Road

“Alright, Ian, time to hit the road.”

“But I don’t want to go.”

It didn’t really do to argue with a three year old in public, so Andrew scooped up his son and hoped the resulting screams wouldn’t rupture his ear drums.

But Ian didn’t scream.  Instead he quietly wrapped his arms around Andrew’s neck and rested his head against his father’s.

“You feel okay, buddy?”

“Mhmm,” the toddler muttered.

Andrew tucked his son into the car seat in silence.  Something had to be wrong.  Ian was never this quiet.  He even tried tickling the boy’s ribs, an action usually met with shrieks of laughter.  Nothing, a silent smile.