Bleddyn leaned over the pile of various shoes that had clustered by the front door and sifted through them. She picked up a decomposing sneaker and, for some unknown reason, took a whiff.
She gagged and pitched it across the porch. It landed with a cabinet-rattling thud at the mouth of the kitchen. That had to be one of Dad's. Not only were his the most odiferous and worn, but neither she or Mom had feet that big.
Technically, no one in the neighborhood had a shoe size near comparable to Connor Asfaw's. Her father being a wolfman, she guessed that was excusable.
But that didn't mean he was exempt from the constant teasing.
She resumed her sorting, mindlessly picking through the foot clothing like she picked her regular clothing- not having a selection in mind because she didn't intend to deviate from her daily norm in the first place.
"Give it up, Dyn. We know all too well you're not going to put anything on your feet."
Bleddyn sighed and forcefully flung a rogue flip-flop to oblivion. "Morning to you too, D a d." Without turning around, she sang a hypothesis. "Betcha Mom's right behind you, poking the perk out of your hair because, 'for the millionth time, her name's not Dyn!', amiright?" Her father's name for his daughter wasn't exactly appreciated by Ash, and it'd become quite the eternal feud between them- without, you know, actual fighting in any form.
Connor barked one of his impossibly deep guffaws and swept his daughter up in a spinning hug. Ever reflexive, Bleddyn's fist promptly freed itself from his embrace and lightly connected with his cheek.
Bleddyn was instantly dropped and left to neatly barrel roll back to a defiant posture. She slouched against the black quartz counter, a glare of nonplussed boredom smudged across her face in an attempt at regaining dignity. "I said no suffocating hugs, Dad."
Ash's muffled hilarity at her husband's inept adolescent handling skills had Bleddyn fighting giggles of her own. Fleeing the sappy exchange she knew came next, Bleddyn snatched a wordless teal ballcap and skipped out onto the porch. "Guarantee some of the crew's at the pancake house and I'm going. Try not to kill Mom with your hugs while I'm gone, D a d." A protest might've been voiced, but it meant nothing to her once she was enfolded by the welcoming wind.
After cutting through their dew-heavy side lawn, Bleddyn reached the sidewalk and hopped onto her constantly toted skateboard. It was only then she realized today might not have been the most opportune day to forget her sweatshirt.
She quickly weighed her choices- be cold, or subject herself to a possible fate by embrace- and ultimately decided a little chill never hurt anyone.
Besides, depressive drizzling- since when was that not the perfect day?
She dove for her phone as it popped from her back pocket. She tapped it to life, but was greeted with the despised icon of signal inexistence. Who needs it, and onto the sheltered porch cushions it was adroitly flung, a good five yards.
Already blissfully drenched, Bleddyn contentedly sailed down the road.