FicWad

Aleena stepped into Sonic and Manic’s rooms. “Boys, are you- why haven’t you packed your clothes and whatnot?”
“Oh, sorry, we forgot.” Manic said.
“Sonia is already packed.” Aleena replied. “Just pack your clothes and a couple of toys. I’ll get your toothbrushes.”
Aleena headed to the bathroom. She sighed and shook her head as she picked up Sonic and Manic’s toothbrushes.
Brenden finished packing their toothbrushes. “What’s wrong, babe?”
“The boys aren’t packed.” Aleena said. “They were playing with toy dinosaurs.”
Sonia walked in with her Lisa Frank leopard backpack and her Ty beanie baby hedgehog Prickles. “Mother, are we going now?”
“Your brothers haven’t packed yet.” Aleena replied. “I’ll hurry them along.”
Sonic and Manic walked over to Sonia. “Ready.”
“You have your clothes, including your underwear, and a few toys?” Aleena asked.
“Yeah, Ma.” Manic said.
“Mind if I check?” Aleena asked.
Sonic and Manic slid their backpacks off their shoulders.
Aleena stepped over and unzipped Sonic’s Jurassic Park backpack, then Manic’s black backpack he decorated with button pins, patches, and Sharpies. She dug around the backpacks, then zipped them back up after dropping their toothbrushes into the smaller zipper compartment.
“Okay, if that’s everything, let’s go.” Brenden said, closing the travel bag.
*
The triplets hurried into Uncle Chuck’s home.
“Thanks for babysitting them.” Aleena said. “We’ll be home on Sunday evening.”
“Sounds good.” Uncle Chuck replied. “Don’t worry; we’ll have a good time.”
The triplets ran back into the room and hugged their parents.
Aleena and Brenden hugged the triplets.
“Don’t run in the house.”
“Sorry.” The triplets said.
“Okay, we’ll be home on Sunday.” Aleena said, straightening up. “Be good for Uncle Chuck.”
“Bye, be careful.” The triplets replied. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Brenden and Aleena said.
Brenden and Aleena left the house.
Uncle Chuck turned to face the kids. “Okay, I got some fun things to do.”
The triplets grinned.
“Like what?” Sonia asked.
“I have some games we could play.” Uncle Chuck replied. “I have some Kid Cuisine meals that came with some iron-on pictures for shirts. I thought you three would like that. We can make mini pizzas tomorrow.”
“Cool, but is that it?” Manic asked.
“No, we’ll find some things to do.” Uncle Chuck replied.
Sonic nodded. “So can we watch cartoons?”
“I’m sorry; the cable isn’t working.” Uncle Chuck said. “But I have videos or there’s a fun game on my computer you might love.”
“What’s that?” Manic asked.
“3d Movie Maker.” Uncle Chuck replied. He checked his watch. “Let’s set up your sleeping bags and then we’ll play the game after lunch.”
“Okay.” The triplets muttered.
*
Uncle Chuck showed the triplets into a guest bedroom.
Sonia dropped her Lisa Frank puppies sleeping bag on the floor.
“Who gets the sofa bed?” Manic asked. “The mattress pulls out of the couch, right?”
“Yes, but it’s not comfortable.” Uncle Chuck replied.
Manic dropped his Animaniacs sleeping bag on the floor beside Sonia’s sleeping bag.
Sonic dropped his Space Jam sleeping bag beside Manic’s sleeping bag.
The triplets set their backpacks in front of the closet.
“Say, your mom said you three painted some T-shirts.” Uncle Chuck said.
“Yeah, we brought them to show ‘em to you.” Sonic replied.
The triplets pulled their T-shirts out of their backpacks.
Each shirt had designs painted on with the puffy fabric paint.
Sonia held up a light pink T-shirt with a purple flower on it.
“That’s pretty.” Uncle Chuck said.
Sonic held up a blue shirt with a green dinosaur on it.
“Is that the little Yoshi fellow?” Uncle Chuck asked.
Sonic gave Uncle Chuck an offended look. “It’s a velociraptor.” He said. “I don’t like Yoshi.”
Manic held up his black t-shirt featuring a red T-Rex.
