- act your age // phan -

-1-

 _________________

phil ~ four years old 
dan ~ just born 

_________________

phil ran across the small, enclosed school playground, his feet bouncing up and down on the bumpy tarmac. he stuck his arms out as far as he could and stood in a stance, trying to defend the goal from the incoming football. he rolled his sapphire infused eyes, why they didn't just pick a goalkeeper at the start of the game was beyond him. 

'to me! johnny, pass to me!' ben shouted as the football was kicked away from the danger zone. 

phil was a bright boy, who was very tall for his age. he'd been told by countless old women that he'd be six foot in no time! but phil didn't know what that meant. 

the ring of the brass bell echoed across the playground, signalling the end of the day. phil smiled, the corners of his mouth creasing into his slightly flushed cheeks. 

wednesday, that meant fish fingers and chips for dinner. 

'oh, phillip!' someone shouted from behind him. he span around to face a teacher with grey hair and bright fuschia lips. phil furrowed his brow, what an odd combination. 

'your mother's here pet, go and grab your bag' she grinned. 

without even looking at her, phil ran through the glass double doors and straight into the cloakroom. he scanned the vast array of bags and coats, trying to pinpoint which was his. 

'do you need any help dear?' the voice appeared behind him again. 

'no thank you' phil replied sharply, finally grabbing his bag. 

'would you like me to carry something for you?' she cooed. 

'no thank you' phil repeated, walking swiftly towards the exit. ew, she's old enough to be my grandma phil thought to himself. 

on reaching the carpark, phil could see his mum standing by the benches. she waved vigourously and walked quickly over to him. 

'hi hunny, how was your day?' she asked. 

'good' he smiled. she took his bag off his shoulder, swinging it into the boot of the car. phil slowly climbed into the front seat and fastened his seat belt. 

'now, we need to pick up your brother and then go straight to the hospital' 

'why?' phil asked. 'is someone dying?' 

'no sweetie, no one's dying' she laughed. 

'oh, what then?' 

'you know mrs howell?' she smiled warmly. 

phil stared at the windshield in deep concentration, trying to think of all the women he'd met in his short life that could match up to the name 'mrs howell'. 

'you know! the woman i do yoga with on thursdays' she prompted. 

'ohh, yeah' phil replied, still unsure as to who she was talking about. 

'well, she's had a baby! a baby boy' she looked almost ectatic. 

'that's cool' phil said. who the hell is mrs howell he thought to himself. 

'so we need to pick up your brother and then go and visit her. i bought some flowers for her. oh and i thought this bit was really cool, i got her some chocolate with the baby's name on it. how lovely is that?' she was smiling so much, it looked almost painful. 

'yeah, mum, do you have any food?' phil asked. 

'oh phil. there's some crisps, in the back. i'm just going to go and get your brother, i won't be a minute okay?' she chimed. but phil wasn't listening, he was clambering over the back seat to catch a glimpse at the possible crisp options. 

phil's eyes lit up with glee as he was presented with several walker's crisps packets. ready salted, salt and vinegar, cheese and onion, prawn cocktail, roast chicken, worcester sauce. 

he sunk back down into his seat grasping onto a pink packet. he nodded to himself, prawn cocktail wins everytime. 

the doors to the car opened as his brother entered the car. 

'mum, why does phil get the front seat?' he whined. 

'because you had it all of last week, now sit down and stop whinging' she said, starting the car up with the turn of a key. 

'where are we going?' he asked, grabbing a packet of cheese and onion crisps. 

'to the hospital' phil answered. 

'why? is someone dying?' 

'what is it with you two and people dying in hospitals. no one is dying, boys, okay?' their mum said, spinning the steering wheel to round a corner. 

'so what are we doing then?'

'going to see a baby' phil turned around to face his brother. 

'a baby?' he looked almost disgusted. 

'yes, mrs howell's new baby, isn't it wonderful boys?' their mum said cheerily. 

i don't know who that is either, phil mouthed to his brother.

'wait, it is fish fingers and chips tonight right?' phil asked pressingly. 

'oh phil' his mother rolled her eyes. 'there is new life entering the world and you're worried about what we're eating for dinner?'

'yes, fish fingers and chips right?' he asked again. 

'yes phil' she sighed.