***Alastair***
The next day, Alastair got up. He changed into some of En's hand-me-downs since he felt like wearing them.
Honey skidded after him with her tail wagging as he left the room.
Cyan was at the door when he got downstairs.
He tilted his head. Where was she going?
She smiled. "Hi, Collin. I'm going to the park to work. Would you like to come?"
He turned his head. She could go by herself.
She bent her knees a little and patted his head. "I know you like to be by yourself. I know you're happy that way, but it's not good to do that all the time."
"I have Honey," he blurted out.
"It's good to get air."
That was what backyards were for.
"I don't really like that mask of yours, but you can wear it if you need to."
He didn't need her to tell him. He would do that anyway.
"What do you want, Collin? If I can make it or get it for you, I will."
"I want waffles."
She blinked a few times before she sighed. "That's all? I can do that. Although, you should eat something else."
"Waffles!"
She lowered her head in defeat. "Alright, waffles."
He smiled as he followed her out.
***
Alastair sat down against an oak tree near Cyan's stand.
After a few minutes, she brought him the waffles. "I did promise. Let me know if you need me."
He nodded and began eating.
Cyan gave Honey a slab of meat before returning to her stand.
He smiled before squeezing his forehead. His head was aching behind his eyes. It must have been because he was having a hard time sleeping.
Honey crawled into his lap and curled up into a ball. She was so soft and warm. It really felt good. He relaxed and pulled his sweet puppy into his coat.
Somehow, Alastair managed to fall asleep, and if he was being honest, he needed that nap more than he really wanted to admit. He couldn't tell how long he napped since he couldn't see any clocks from his vantage point, but it really did help a lot. When he woke up this morning, he didn't even want to move, but that feeling was gone now. Hmm... Maybe Cyan would've let him stay home if he had told her he wasn't feeling well.
A smiling little boy approached Alastair. "Can I pet your puppy?"
'Please let the tiny human pet me.'
"Collin, why don't you come sit at one of the tables?" Cyan asked. "That might be more comfortable for you and the kiddos."
Alastair then sat at the nearest table.
"I don't want you to get taken, Honey."
"Honey, you're holding her. The kids won't take her."
Honey gave him puppy-dog eyes.
Alastair sighed.
The boy smiled. "You have such soft fur!"
'Thank you!'
A little girl ran over. "Can I feel it, too?"
"Honey would like that," Alastair said.
A little blond boy ran over. "A puppy!"
"Hey, Graham." Cyan turned to Alastair. "Collin, you aren't cold, are you? Would you like some hot chocolate?"
Alastair shook his head.
Jamie gasped. "Wait. This boy is Collin?"
"You know each other?" Cyan asked.
Alastair nodded.
"He came by my store to buy snacks one time."
"Oh. That must have been nice." Cyan smiled. "Did you come by to buy something?"
"Yes, please." Jamie smiled. "That would be great."
Alastair sighed when the three walked away. Honey might have liked it, but he didn't want to share her.
He closed his eyes and stroked his puppy.
Honey licked his face. 'It's okay, Coco. Those were nice humans.'
But that didn't mean he had to like sharing.
The next time Alastair looked up, Cyan looked like she was about to drown in customers.
Alastair took Honey out of his coat. "I need you to sit."
'Okay... I might nap.'
"Good girl."
Cyan blinked when Alastair came up to her. "Did you need something?"
"Let me cook. I don't want you to drown."
"I'll be fine. I'm used to crowds like this."
"I don't want to sit around for hours," Alastair whined. "I miss cooking."
Cyan sighed. "Alright. Please try not to hurt yourself." She got out a washcloth. "Here. Give your hand." She wiped his hand with a small amount of water.
A woman approached Cyan's stand. "Could I have coffee and toast?"
"Right away!" Cyan replied.
A man was next. "A hot dog please."
Alastair put everything in the appliance it needed to cook in.
Cole came over. "Wow. You're really swamped today."
Cyan smiled. "It's not that bad."
Alastair blinked. He peeked back at the line. Was she serious? She seemed to be struggling even with his help. How did she handle a crowd bigger than this one by herself?
"Let me give you a hand."
"You don't have to..."
He glanced at Alastair.
"Alright..." Cyan turned and looked at her ingredients.
"What is it?" Cole asked.
She frowned. "I'm running out of bread and hot dogs."
"I can go to the store!" Alastair said.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
He gave her a look. "I don't need two arms for that."
"Alright. Call if you need anything."
Alastair grinned as he approached Honey. He gently stroked the top of her head. "Wake up, girl."
Honey yawned. "Time to go home?"
"I'm going to the store. Cyan needs bread and hot dogs."
Honey stood up. 'Okay.'
Alastair felt like a grown-up going to the store. Del or the others usually went with him.
His terminal buzzed three times. Cyan sent him a grocery list, some money, and directions to the store.
The directions were pretty easy. He just had to turn left or right when it told him to.
He smiled again as he entered the store.
After getting the stuff on Cyan's list, Alastair went to the counter. He noticed Honey staring at a bag of jerky. Her stomach grumbled. How had she withstood her hunger at the stand?
He petted her head and scanned the jerky. Unlike back home, this store had no people cashiering. They were all self-checkout machines. Not that he was complaining. Better than having to talk to someone.
***
Once he finished paying, the machine transported all of the items into his terminal. Once outside, he took out the bag of meat from his device and gave his dog some jerky.
Honey chewed aggressively on the jerky and wagged her tail.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
He smiled. It must've been a playful growl.
"Well, let's head back. Cyan might need these already! She keeps texting me where I'm at!"
Honey followed after him.
Thankfully, the park wasn't far from the store.
"Back!" Star exclaimed. It was odd, he didn't feel bad anymore. Was it because he went on a jog again?
Cyan smiled when he got back to the stand. "Thank you for running that errand for me."
Alastair flexed his arm. "Of course!"
Cyan giggled. "I have a surprise for you."
The boy tilted his head.
She held out a plate to him.
"But."
"Things calmed down just now. This is a reward for helping me," Cyan said.
Alastair smiled and took the plate to a nearby table. It looked like Cyan might have made a cinnamon roll.
It was sweet and soft and melted in his mouth. He wasn't entirely sure what it was, but he liked it. Cyan could probably give Vi a run for her money. She didn't get paid for it, but Vi was like the family chef when she still lived at home.