In My Mind- DDADD's FAnfiction

The Leaving Song

"Okay, Perry, this is a new start for us. We're out of the big city, this small town will be a lot nicer for us!" I sigh, my eyes staying focused on the road. I quickly glance over to my right when I hear Perry give a small groan."C'mon kid. This'll be good for us!"

Perry doesn't respond, he's still staring out the passenger sides window. I sigh again. "I know you didn't want to move. But this house, it's a step in the right direction for me."

Perry finally looks over at Me. "I know dad, I just....I'm gonna miss the old place."

"Me too. But, our new house is closer to James's, which is good for both of us. And now that I'm no longer living in an apartment..." I pause for dramatic effect. "We can get a dog!"
Perry perks up. "Are you serious!?"

"I would never joke about dogs. As soon as we're settled in we can go to the animal shelter." The both of us smile and nod.

At only a few more minutes of driving before we arrive at the new town. Maple Bay, a gorgeous seaside town. Not long after that we, reach the cul-de-sac that our house is in. The moving truck was already there when we arrived and had already started moving things in as we pulled up in front of the house. We both hop out of the vehicle and start helping the movers. After a while, everything is moved in, and Percy and I begin unpacking. It takes us a while but most of the furniture is set up.

At this point, I had enough of attempting to build that bookcase. I walk out of my study and into the living room, where a plop myself down on the couch. But as soon as I get to relaxing there is a knock at the door. I sigh and slowly get up. As much as I would not like to interact with people, who know who could be out there. I open the door, and a blonde haired man in a pink polo shirt stands at the door holding a plate of cookies.

The man flashes me a toothy smile. "Hello! I'm Joseph, your next door neighbor."

"Oh, greetings! The name's Warren, it's nice to meet you!" I respond, smiling politely back at him.

"I saw the moving van and thought it would be nice to bring you some cookies and welcome you to the neighborhood!" He hands me the plate. Oh gosh, the cookies look so good.

Perry walks into the living room carrying a few empty boxes. He notices the cookies and drops the boxes. "Yo, cookies!" He runs over to me and takes a cookie and puts it in his mouth, then takes a few more in his right hand, and then another few in his right.

"Hey kid, say hi to our next-door neighbor, Joseph," I say shooting Perry a stern look. Perry glances down at the cookie in his mouth, then back up at Joseph. Perry gives him a slight nod as a hello and quickly runs out of the room.

I look back at Joseph with a nervous smile, give him a quiet, awkward laugh. "Sorry about that. That was my son, Percival, but he goes by Perry. He's a...uh...strange child, but a good kid nonetheless."

Joseph responds with a quiet chuckle. "Sons are tough. Daughters are tough. Kid's, in general, are tough!" We share a laugh. "Anyway's, I'm throwing a barbeque for the cul-de-sac tomorrow, and I would like to extend an invitation to you and your son."

"Of course, we'll be there!" The two of us say our goodbye's and a close the door as Joseph walks away. I turn away from the door and walk to the kitchen, with it currently cluttered with boxes of pot, pan, and various other kitchen things. I set the plate of cookies down on the counter top. I lean up against the counter and place my head in my hands and rub my eyes. I hate the chaos of the moving, but as I have to keep telling myself, this is going to be good for me.

After a few more minutes of rest, and pick me back up, ready for more unpacking. Though, I'm not touching that stupid bookcase for at least another hour. I walk back into my study, I pick up a box and place it on top of my desk. Opening it I realize it was a bunch of my old photos from France and some sketchbooks. I pick up one of the old Polaroid photos and flip it over. It's a young woman with a black bob cut and big blue eyes. I chuckle softly, trying not to tear up. It's Perry's mom, Annette, from my trip to France. From before she....From before I met James.

My desk is in the far left corner of the room, and on the left wall right about it there is a small cork board. I take one of the colorful thumb tacks and pin the picture of her onto the board. I had forgotten I even had that picture it's been so long. I forgot how much Percival looked like her. He has her eyes and freckles. I can't stop staring at the photo, that woman was a rock star, metaphorically, of course, she was actually an artist. Just the way she was, her energy, it drew me to her. I have so many photos and drawings of her, I'm surprised I got anything done in those two years I spent in France. I snap myself out of the entrance the photo had on me and try to wipe away the tear pooling up in my eyes.

The rest of our day is spent unpacking, and by dinnertime we had most things sorted out. The kitchen and dining room are set, most of the living room is good, and our rooms are almost finished, but I haven't even touched my study since I found that picture, I promised myself I'd get it done tomorrow, before the barbeque.

Perry is sitting on the couch in the living room, doing something on his phone. I plop myself down next to him. "So kid, what do you want to do for dinner. And seeing as though we don't really have any food, we're going to have to eat out," I ask. All Perry responds with is a shrug. "You're no help." I sigh. "Maybe we should just walk around town for a little bit? I'm sure we'll find something!"

He shrugs again. "Sure, why not?"

The two of us get out and leave the house, not forgetting my keys, and remembering to check if everything is locked up, you can never be too sure, right? We walk through the town, taking in the sights, and when I say this place is beautiful, I mean it beautiful. I might have to paint that park sometime, it's absolutely gorgeous. We slowly but surely make our way down to the beach, which again is absolutely beautiful. We find a couple of food trucks down at the beach and I buy us both burritos. We find a patch of grass a bit above the and sit, looking out into the sea. We both begin chowing down on our food.

After we finish eating we both just sit there, the sky changes color as the sun sets. I place a hand on Perry's shoulder.

"This is a good place for a new start don't you think?" I ask him.

"It is, dad, it really is."