Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:59 pm Post subject: Big Daddy Venturo
Venturo couldn’t say he was particularly enthused about his siblings lives progressing quickly before his own. Of course he wanted them to be happy and succeed, and Ava making babies was inevitable anyways. But he did feel sort of, left behind? Calloway came into their lives with Mila, they were always going to be end game; as soon as he could, Calloway moved out and away with ivory colored companion. Ava and Han had a fast love affair, resulting in Venturo’s sweet nieces that he adored very much, Han wasn’t so bad either. Then there was Romano, Venturo’s constant companion since before they were born. He missed him deeply, and more all the time, as his path diverged from his twins side, and joined with Jai’s. They had a little baby too, Phet; another adorable niece that Venturo very much celebrated. But at the end of the day, it was incredibly lonely. His parents growing concern about him was a little embarrassing too; while Ava was still at home with her own little family, she and everyone else had been moving forward in their lives. While it was sad, and it left him immobilized for a bit; he pushed on. With unwavering optimism, he became the go-to guy at his local temp agency. He was grossly unqualified for most things, but he still got most jobs done without much mess or damage.
Finally making money, he was able to get his own place, an apartment a short bus ride away from his home suburb. The complex was small enough, Venturo didn’t have too many neighbors; an Indian couple that lived downstairs from him, and an elderly woman he lived a door down. The apartment wasn’t much to write home about, but it had a little kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom, what else could Venturo possibly need? He’d been gifted a few things from his parents home, a wobbly end table and some kitchenwares. He’d bought a standing lamp and beanbag chair from his living room, the tv he brought from home didn’t have a stand, so it was sitting on the floor. He was able to bring his old bed from home too but he broke the frame trying to wrestle it into the apartment, so his mattress had to rest on the floor of his new bedroom but Venturo hardly minded. The first couple of days Venturo was mostly working, so his apartment wasn’t shaping up right away. But today was the first Monday he’s had to himself and he was taking the opportunity to clean up. He didn’t have much to fill the space, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t clean up the place. He had a bandana wrapped around his head; dirty blond tufts of hair jutting out from under it, and tied a gingham print apron around his waist. Snapping on a pair of cartoonishly pink rubber gloves, he was ready to get put some elbow grease into this place.
He had the windows open but the blinds drawn (for some privacy, as he sang and danced around the apartment to Donna Summer, scrubbing down surfaces and sweeping up the floors. Eventually he would hear rapping on the door in rapid succession. Venturo supposed it was one of his neighbors, come to tell him his music was too loud and to turn it down. He lowered the volume on his phone and took off his gloves before going to answer the door. Upon opening the door, he was surprised to see there wasn’t an adult person there to greet him. Instead his eyes lowered until they settled on a little baby in a stroller; a pacifier in his mouth as he suckled and looked up at Venturo curiously. The babe wasn’t fresh but not very old either, maybe a year? Venturo noted the babes own dirty blond curls, poking out from under his cap in a similar fashion to Venturo’s under the bandana. There was an envelope settled in the babies lap, and Venturo wasn’t one to pass up a fun mystery.
“Hello?” He called, looking around still as he took the envelope and tore it open.
Venturo looked around but didn’t see anyone, just him and the baby. He didn’t hear anyone coming either, not heavy footfalls racing up the stairs to come back for an abandoned baby. His eyes rested on the letter then and his own dark eyes studied the text curiously.
Venturo,
I’m sorry this is so sudden, but I need your help. I gave birth to our baby fourteen months ago, I didn’t tell you. I didn’t tell anyone. I tried really hard to do it on my own but I can’t do it anymore. I’m so sorry, but please take care of him, he’s a good baby but I can’t do it anymore. His name is Pascal, his first birthday was on July 10th. He has no allergies that I know of, he’s quiet and his favorite thing is his pacifier. Please look after him.
Venturo could hardly believe it at first, he read the letter over several times; inspecting the paper from all angles for more information. Pascal was sitting quietly, strapped into his stroller and observed Venturo as he carefully looked around the stroller then for more evidence as to what was happening right now. If not for the letter specifically addressing him by name, he would think this baby has the wrong house.
“Well, I guess it would be rude to leave you outside, huh?” Venturo said to the baby Pascal.
Venturo let out a sheepish sigh and chuckle before pushing the stroller into his apartment. The stroller did have a handful of diapers, a small pack of travel wipes (it appeared there were only a few left), and a bottle with a badly abused nipple.
“Let me get you a refreshment, Mister Pascal.” Venturo said aloud, taking the bottle to the kitchen and filling it with water; he was thankful he invested in a britta pitcher. Venturo wasn’t sure if babies could have straight tap water. Upon seeing the bottle, Pascal spat out his pacifier and reached for the bottle, which Venturo happily obliged. “Well, I guess we’ll have to go out tomorrow and get you some stuff to be comfortable.”
