“You said you’d carve a pumpkin with me.”
Sam gave his brother a nasty look. “I changed my mind. Another day.”
“But it’s almost Halloween and you said—”
“I’m not going to carve a damn pumpkin with you, all right? Halloween sucks and you’re too old to be dressing up and going trick or treating and carving pumpkins.”
Jim stood there holding the pumpkin he’d wanted to carve. He could feel the sting of the tears pooling in his eyes, and the painful lump in his throat.
Sam crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Anyway, you need to grow up. Things are going to change around here.”
“Change?”
“That’s right. I’m making plans to split.”
Jim blinked, aware that dislodged some of the tears he’d fought to suppress onto his cheeks. “You can’t leave.”
“Watch me.”
“Keptin, we’re beginning the pumpkin carving contest. Didn’t you want to compete, sir?”
Jim forced a smile as the memories of Sam’s cruelty and abandonment got pushed aside. “I think there are plenty of competitors, Ensign. I’ll be happy to judge.”
Chekov nodded. “Okay, Keptin.”
Jim was aware of Spock moving over to appear by his side. “Hey.”
“You are not participating in the festivities?”
“Not these ones, no.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “The whole…pumpkin carving thing sort of brings up some memories from my childhood I’d rather forget.”
He remembered throwing and destroying that pumpkin he’d picked out of so many at the pumpkin farm after Sam’s rejection. It made him sad the instant he’d smashed it to bits. All it had done was upset him, not Sam, and Jim figured he’d learned an important lesson that day.
He turned to face Spock when he realized the Vulcan was watching him carefully.
“What?”
“I do not like it when you are…melancholy.”
“Sorry, sweetheart.”
“You owe me no apology. I know that this relationship is new for both of us, I just do not know what to do to clear the clouds I see in your eyes sometimes.”
Jim smiled and put his hand on Spock’s arm. “You’re doing good, I promise. Help me judge these things?”
“Of course. Though I am not certain I can be entirely unbiased. Nyota has entered.”
“Yeah? What’s she doing?”
Spock paused. “Us.” Jim laughed. “This I gotta see.”
Comments
9 responses to “Flash Fic, October 24, 2022”
I did not need extra heartbreak this morning! My heart hurts for him. But so glad he has Spock right there to lift him up.
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Yeah, my thoughts same, Kris.
It kills me that one man thrown into the mixture of a family can just ruin it for everyone – for….ever. Kids NEVER get over that. Ever. They get past it, they keep going.
But it’s like a little cactus ball in their heart forever.
And sadly, we’re ALL surrounded by situations just like that.
I could always tell with my students when mom had brought a new guy into the home who WASN’T a good guy.
My students changed like overnight.
And it only got worse. 100% of the time when it started like that.
And i don’t care what’s woke or not.
A good man of good character brought into a home is an amazing source of strength.
The opposite? Yeah, the opposite result. And nothing any of us out here can do but stand back and watch. That mom won’t listen to anyone else.
We can only pick up the pieces with love.
So I’m ALWAYS glad when Jim has Spock.
(except of course when he was trying to kill Jim. But that’s a whole ‘nuther story! 🙂 )
Happy Monday everybody!
And I’ve never carved a pumpkin in my entire life. Never had a pumpkin at Halloween or any other time.
I just know Libby’s brand in the can. And they won’t carve no matter how hard we try!
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(and my son never wanted to do that. If he did, he did it at friends’ houses. Never at home.)
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Really? I definitely did though mine was never one of these art ones you see nowadays
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Yeah unfortunately it DOES happen at homes all across the land with a wicked stepparent
There’s a reason Cinderella’s evil stepmother is a well known fable
M still likes to carve them LOL
They are even having contests at work for prizes.
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Poor little Jim! He needs love and support. Instead he gets meanness and rejection from his older brother, who should be there to protect him.
I’m glad older Jim has Spock who is able to pick up Jim’s emotional tells. Spock will always support him.
Maybe Jim can be talked into carving a pumpkin. Create new memories Jim to get rid of the bad ones that are hanging around in the cobwebs of your mind.
We haven’t carved a pumpkin with the kids in several years. Ever since they went to college. 😢💔 I still would like to do it. The problem is that once they’re carved they go bad quickly. I saw a video of an easy way to get rid of all the pumpkin seed fibers, inside the pumpkin before carving it. The video had the person use a handmixer inserted into the pumpkin to loosen up all the fibers … of course then you have to clean the handmixer.
🤷🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ ❤️💚😘🖖
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Yes there is that! LOL
Yes it’s sad for Jim but at least he has Spock now
I tried to find a [pumpkin carving of Spirk but all I found was a Picard and a Worf LOL
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I’d carve a pumpkin with Jim any day 🙂
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🎃
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