Washed Hands, Wandering Thoughts

"How many times do I have to tell you both to knock it off?" asked my dwarven wife asking our two troublemakers of children to stop pulling each other's hair for the fifth time. She continued on by her yelling: "Do you know how long it takes to braid hair? Yet along a pair of heads?"

"I'm sorry, mother," cried my daughter Hilda. "But Litick started it!"

"No, I did not!" my son shouted. "She's lying under her breath, mom. She keeps on poking me with a comb!"

"Enough, you two! Now, go wash up and get ready for supper. I'll get your father," commanded my wife, their mother.

"Yes, ma'am," replied my children. 

God bless Aiamada, my dear wife. She's been such a blessing in my life and gave me two children who are the apple of my eyes.Sure, both Hilda and Litick can be a handful at times, but my Aiamada has always been so patient with them. More so than me. I tend to get a bit angry and annoyed very easily. Doesn't help when you are a dwarf and all. However, my sweet Aiamada was always there to calm me down whether I needed it or not.

Eventually, I hear the footsteps of my beautiful wife as she approaches our bedroom door with me inside. I was resting up on our bed that late afternoon after a long shift of working in the mines. Typical dwarf job, I know. But before I was a mine and family dwarf, I was a drummer. And not just any drummer, mind you. No, I was also a Bard. Yes, I was one of those carefree and free-spirited musicians who went off to do his own adventures and wrote songs along the way. I've had so many adventures back in my day that if I were to tell you all about them, we'll be here all day.

Anyways, Aiamada comes in and gives me a smile while she says: "Jorfrikin, are you ready for supper?"

I smiled back while replying: "Sure thing, my love. Just give me a sec."

"Alright, my dear. I've already got the kids washing their hands at the moment."

"So I already heard. I shall do the same thing."

"Excellent. I shall see you at the dinner table."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Aiamada left while I got up from the bed to wash my hands. Upon approaching the washroom, the two youngsters were playing as they splash water upon each other."

"Good to see you two playing instead of bickering," I noted to them.

"Daddy!" they both cheered.

"Hey, my little jewels. Please make room for your Papa."

"Sure thing," my Hilda goes.

While Litick says: "You got it, daddyo."

As I grabbed the soap bar and started washing my hands, both of my kiddos were looking at me. As if they both wanted to say something right there and then.

"Is everything okay? Do I have something in my beard or did I just fart?"

"No, father. On the contrary."

"It's just we are so happy to have you as our dad."

My heart completely melted after hearing that. However...

I started: "Oh, you two! Thank you so much for those kind words. I am beyond happy you two are my babies." I even smiled."However, what is it you two are getting at? If it's because your mother said no, it's a no from me too."

"What are you going on about, dad?" asked my boy

"I know what you two are up to. You want me to give you the go ahead while doing it all behind your dear mother's back. What is it this time? Squirrels for pets?"

"Actually no, we wanted-"

"Hilda, don't!"

I looked at my daughter and I can see that she give them away. Bless her little soul. She had such a good hearted conscience. At least to me.

"Hilda," I started. "What is it that you and your brother want?"

Hilda at first looked at her brother while Litick shaked his head left and right. She then turns to me and says: "We wanted to go outside after supper but mother did say no, considering it would be rather late."

Litick sighed. He wasn't pleased that his one and only sister rattled on them both.

"Thank you for your honesty, my love. Your mother is right though. It's going to be late for the two of you to go out anyways. Especially since I know one of of you is afraid of the dark."

"No, I'm not," pouted my son.

"Sure, lad. Whatever you say."

"But I'm not," said Hilda.

"I know you're not but there's danger out there in the woods. You never know if you might encounter something ferocious."

"Ferocious like a werewolf!?" asked Hilda.

"That's one!" I pointed out.

"Is there such a thing?" asked Litick.

"There was but that was awhile back before you two came into the picture."

"What is the hold up?" came the voice of my wife.

Aiamada stood there in the threshold as she crossed her arms while looking at the three of us still at the washroom, chatting up a storm. My wife then asked them: "Did you two went behind my back to ask your father if you both can go outside?"

"No, we didn't," lied my son.

Hilda meanwhile became silent at first but then said: "Yes, mom, we did..."

"Hilda, you dirty little rat!" her brother shouted.

"ENOUGH!" I shouted at my boy. "No more lies! Be more like your sister! She's the one who's got a good head on her shoulder! You got it, Litick!?"

"Yes sir," he said defeatedly.

"Good, now go with your sister to the dinner table and behave. I'll be right there."

"Yes sir."

The two of them went as my wife remained there. She looks at me before asking: "Is everything okay, Jorffy?"

"Yes, Aimy. I'm just sick and tired of that boy lying at the time."

"He's only 7 years old, my dear. In fact, they both are and Hilda isn't innocent by any of this. She isn't your perfect little angel.

"Well, even still, she was the most honest with her dad about the whole thing. Unlike Litick. I need to have a man-to-man conversation with him. He can't keep lying like that."

"I agree. However, do consider talking to Hilda every once and awhile about these types of things. You don't want Litick to resent you after you getting on him all the time."

I thought about it what Aiamada said and I eventually go: "Right, you are, my love. I shall reconsidered cause I don't want any of my kids to resent me. I shall get better at how I talk to them, especially the boy."

"Glad you are on the same page."

"Me too. Come, let us finally have supper as a family."

"I can concur. Let's shall we!"

Aiamada and I left the washroom and entered the dining room . Where there, our children waited patiently for us as the food remained in front of them. At least my kids know proper table manners.

Eventually we prayed and ate the food my wife had provided there for us. It was pork roast with potato dumplings and gravy on the side. The best food in the world and my personal favorite. 

Everything that was in front of me was all I ever needed. Nothing else in the world really matter, except for the people whom I shared my food with. This is everything a former bard would ever wanted.

However, deep down, I do tend to miss my bard adventures, every once and awhile. Oh, have I missed wide-open spaces and the sense of freedom through all my five sense.

It was thoughts like this that I would end up feeling guilty just thinking about. So instead, I shove all of those thoughts and feelings deep into my soul, hoping it doesn't resurface again. But only time will tell. Sometimes, the heart of a old past searches and long for stuff the heart desires.