“Cool shirt.” Uncle Chuck replied.
“I wanted to add those little sausage topping guys from Mario, but Ma said they’re actually mushroom guys.” Manic said. “I don’t want them now that I know they’re not pizza toppings.”
“Mushrooms are pizza toppings too.” Sonia replied.
“Yeah, but I meant sausage.” Manic said.
Uncle Chuck tried not to laugh. “Okay, let’s make lunch.”
*
The triplets ate their Kid Cuisine meals featuring dinosaur shaped nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and a brownie.
Manic looked at Sonic’s KC the penguin iron on. “I’ll trade you my astronaut KC for your race car driver KC.”
“No way.” Sonic said.
“Aw, come on, please?” Manic asked.
“Manic, he said no and it came in his box.” Uncle Chuck replied. “Don’t aggravate him.”
“I’ll trade you my rock star KC for your astronaut KC, Manic.” Sonia said, handing the iron on sheet to Manic.
Manic grinned. “Deal.”
Sonia and Manic traded iron-on sheets.
Sonia held her empty sauce up to Uncle Chuck. “Do you have any more extra Schezuan sauce cups?”
“Sure.” Uncle Chuck said. He stepped over to the fridge and got another sauce cup for Sonia.
“Thanks.” Sonia replied.
“I’ll iron those on your shirts while you eat and you can wear them tomorrow.” Uncle Chuck said, gathering the shirts and designs.
The triplets looked up from their meals. “Thanks, Unc.”
“You’re welcome.” Uncle Chuck said as he left the room.
*
Uncle Chuck and the triplets gathered around Chuck’s computer desk.
“Can we go on the internet?” Manic asked.
“No, it’s not for kids.” Uncle Chuck replied.
“Ah, but Shadow and Maria can go online.” Manic whined.
“He’s not my nephew, Manic.” Uncle Chuck said. “I don’t think he should be allowed to do that because of all the inappropriate popup ads. I don’t exactly agree with Maria being turned loose on it either.”
“But Gerald has something to block the ads.” Manic replied.
“But I don’t.” Uncle Chuck said, starting the game. “Now at least you can play a game here.”
Sonia giggled as the game started. “What does this game do?”
“You get to make your own little cartoons.” Uncle Chuck said.
Sonic clicked on the human male character and made him sing and dance.
The triplets and Uncle Chuck burst out laughing.
“Why doesn’t our computer have this?” Manic asked. “All we have is Lil’ Howie’s funhouse.”
“What’s that?” Uncle Chuck asked.
“Like an educational game series.” Sonia replied. “It’s a little more fun than ‘Get Ready for School, Charlie Brown’.”
“Yeah, that game is so boring.” Manic said. He looked at Sonic. “When can I have a turn, bro?”
Sonic added a female character and had the two characters get into a melodramatic silent argument.
Manic laughed.
“Okay, you each get to make your own movie, then we have to take a break.” Uncle Chuck said.
Sonic slid over to give Manic his turn. “So can we build a pillow fort after this?”
“Sure.” Uncle Chuck said.
*
The triplets laid on the floor of the living room, inside their pillow and blanket fort, and watched the Land Before Time video that Uncle Chuck had given them as they ate popcorn.
The phone rang.
Uncle Chuck got up. “I bet that’s your mom and dad.” He walked over and answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, Unc.” Brenden said. “How are the kids?”
“They’re doing great.” Uncle Chuck said, leaning against the wall. “We’re just watching a video. I’m gonna read them a book before bedtime.”
“Great.” Brenden replied. “I should tell you that Manic has trouble sleeping in a strange bed. Just tell him that, if he can’t sleep, to quietly play in his room or just be alone with his thoughts. Don’t let him wander around if you can help it. He’ll show up in your room and just stare at you. It’s creepy.”
“I can imagine.” Uncle Chuck said.
“Oh, here’s Aleena.” Brenden said. “Can you put the kids on?”
Uncle Chuck pulled the phone away. “Kids, come tell your parents good night.”
Sonia paused the video.
The triplets ran over to Uncle Chuck.
Uncle Chuck held the phone out to the triplets.
Sonic took the phone and held it so his siblings could talk and hear. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi.” Sonia and Manic said.
