X-Files Fanfic Challenge 10: Grocery Store

Author: SyndicateGirl
Archive: Yes, definitely! But please keep my headers attached and let me know where it is if you can. Thanks!
Spoilers:
Rating: G
Classification:  Response to fanfic challenge: Story must include: 1. Grocery store; 2. Apples; 3. Cookies; 4. A grocery cart with a squeaky wheel. Between 500-1500 words.
Summary: CSM makes a quick trip to the market with young Jeffrey Spender.
Disclaimer: The X-Files characters are Chris Carter's and 1013 Productions', not mine, unfortunately; no infringement is intended. Please don't sue - I'm a writer, and have no money! :D

TITLE: A Quick Trip to the Store

“I can’t believe we’re out of butter,” Cassandra said as she moved back to the stove top, “I could have sworn I just bought some this week.”

Edward looked up from his newspaper at his wife who was stirring something in a large pot.

The house smelled amazing, and Jeffrey would pop his head in every so often to ask when dinner would be ready.

“Why don’t I run down to the market for you? I need another pack of Morleys anyway. Just butter?”

She smiled, “Just butter.

Oh, and a few apples, and some milk, and maybe a carton of ice cream for tonight if that sounds good to you.”

Jeffrey stuck his head in the back door for the tenth time, “Is dinner ready, yet?”

Edward folded up the paper, and looked at his freckle-faced, 7 year old son, “Not yet, but I’m going to the store if you want to come with me.”

“Yeah!” Jeffrey shouted, running into the kitchen, giving his mother a quick hug around the hips, and running out to the car.

Cassandra gave her husband a glance, and he nodded, putting his hand up, “I can handle this, Cassie.”

Truthfully, though, he had never taken Jeffrey to the store, and had no idea what to expect.

Then again, how difficult could it be?

He controlled governments and watched presidents die, surely he could handle his 7 year old boy at a supermarket.

“Your two favorite men are on the case,” he added, strolling towards the door.She let out a small chuckle, shook her head, and went back to chopping vegetables.“We’ll be back in 5 minutes,” he called on his way out to the Buick.

*****

Edward looked over at his young son again as he bounced along to the song on the radio.

Where did he get all that energy?

Edward wondered if he ever been that energetic and young himself.

He doubted it.

They pulled into a parking space at Food Fair, and Jeffrey clapped his hands together, “I have my horse money!”  His father nearly jumped out of his seat at the sudden outburst.

He looked over at Jeffrey who was grinning wildly.

What on earth was the boy talking about?

“C’mon, Dad!”

Jeffrey was out of the car in a flash, and he ran around to the driver’s side, jumping around impatiently as his father got slowly out of the car.When the two of them neared the entrance, Edward realized that his boy was, indeed, sane.

He was talking about the Kiddie Ride at the front of the store.

Edward handed a couple of coins to Jeffrey, and Jeffrey grinned - he wouldn’t have to use his allowance after all.

“Thanks, Dad!”

Edward nodded, “Wonderful,” he patted him on the head, “you ride this equine here while I go make our purchases.”

Jeffrey shuffled his feet, looking down, and looked visibly put out.

“What? What is it?” Edward asked, genuinely confused.

He had given the boy money for some coin operated amusement, so what was the problem?

“Well, it’s just. Gee, Dad. Mom always waits out here with me and hums the Lone Ranger song while I ride the horse.”

Edward took a deep breath, and reached into his pocket for a Morley.

Damn it, he was out, and needed to buy more.

He looked in through the store window.

The Morley boxes were in there, just waiting for him.

He let out another sigh, “All right, hop on, Lone Ranger.”

Jeffrey let out a whoop and climbed onto the horse, as Edward gave an un-enthused rendition of the William Tell Overture.

A few passersby laughed, and he tried to ignore them.

When the ride was finally over (which felt like hours to Edward), Jeffrey climbed off of the horse, and stood there expectantly.

Edward looked down and shrugged.

Jeffrey shook his head, “Ready to go shopping, Partner?”

His little hand gestured, letting Edward know that he was to mimic the sentiment.

Edward let out a breath, “Ready to go shopping…Partner?”