Monday night, Venturo spent the night just observing Pascal and trying to get to know him; the best you can get to know a baby. He didn’t cry, but did fuss when he needed a diaper change and again when he started to get tired. Venturo gave Pascal a bath, inspecting his little body for any signs of abuse or neglect that required immediate attention; there weren’t any. Afterwards, Venturo settled Pascal into his lap, perched on his mattress, he played The Wiggles for Pascal while he combed his blond curls. Pascal slept with Venturo in his bed, but Venturo didn’t really sleep, just watched Pascal and listened for the door if anyone tried to come back for him. Tuesday Venturo took Pascal in his stroller and walked down to the corner store, he grabbed more diapers and wipes, baby food too. The cable guy came and Venturo was able to watch Blues Clues with Pascal, feeding him little spoonfuls of banana baby food. Monday night, they both slept; this time on the beanbag in front of the tv; Pascal slept against Venturo’s chest all night, and Venturo’s hand didn’t move from his back not once. Wednesday Venturo took Pascal in his stroller to the local library, they spent the day reading and playing in the kids play around with the different foam blocks and puzzles. Venturo was learning that Pascal wasn’t too expressive, he was definitely quiet, which was perhaps due to the pacifier he had glued to his mouth. Venturo tried to test the boundaries and take the pacifier, but Pascal’s normal blank stare, shifted to something with a little more attitude. His expression conveyed: “I wouldn’t try that if I were you.” That night, after bath time, Venturo sat in his bed with Pascal and they looked at all the different books Venturo had rented at the library for Pascal. He seemed to like the color yellow, and pointed it out to Venturo in books whenever he could.
Family dinner was on Friday, so Thursday Venturo took Pascal with him to the corner store again to do some shopping. Venturo got some things to make stuffed peppers to bring to dinner, that night he and Pascal retired to their beanbag and split some homemade sweetpotato fries while they watched Babe on cable. Friday he and Pascal made the short journey to Grandma Remedy and Grandpa Romulus’s house, Venturo packed up the peppers in an aluminum tray, nestled into a paper bag. He dressed Pascal in little blue overalls and matched a blue shirt to the color (the shirt wasn’t appropriate but it was the same color blue). He parked the stroller on the porch before collecting Pascal into his arms and letting himself in.
“Hello, party’s here!” Venturo called as he shut the screen door behind him with his hip.
It was surely no surprise to anyone that Romano and Jai had beat Venturo to their parents house, after all, he and his husband and daughter took up residence right next door. They had come over a bit early so Romulus could fawn over his granddaughter while they helped with last minute dinner preparations.
Unlike their parents, Romano was admittedly not that worried about his twin. Sure, he seemed a little stagnant for awhile, but Romano knew his brother was the perpetually optimistic type. There wasn't a situation that he hadn't bounced back from yet and Romano was doubtful there was one that would knock him down and out for too long. When he called him up to tell him he'd gotten a job and his own place, Romano had felt like calling his parents to tell them, "See? He'll do alright!"
But he didn't, and he would be glad he hadn't because if he had...they'd tell him to eat his words given the new situation.
Romano emerged from Calloway's old room downstairs, which had been turned into a guest room once more, with Phet after a diaper change. He put the little girl on his hip and went to greet his brother, but stopped in his tracks, mouth open but silent, as he saw his brother and his plus one.
"Uh...who do you have there?" He asked, curious if his brother had taken on a nannying gig. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“This, is Pascal, he’s my son.” Venturo said with a fairly bright smile, it hadn’t occurred to him really, that this first meeting could go wrong. Most of the babies in this family arrived by unconventional circumstances. Venturo didn’t see his situation as anything very different from that of his siblings. He’d hoped, everyone would be excited; he was already picturing Phet and Pascal as best friends, just like their Dads.
Venturo sat the paper bag down on the floor before holding up Pascal to Romano. “Would you like to meet him, I’ll trade you for Phet?”
Romano’s eyes bulged. Had his brother just said this little boy was his son?
“Excuse me?” He said, looking at the tot as he was held up. He bore a striking resemblance to his brother, therefore himself, but there was no way…right? _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“This is Pascal, he is my son.” Venturo offered up again, his optimistic grin was softening. Usually when people said, “excuse me,” it was because he’d done something wrong.
By now Remedy came jogging down the stairs, hearing her oldest boys voices, she hurried down to greet them. But she saw that Venturo had a baby in his hands, which to her best recollection, Venturo didn’t have a baby. So why did this baby look just like him? Right away she noticed intense brows and a high set nose, a genetic trademark passed down from her mother. The babe also had dirty blond curls, which Venturo didn’t have a monopoly on. But it was hard to ignore with all his combined features.