“Hey, I miss you three so much.” Aleena said.
“We miss you too.” Manic replied. “Are you having fun?”
“Oh, yes.” Aleena said.
“We even got you a little something.” Brenden replied. “It’s a surprise.”
“Cool.” The triplets said.
“So are you three having fun?” Brenden asked.
“Yeah, Unc has a cool movie maker game that we can't wait to show it to you.” Sonia replied.
“And we made t-shirts.” Sonic added.
“Sounds like you’re having a great time.” Aleena said. “Okay, we’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Love you all.” Brenden and Aleena said.
“Love you too.” The triplets replied. “Bye.”
“Bye.” Aleena and Brenden said. They hung up the phone.
Uncle Chuck hung up the phone. “Okay, finish the video, then you can get ready for bed and I’ll read you a book.”
*
The triplets (Sonic and Manic in their old Batman tshirts they used for pajamas and Sonia in her Rugrats nightgown) settled on the guest room couch. Sonic and Manic sat on either side of Uncle Chuck while Sonia sat on his lap.
Manic handed Uncle Chuck a book. “This one’s funny.”
Uncle Chuck looked at the book’s cover. “P. J. Funnybunny camps out?”
“Yeah, the Pots the pig makes a funny face on one page.” Sonia replied.
Uncle Chuck flipped the book open to a random page and chuckled. “I see what you mean.”
*
Uncle Chuck closed the book as Manic yawned. “Time for bed.”
The triplets crawled into their sleeping bags.
Uncle Chuck tucked the triplets in. “Okay, Manic, if you can’t sleep then play quietly.” He said. “Or just lay there and daydream.”
Manic sighed. “But what if I get thirsty?”
“Then I’ll get you a sports bottle of water.” Uncle Chuck replied. He headed to the kitchen, got Manic his water, then headed back to the guest room. “Now don’t chug it, okay? Just sip it so you’re not running to the bathroom all night.”
“Yes, Unc.” Manic said, setting his cup down above his pillow.
Uncle Chuck ruffled Manic’s head spines. “G’night, kiddos.”
“Good night.” The triplets said.
*
Manic laid awake and sighed. It was scary, laying in a dark room that wasn’t his own room, where he knew what every shadow was. The sleeping bag certainly wasn’t his comfy mattress and pillow either.
He looked at the window, where the street light shined through the cracks in the closed blinds.
Shadows of a tree’s long, spindly branches were visible through the window.
To Manic’s overactive imagination, it looked like a skeleton hand reaching for something near their window.
Manic curled into a ball, trying to think about something pleasant. All that came to mind was the movie they just watched, particularly the scene where Littlefoot’s mother died.
Manic looked at Sonic, who coincidentally sat up. “Bro?” He whispered.
“What?” Sonic whispered back. “Can’t sleep?”
Manic shook his head. “What’ll happen to us if Ma dies?”
Sonic sighed. “Don’t worry, someone will take care of us.” He whispered. “Go back to sleep.”
Manic laid down in his sleeping bag.
Sonic slid closer to Manic and stroked his spines until he was sure Manic was asleep before sliding back into his sleeping bag again.


*
-The next morning-
Manic woke up at six in the morning and sighed.
Sonia had slid out of her sleeping bag and had draped her arm and leg over Manic in a bear hug.
Manic nudged Sonia. “Move.”
Sonia and Sonic woke up.
“Ugh, you gotta stop waking us up, bro.” Sonic said.
“Sorry, but Sonia was crushing me.” Manic said.
Sonic sniffed the air. “I think Unc is making breakfast.” He said. “I can smell bacon.”
The triplets got up and headed to the kitchen. They gathered at the kitchen table as they waited on Uncle Chuck to finish making their breakfast.
Manic was half asleep.
Uncle Chuck glanced over his shoulder. “You didn’t sleep well, Manic?”
“No, not really.” Manic replied.
Uncle Chuck served them their toast and bacon. “Sorry about that, maybe you can take a nap later.”
“Can I have Sunny Delight?” Manic asked.
“Ew!” Sonia squealed. “With Bacon?”
“It’s good.” Manic replied.