Jeffrey laughed and nodded, pulling him inside. Edward reached down to retrieve a hand cart, but they were gone.

Why on earth wouldn’t they have more available?

He was already feeling a twinge of annoyance at the ineptitude of the store’s staff.

He made his way to the push cart that stood unused nearby, and both father and son made their way into the store.

Jeffrey held on to the side of the basket, being careful of other shoppers.

Edward noticed that the cart’s left, front wheel had a horrific tendency to squeak with every rotation, and he tried to hurry them along to the produce.

It was no use.

The boy stopped to look at every package in the store.

Every.

Single.

Package.

Edward was sure of it.

With each stop came a flurry of questions.

“What does this do?

“Does this taste good?”

“How do they grow this?”

“Do you think they have this food in China?”

“Could you grow this in outer space?”

How the hell was he supposed to answer all these damn questions, and keep the kid moving towards the fruit?

Out of desperation, Edward looked around, reached out, and grabbed a box of cookies from the shelf.

“Here, Jeffrey,” he started, opening the package, “have a few cookies while we shop. I’ll pay for them when we get up to the register.”

If we ever get to the register, he thought to himself.

Jeffrey’s eyes were wide, and he was smiling from ear to ear, “Really?! Wow, thanks, Dad!”

Something in Jeffrey’s surprised tone made Edward wonder if he was doing the right thing, but he assured himself all was well.

After all, the bakery treats would keep his son quiet, and allow them to get out of the supermarket faster.

That couldn’t be bad, right?

By the time they reached the apples, the cookies were over half gone, and Jeffrey was already getting hyper and fidgety from the sugar.

He was dancing on his feet, fidgeting with his buttons, squeaking along with the sound of the accursed wheel, and humming the Lone Ranger song at a frantically fast pace.

Edward felt his eye twitch, and he took another deep breath.

Why couldn’t the Morley display be closer to where they stood?

“Calm down,” he thought to himself, pushing a squeaking, humming Jeffrey towards the apples.

Edward grabbed a couple, dropped them into the cart, and started to walk away from the produce section.

Jeffrey looked stunned, completely abandoning his humming, and stood there staring up at his father.

“You didn’t check for bruises.

How do you know those are fresh?”

He sounded genuinely appalled.

Edward looked back, eyes narrowing ever so slightly, looking down at his watch.

They’d already been here nearly 15 minutes.

“I checked them while you weren’t looking,” he lied.

Jeffrey doubted the veracity of the claim, but the tone in his father’s voice told him not to push his luck.

Jeffrey shrugged, and practically danced to where his father stood, starting his squeaking and humming anew.

By the time they made their way towards the butter case, the cookies were nearly gone, as was Edward’s patience.

Good Lord, he needed a smoke.

*****

Cassanrda smiled as she heard the screen door slam, followed by the sound of Jeffrey’s little feet running through the house.

“Hi, Mom!” Jeffrey yelled out as he set the grocery bag on the table, and ran out to the backyard to play.“Dinner will be in half an hour,” she called after him, unloading the bag.

She set the packs of Morleys (all 7 of them, including the open one) on the table, and went back to tending dinner.

A few minutes later, the sound of her husband’s heavy footsteps came into the kitchen.

“Hi, how’d you two,” her words were cut short by arms tightening around her waist.

She let out a small laugh, and turned to face her beleaguered looking husband, “What’s all this about?” she asked, obviously surprised.

Edward wasn’t much for spontaneous affection, but he never ceased to surprise her.

“Cassie, my dearest, I don’t say it often, but thank you.” She gave him a quick kiss on the lips, “Thank you? What for? You two are the ones who went to the store.”

He sighed, “Exactly. You know I love our little boy, but if I ever offer to take our little tornado to the store alone again, remind me of today.”

She noticed a small, exhausted but amused smile that was hidden on his face. “It’s a deal,” Cassandra smiled, handing him a pack of Morleys, and pushing him towards the back door.

She couldn’t help but laugh when she heard Jeffrey’s voice drift in from outside, “Squeak! Squeak! Dad! When are we going back to the market?!”

CSM: Nothing vanishes without a trace...burn it!