Baby Acorn's Arc

Chapter 4 of 11

Papa Acorn returned to the railing with his measuring tape three days later. Baby Acorn followed, staying close enough to touch his father's sleeve. The cracked post stood at the far corner where Mama Acorn liked to watch the sunset. Papa Acorn knelt down and stretched the tape along the damaged wood, muttering numbers under his breath. Baby Acorn had set up the yellow and black tape earlier that morning, marking off the section they couldn't use. He'd also carried out the small wooden chair from inside so Papa Acorn could rest between measurements. Now he watched his father lean forward, one hand on the cracked post for balance. The wood groaned. Papa Acorn shifted his weight and reached for the chair. The second post splintered with a sound like breaking bones. Papa Acorn lurched sideways as the railing tilted, his arm swinging out toward empty air. Baby Acorn grabbed his father's other hand with both of his and pulled backward, feet sliding on the deck. Papa Acorn fell away from the edge and landed hard on his side. The measuring tape clattered off the deck and disappeared into the leaves below. Papa Acorn sat up slowly, breathing hard. He looked at the splintered post, then at Baby Acorn's small hands still gripping his sleeve. "You were right," he said, his voice shaking. "About all of it." He pulled Baby Acorn close and held him there, not patting his head or brushing off his worry. Baby Acorn felt his father's heart beating fast against his ear. Papa Acorn stood and walked to the center of the deck, away from all the edges. "We're not fixing this," he said. "We're leaving. I'll take extra work. We'll find the money faster." Baby Acorn nodded, something loosening in his chest. His father had finally seen what he'd been seeing all along.