“Sonia, everyone has different tastes.” Uncle Chuck said, getting the triplets their drinks. “You ate those Itakadoozie things and they weren’t great.”
The triplets looked at their Land Before Time Welch’s grape jelly glasses.
“Ooh, you got all of these?” Sonia asked. “Mother said she wouldn’t buy all of the glasses because we don’t eat a lot of jelly.”
“You can take them home if you like.” Uncle Chuck said, sitting down between Sonic and Manic. “I don’t use them much.”
“So when does Mom and Dad get home?” Sonic asked.
“About lunch time.” Uncle Chuck replied. “So you three need to take your baths as soon as breakfast is over, then you can play until lunch time.”

*
The triplets, dressed in their Kid Cuisine shirts (with Sonia wearing a skirt and leggings), followed Uncle Chuck to the guest room.
“So what game are we gonna play?” Sonic asked.
Uncle Chuck opened the closet. “Let’s see what we have.”
“Ooh, a keyboard!” Sonia exclaimed.
“Let’s play with that.” Sonic said.
Uncle Chuck pulled the keyboard out of the closet and set it on the floor. He plugged its power cord into an outlet. “It’s ready.”
Manic turned the keyboard on and pressed the demo button.
A pop/ almost conga line type beat started playing.
Sonic tapped his foot and bobbed his head to the beat.
Manic drummed his fingers to the beat.
Sonia sat in front of the keyboard and pretended to play.
“If you like that, maybe your mom can get you some lessons, Sonia.” Uncle Chuck said.
Sonic grinned. “Yeah, we can have a band.” He said excitedly. “I can play guitar.”
Manic bounced on his feet. “Ooh, and I can play drums.”
“We can call it Sonic Underground.” Sonic said, bouncing in an almost synchronized pattern as Manic.
“Well, you already have one fan.” Uncle Chuck replied.
Sonia grinned.
The triplets began singing their own little song they had made up called “Being a kid is cool”.
*
The triplets finally made their way into the kitchen after their jam session.
Uncle Chuck pulled a can of biscuits out of the fridge. “You three sounded great.” He said. “Are you three ready for lunch?”
“Yeah, are we gonna make chili dogs?” Sonic asked.
“No, we’re making mini pizzas, remember?” Sonia asked.
“Oh, right.” Sonic replied.
Uncle Chuck set the biscuit can on the table beside the bags of pepperoni and cheese and a jar of tomato sauce.
“Biscuits?” Manic asked.
“That’s gonna be the crust.” Uncle Chuck replied. “Trust me, it’s really good. I used to make this with your grandpa and your dad.”
“Awesome!” Manic exclaimed.
Uncle Chuck opened the can of biscuits. “Let’s get started.”


*
Brenden and Aleena walked in as Uncle Chuck pulled the mini pizzas out of the oven.
The triplets looked up from setting the table, then ran over to their parents.
Sonia hugged Aleena and Brenden. “We missed you.”
“Oh, we missed you all too.” Brenden replied.
Uncle Chuck set the pan on top of the stove. “Glad to see you two.” He said. “The kids were great. They helped make these.”
“Ooh, mini pizzas.” Brenden replied.
Aleena looked at the shirt. “Aww, did Uncle Chuck help you make those?”
“Yeah, and we made some funny movies on the computer, but they didn’t get saved to it.” Sonic said.
Manic grinned. “But we did make up a song.”
“They seem to have some musical talent.” Uncle Chuck said.
Brenden ruffled Manic’s spines. “We’ll have to get you three music lessons, huh?”
“Do we have to go home now?” Sonia asked.
“Finish eating, then we’ll go.” Aleena said.
*
Brenden and Aleena led the triplets back inside their house.
The triplets immediately hurried to their rooms to play.
Aleena and Brenden sat down on the couch, leaving their bags by the door.
Aleena chuckled. “I wonder if the band thing is a passing interest or is that something they’ll stick with.”
Brenden shrugged. “Eh, there’s worse things they could get into.” He said. “It wouldn't hurt to indulge their creative side. Who knows? They might actually make it.”
Aleena smiled as she snuggled against Brenden. “That would be nice.”