous now. :p
I especially love your ending. <3
And OMG, did they paint the dogs? Paint? :-O :p