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Dad, You’re Going To Break That

12/28/2025

“Look, Teddy!” Gary flipped the baby on his chest to see the giant tree in the center of Roosevelt Plaza.

Teddy was attached to a harness on his grandfather’s chest. Gary had modified the design to allow the baby to switch to an outward-facing position and back to a cozy inward-facing cocoon when the late autumn wind picked up.

“Dad, you’re going to break that clip if you keep flipping him back and forth like that.” Abby picked at her cone of Christmas tree cotton candy. The sugar floss was a rich pine green and decorated with rainbow sprinkles and candy sequins.

“That’s what the Velcro is for, honey. Don’t be such a worrywart.” Gary struggled with the broad straps.

“Well, you could do the Velcro easier if you’d let me carry some of those.” She frowned at the jostling of oblivious shoppers passing by in the crowded tourist spot. “What’s happening over there?”

Gary turned to see what she was asking about. “The Sentinels? They’re a city institution, Abby. Want me to get you an autograph for Teddy’s collection?”

“Collection.” She scoffed. “He’s nine months old. He barely knows what people are, much less city institutions.”

Gary flipped the baby back to face him. “Mommy’s being a spoilsport.”

Teddy smiled, revealing two tiny bottom teeth. His stunning green eyes caught his grandfather’s loving gaze right before the clasp snapped. The look of surprise on Teddy’s face drove a spear of terror into Gary’s heart as he dropped the gift bags to try to catch the falling infant.

Dustin was scanning the crowd as his mentor, Slipstream, scratched out autographs. He hadn’t entirely signed off on TurboTeen, but he’d only have to go with it while he was still a teenager. The nice thing about being official was that Slipstream had arranged to get him a friction-reducing uniform jumpsuit.

“Hi, TurboTeen. Can I have your autograph?”

The voice was both familiar and jarring. Dustin had been scanning the crowd and missed his number one fan turning up at the table.

“Hi, Kendra.” He grinned sheepishly. “You came all the way to the city just to see me?”

She pushed her glasses up and rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t get a giant head about it. I came to see the Roosevettes, too.”

He took her autograph book and searched the table for a pen or marker. Looking up from the table, he spotted Gary from across the plaza. The strap holding the baby disconnected from his harness. “‘Scuse me–”

Abby watched in horror as Teddy dropped from her dad’s chest. Gary had failed to catch him before he plummeted out of reach.

Dustin zigzagged between shoppers and around gawking tourists as he tracked the falling baby. ‘Friction-reducing suit. Let’s see how it holds up to live testing.’ He dropped to his behind as if jumping onto a toboggan and slid the rest of the way on his back until he arrived between the man’s legs. “Gotcha, kiddo.” Dustin caught Teddy at arm’s length and lowered him slowly to his chest.

Gary stepped away from the young superhero. “Wow, where’d you come from?”

Dustin rocked himself to a sitting position and handed Teddy off to his mom. “Over there, sir.”

“Thank you, um…?” Abby winced.

Dustin stood up. He looked her in the eye, back at the Sentinels autograph table and back to Abby. He sighed. “I’m TurboTeen.”

“I’m sorry.” She held the baby tight.

“Yeah, it’s kind of a work in progress. We’ll see if the polling says to keep it.” He shrugged.

“That was amazing.” Gary gathered up the scattered shopping bags. “Have you been a superhero for a while?”

“I’m a probationary member, sir. I just started in the summertime.” He looked over his shoulder to see if he’d ripped up the back of his suit.

“Turn around.” Abby said.

Dustin turned slowly to let them see the whole outfit. “This thing is designed to reduce friction so I can run at full speed without shredding it.”

“Not a mark on it.” Gary waited for the young man to turn around again. When he did, Gary studied his eyes closely. ‘Not green at all.’

Dustin took a step back and turned to Abby. “Glad I was able to help.” He darted his eyes between Gary and Abby.

“So am I.” She frowned at her dad. “I don’t know how I can possibly thank you.”

“Actually, would you mind if I had some of your cotton candy?”

Abby blinked at him. “Um, sure?” She handed him the cone.

He glanced at them both before grabbing the wad of spun sugar and cramming it in his mouth. They grimaced as he devoured all the candy. He handed her the cardboard cone; the remnants of her green cotton candy staining the corners of his mouth.

“Sorry.” He hung his head and walked away.

Gary and Abby shook their heads and turned toward the entrance to the shopping center.

“I’m not even sure what to say about that.” Abby slipped through the door as Gary pushed it open.

“He said he was a work in progress.” Gary shrugged and followed her in.

Dustin returned to the autograph station to find Kendra still waiting for her first official autograph.

“You’ve got a little–” She pointed at his mouth.

“I know. I know.” He picked up a marker, and Kendra handed over her book again.

Meredith reached into her purse and pulled out a wet wipe. “When you’re ready.”

He nodded and finished Kendra’s autograph before taking it.

“What’s the matter?” Slipstream asked. “You saved the kid. Right?”

“Yeah, but I almost bottomed out just going from here to there. If she hadn’t had that cotton candy, I might have crashed out right at their feet.”

Slipstream sat back in his chair. “That’s the point of the probation period, buddy. Don’t sweat it. This is when we work out the wrinkles. When we get back to the Station, we’ll see what HEARTH and Phillipe recommend.” He turned to Kendra and Meredith. “So, what do you think of your hometown hero now?”

“Nice save.” Meredith smiled.

