Every child is different. That’s the first thing they teach you in the Fairy Academy. As a godparent, you need to be flexible, able to adapt to a child’s individual personality, likes and dislikes, ex cetera. When your godchild wants to talk, you listen. When they want to get away, you bring them somewhere safe. When they need space, you keep your distance while still reminding them that you are here when they’re ready for you.
Devin Dimmadome asks for space a lot. Well, it’s more that he wants to be left alone with his father when Dale bothers to acknowledge that he has a son. Dev hasn’t said as much, but it’s painfully clear that the only thing he truly wants is his father’s love. And, he seems determined to get that without the use of magic. I bet that’s why he doesn’t want me involved; he doesn’t want the temptation.
Makes me appreciate my own parents all the more. They can be flighty and a little dense at times (especially my dad), but I’ve never once felt unloved by them.
Dev has been gone for three hours. Normally when Dale wants to see his son, Dev calls for me after an hour at most. I pace the floor, walls, and ceiling while I wait. My stomach is knotted, and my magic is a nervous buzz under my skin. Dev and I butt heads sometimes, and I confess to losing my temper more than once, but he’s still my godkid. But, I’d be worried even if he wasn’t.
Underneath the rude and holier-than-thou exterior, Dev is a sweet, lonely boy who just needs someone who cares.
I’m walking on the wall on the opposite side of the room when Dev’s bedroom door opens. He stomps in and slams the door behind him. I knew this would be bad. I leap off the wall and fly to his side.
Dev always rejects any attempt at comfort and instead copes by wishing for various indulgences. Like that “perfect cupcake” wish that will live in infamy. So, his wish now surprises me. “I wish I had a father who loved me!”
The words throw me for a loop. I take a better look at my godson and note the red-rimmed blue eyes, the tear streaks still fresh on his face. He has the usual frustrated scowl that comes with dealing with his father, but the rest is new.
This is worse than I thought.
His scowl deepens when I don’t immediately grant the wish. “Didn’t you hear me? I said, I wish for a father who loves me!” He snaps his fingers twice. “Make it happen!”
Heart breaking, I descend until I’m standing in front of him, meeting him at eye level. If he’s surprised by this change of pace, he doesn’t show it. “Dev, do you wanna tell me what happened with your dad?”
For a moment, I think he will. But, he stomps his foot and grunts. “For crying out loud, Peri! How many times do I have to say it?” He sidesteps me and marches up to his massive and highly overpriced bed. He climbs into it and lays curled up on his side, facing away from me. “I wish for a father who loves me! I won’t ask again!” His voice breaks at the end.
A child must always get what they want. It’s right there in Da Rules. But, what about what a godchild needs? That’s more of a gray area.
There’s no denying that Dev needs a parent who loves him, but I don’t think he truly wants that to happen artificially. If he did, he would let me come with him to see his father. He would have made this wish a long time ago.
I float to Dev’s bed and lay down beside him. He feels the shift in the mattress and curls up tighter. “Why aren’t you granting my wish?”
“Because you already have a father who loves you,” I say.
He scrambles into a sitting position, and the excitement on his face hurts to see. “You mean, you already granted it?”
I sit up. “I’m talking about me, Dev. You’ve got me!”
Dev stares at me then narrows his eyes. “Did you get your brains from your dad?” Ignoring that. “Newsflash, Peri. We’re not related. Last I checked, we weren’t even the same species!” He pauses. “Unless…my wish changed that? If so, that’s not what I asked for!”
An idea hits. Some vague but happy memories come with it. “Dev, have I ever told you about my older brother?”
“That depends. Is this going somewhere?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Then no, you haven’t.”
A bittersweet smile stretches my lips, as it always does when I think of my brother. “His name’s Timmy. He’s eleven years older than me, but that was never a problem for us. We were thick as thieves, he and I! Always getting into something and driving Mom and Dad crazy! We…grew apart as we got older,” and he forgot our fairy family existed, “but he’s still my brother, and I still love him. But, here’s the thing about Timmy. He isn’t a fairy. He’s a human. He was my parents’ godkid before Hazel.”
Dev’s face scrunches up in confusion. “What? Then, how can he be your brother?”
“Family doesn’t have to be the people you’re related to, Dev. Sometimes, your true family lies in the company you keep, in the ones who really care about you. Be they your species,” I let a few purple sparks flick off my fingers, “or otherwise. That’s why you don’t need to wish for a father who loves you.” He rest my hand on his shoulder. For once, he doesn’t pull away. “Because he’s sitting right next to you.”
He processes that for a long time. Then his lips press together, and his eyes water. “I wish you’d give me a hug.”
“You’ll never have to wish for that.”
I pull him into my arms. He breaks, holding me as tight as he can and wetting my neck with his tears. I stroke his hair as he finally lets it all out.
I said what I did because I wanted him to feel better, but if I’m being honest with myself…I really do love this kid. He drives me insane sometimes, and his fuse is even shorter than mine, but it’s going to be hard to leave him one day.
It will be Timmy all over again.
I hold Dev a little tighter and try to push the lingering thought out of my mind. Dev is only nine years old. We have plenty of time.
And, when that fateful day comes, at least one of us will have the memories.
