Weekend With Grandpa

"Are you guys ready to see grandpa?!" Martin asked his son James and his daughter Alexis. They both cheered in a drool filled and raspberry-blowing uproar. They were both two years old so they were not always able to give the most thought-provoking response. But they knew what grandpa meant. It meant a kindly old man doting on them, telling them stories and of course the intoxicating scent of peppermint.

But somehow Martin had been dreading this trip for the last week. He wasn't sure why quite yet. He was usually okay with visiting his dad with the kids but lately he had felt quite negative about this little adventure.

But his machinations were put on hold by the famous capital S driveway of Grandpa's cabinesque mountain house. "We're here!" He exclaimed to the dynamic duo who, it appeared, were trying to clap. "Yaaay!" He cheered, sounding less excited than he intended.

As he unleashed 'thing 1 and thing 2' out of their car seats, their grandpa Jack opened the front door of his pudding-brown house and cheered "Heeey it's my two favorite little sprouts!" James and Alexis' eyes both widened, which was then followed by nervous giggling. They knew what was coming next. Jack charged at them with a ferocity unbecoming of a man his age and gave them both a tremendous bear-hug, knocking the wind out of them. They coo'd and giggled as he picked them up and spun them around in the air.

"Careful, dad." Martin warned to no effect. He smiled to himself. It always felt great to see his kids and his dad together. Jack set the twins down and went to greet Martin without quite the same enthusiasm. He gave him a firm handshake and a pat on the shoulder. "How're you doin' son?" Martin offered a weak shrug and a smile, followed by a mumbled "Purty good... you?" Jack nodded. "I've just been trying to stay busy up here, you know? It's nice to have visitors." For the first time, Martin wished his mom and dad were still together and felt a rush of sadness hit him, but he quickly shrugged it off.

"Who wants some chocolate milk?" Jack asked as he opened the door to the fridge while Martin and his kids sat at the dining room table. He poured a big glass for himself and two sippy cups for James and Alexis. Seeing those sippy cups set off something in Martin... because they used to be his. To recover from the shock, he looked down at the table, but this too was the same kitchen table from his childhood. And then all he could think about was breakfast on the morning of the second day of 3rd grade.
***
"You're gonna be late Jack, come on! Hurry up!" Jack's mother Rebecca urged her son, glancing at her watch.

Jack picked up his glass of orange juice and prepard to take a big sip... but his grip on the glass was not what he thought it was. The glass tumbled out of his grasp and all over his shirt and the floor. "NOOO!!! Jack that floor is expensive!!! Clean it up!!" His mom shrieked. Martin stared down, petrified at what he had done.

Just then they both shuddered as they heard some booming loud footsteps coming from the bedroom.

"Shut the fuck up, both of you!" Martin's father ordered, deep circles under his eyes. He glanced at the floor and looked deep into Martin's eyes.

"Did you do this, Mart...?"

"It was an accident, dad! Honest" He spat out quickly. But as he looked into his dad's eyes, practically glowing with rage, he knew it was too late. He knew what was coming. With a ferocity unfit for a man of his age, Jack smacked Martin on his right cheek and pounded him with his fist in his side. "Don't ever let me catch you acting like that again, you little shit." He warned before turning around and retiring back into the bedroom.

"Oh Martin," His mother choked out quietly, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Are you okay Martin? Martin?"

* * *

"Martin? I said, do you want some chocolate milk?"

"Y...yeah sure." Martin responded, still not totally snapped out of his shocking flashback.

"Attaboy," Jack replied. "Don't let me catch you daydreaming like that when I'm trying to talk to you again," He joked. But Martin did not laugh.