“I’m not loving the whole TurboTeen thing.” Kendra frowned as she tucked her autograph book into her coat pocket. “You definitely need to workshop that some more.”

“So, where to now?” Gary studied the festive hall of shops.

She looked around as Teddy fussed. “I need to feed him. Why don’t you find somewhere to buy a new carrier? That one isn’t safe.”

“Don’t wander off.”

Abby carried Teddy to the family restroom. “I’ll be right in here.”

Gary waited to hear the click of the lock before he went off in search of a store with baby gear. He set down the multitude of gift bags near a trash can before slipping out of the harness. “Well, it was worth a try.” He threw it in the trash and set out in search of a new one.

It was late when they pulled into the driveway. Gary slipped out of the driver’s seat and went to unlock the front door. Abby and Teddy were asleep in the back seat. He returned to take all the shopping bags inside before waking them.

“Hey,” he whispered as he rubbed her arm. “we’re home. Come on inside.”

She opened her eyes slowly and took stock of her surroundings. Her dad was offering a hand out of the car. She turned to find Teddy asleep, clutching her index finger. She smiled and kissed his tiny hand before unbuckling the harness. “Let’s get you to bed, cutie-pie.”

Gary closed up the SUV and locked it while Abby shuffled into the house with Teddy. She wandered into her room and set the baby in his crib before plopping onto her bed.

He yawned as he moved the shopping bags into the living room where Abby wouldn’t trip on them if she got up. Seeing the photo of the three of them at the state park on the mantelpiece, he polished it with his sleeve and took a long, proud look at it.

‘Theodore Gabriel Light was aptly named. He is definitely a gift from God.’ He smiled and placed the frame back in its place of honor. ‘Now we’ll have a new picture to put in that frame for Christmastime.’

Gary stretched and rubbed his back as he trudged to his own room. He changed into his pajamas before folding his daytime clothes and dropping them onto the meticulously stacked collection of laundry. He tucked the laces of his hiking boots behind the tongues and slid them into the closet beside his work boots.

He looked around the room. Something seemed to be missing. He snapped his fingers and opened his sock drawer to remove the odor-absorbing sachets Abby had given him for his birthday. He dropped one into each hiking boot before sliding them back into place and shutting the closet.

Gary reached under the bed to pull out a small kneeling cushion that Abby had knitted for him in home economics class. He knelt beside his bed.

“Lord Jesus, I thank you for my family. Guard our home this night, protect us from harm, keep us faithful in Your love, and let us rise tomorrow ready to serve You. Amen.” He clasped his hands tightly before taking a deep breath. “If it be your will, Dear Lord, please inspire Abigail to tell me who Theodore’s father is.” He crossed himself, turned off the light and went to bed.

“G.I. Jozsa, front and center.” Major Melrose called out.

Matt took his seat in the adjacent booth. “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.”

“Yes, sir. It’s been a week since my last confession.”

“During which, you have accumulated a mountain of unforgivable calumnies.”

“Well, sir, if griping about the hot weather is a mortal sin…”

“It’s not, Matthew, but griping won’t bring a cool breeze to Djibouti. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“Yes, sir. Apart from that, I can’t think of anything worth confessing about since last week. I’ve been a bit too busy to get into any kind of disfavor with the Lord.”

“We like to think that, but sins build up like sand in a ventilation screen. You don’t realize how much trouble you’re in until your equipment chokes for lack of oxygen. Confession is like routine maintenance. We’re shaking the sand out so we can receive the Ruach Elohim, Corporal.”

“Sir?”

“The breath of God that brings life, even in a dusty corner of nowhere like this.”

“So, that’s Hebrew, sir?”

“Very good. You’re learning. Any definite plans for Christmas?”

“All things being equal, sir, I’d really like to be home. I know I just got here and I’m low man on the totem pole, but a guy can’t help wishing. You know?”

“Definitely. Being that is somewhat unlikely, what’s your fallback?”

“Well, if I can’t get home to see the fam, I’d certainly like to treat them to something special. Word is, you can get frankincense right from the source around here, sir.”

“You are correct. Myrrh too if you wanted it. You could probably hit the Wise Man trifecta if really wanted to wow them back home.”

“Really?”

“Omani frankincense, Somali myrrh and Saudi gold, and I have a trader who would do you a good deal for it. Not these small fries in the souk, mind you, a proper trader.”

“I’d appreciate that, sir.”

“Okay, I’ll arrange an introduction. Do you have anything else for me?”

“Well…”

“That sounds promising. Tell me you’ve got something juicier than weather complaints in need of absolution.”

“There’s this girl.”

“Someone stationed here or maybe an old flame of yours?”

“In truth, sir, I’m not sure if she even exists. She might just be a figment of my imagination or somebody I saw in the background of a movie, but I can’t get her out of my head. She just turns up like one of those songs that you can’t get to stop playing.”

“So, we’re not talking about impure thoughts or carnal pleasures. It’s just a pretty face that’s stuck in your brain like a seed between your teeth.”

“Yes, sir. That’s exactly it.”

“Well, it’s not technically a sin, but let’s give it to God and see if he’ll help you get some peace.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The major completed the absolution and dismissed Corporal Jozsa with a few prayers of penance. Matt left the confessional and genuflected as he entered the pew. He slid a kneeling cushion into place and worked his way through the assigned prayers. Upon completion, he crossed himself and took a deep breath. ‘Who are you? Are you real? I don’t know where I know you from, but I sure hope you’re not some random face in a TV show. It feels like you’re important, but if that were true, I feel like I’d know who you were.’