“Venturo, who is that?” Remedy asked, her own intense brows, furrowed with concern.
“This is Pascal, he is my son.” Venturo said for a third time, smile weakening.
“Well, someone dropped him off on Monday. There was a note attached to his stroller, addressed to me, detailing that this is my son.” Venturo explained, bouncing Pascal a little in his arms since it didn’t seem like anyone was going to pick him up.
“Someone? You don’t even know who dropped him off?” Remedy exclaimed.
“No, they were gone before I opened the door. It was just Pascal.” Venturo said, brown furrowed. Why did it feel like he was in trouble?
“Wait, you’ve had him since Monday?” He asked, bouncing Phet in his own arms as she started becoming restless upon being held hostage in this situation. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Ava had just finished giving her and Han’s eldest a bath. The poor thing had gotten gum in her hair earlier that afternoon, and Ava spent the better part of the evening, combing it out carefully with coconut oil. No locks were cut, and the sweet little “Hava girl,” came running out of the downstairs bathroom, darting straight to the kitchen. That meant Ava was here now and even from her place in the hallway, she could see Venturo and the babe in his arms. There was a brief moment, where you could see Ava thinking about what she was seeing and processing it. But very quickly, she closed the distance between them, standing beside her brother and mother, with that accusatory glare that Venturo was beginning to dread.
“Before you ask, this is Pascal and he is my son.” Venturo said to his sister.
“You have a son, and you’ve had him since Monday?” Ava exclaimed, echoing Romano from before. Her eyes were wild and her expression was incredulous. “You can’t have a baby!” She chuffed, still befuddled at what she was learning.
“Well, I do. His name is Pascal.” Venturo reaffirmed once again. “Why would I have to call you guys? I knew I was seeing everybody tonight. I still have some stuff I need to get, but we’re good.” Venturo felt confident about this but he was also a bit deflated from the direction the conversation was going.
“Venturo, you don’t know who that is, or that he’s yours, or where he came from?” Remedy sort of sputtered.
"Ven, it's just that this is like big news. It's something you should have called at least one of us about." Romano explained, brows pinching with just a hint of guilt when he could see the beginnings of his brother's crestfallen mood creeping in. He was taken aback by the news and still had the same concerns rattling his mother and sister so far, but he didn't want his twin's feelings to take a beating either. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Venturo’s own furrowed brows, mirrored that of his twins. “Well I can’t go back and do it differently, I suppose on the off chance this happens a second time, I can keep in mind to phone someone.” Venturo offered, he wasn’t being sarcastic though. If this happened again, he definitely wanted to avoid this scenario in the future.
Remedy let out a defeated sigh. It was hard to stay mad at her kids, especially the twins. Those were her boys, they always meant well.
“I’m sorry Venturo, we’re just all really surprised.” Remedy began, wrestling with her own bewilderment and guilt over the situation. “We can discuss it more over dinner.” She said, picking up the paper bag Venturo brought, assuming it was for the dinner.
“Discuss what over dinner?” Romulus emerged from the kitchen, apron and ovenmitts on as he wrangled one of Han and Ava’s giggling and squealing girls as he held her upside down. “Hey who’s the baby?” He gestures to the toddler. Unlike his wife and other children though, he seemed to come to the realization of the child’s identity on his own as his eyes bulged. “Wait, Ven, is he yours?” He demanded, flabbergasted. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“Maybe.” Remedy answered somewhat quickly before taking the paper bag with her and retreating to the kitchen with it.
“Hm, probably.” Ava said under her breath, looking at the two of them, it was a bit uncanny. It was as though Venturo’s head had been squished down into baby proportions.
“This is pascal, and he is my son.” Venturo answered, hopefully for the last time tonight.
“He doesn’t look fresh…when did you have him?” Romulus asked as he set the little girl down before she could start head butting him. He approached Venturo and bent down to eye the toddler closer. Between the several babies he had Remedy had produced, his niece Lucita, and a whole brood of grandkids, he was a bit of a baby connoisseur. “He’s like a year old. Have you been keeping a baby a secret for a whole year?” He asked in disbelief, mostly because he didn’t know Ven to be able to keep a secret. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“No, I’ve had him since Monday.” Venturo answered. “The note said he’s fourteen months, so you’d be right, he’s a little older than a year. Do you want to hold him?” Venturo offered again, albeit more hesitantly given the rest of the family’s earlier reaction. But his dad seemed, not angry, so it felt worth trying again. He held out the little blonde babe to Romulus, Pascal looked up at his grandpa with a stoic stare. Even with all the commotion, Pascal remained quiet and unphased, sucking away on his pacifier.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
