period. no arguments. the way he treated barfield was fucking adorable and he just loved the little guy to death. jasper even put barfield in a little necktie in one clip!!!
Just because I love Jasper and felt like honoring him for no special reason at all. Hopefully, it’s enjoyable.
Jasper loved the Thanksgiving holiday. A lot of people skipped right passed it, after Halloween, to go directly to the Christmas season, but not him. It was always a time of reflection and gratitude. He had never been given anything. Always had to work for what he had and along the way, internalized uncertainty about his worth.
But, some years ago, he met someone who helped him to know that not only did he deserve good things, but he shouldn’t have to practically kill himself to get them. That someone was named Honor, and was his firstborn child.
Honor’s mom wasn’t the one and they didn’t make it through some of the habits she had. But, when she was fed up and left for good, Jasper was still grateful for Honor.
Honor was sick when they were born. Mom’s habits got to them and affected some of the development. Jasper spent a lot of time in NICU, doing any and everything that the doctor suggested to see them to stability. Eventually, they were ready to come home. Mother was out of the picture within months.
“I get it, Kid. Mine had her flaws too,” he tried to calm the screaming infant. “I’m sorry that I didn’t choose better for you, but I promise that you’ll never want for anything. No matter what I have to do."
That became a fact. Each year that Honor had another birthday, right before Thanksgiving, Jasper had a lot to be thankful for.
They were in the store, shopping for the birthday feast and Honor rushed to a display of stuffed animals with pun shirts on. "Daddy! Can I PLEASE get this llama? I NEED it!” They said.
Jasper smiled and said, “Sure. But, you know the rule.” Honor grabbed a llama with a shirt that said, “No holiday drama for your llama,” tossed it into the cart and selected another one of a different color.
Then, they were on a mission. See, Jasper didn’t want to be like his own parents, denying him things just because they said that he’d be “spoiled” if they let him have stuff. That kind of upbringing had only made him feel guilty about having things, or having to lie and hide whenever he wanted something for himself.
But, just in case there was any truth to it, whenever Honor asked for something, he definitely gave it to them, but he also encouraged them to find another child to get something for, as well. He wanted to teach them that they were worth receiving things, but it was also nice to give.
Honor gasped and found someone who appeared to be a girl. They had bows in their hair and dark skin, with three puffs going down the back of their head, like a fro-hawk of puffs. “That one, Daddy!” Honor said.
Jasper looked over to see a Black child with Downs syndrome, standing next to a plus size woman that might have been their mother. “Alright, and what made you choose this particular kid?” Jasper wondered. He’d always asked Honor this, to see that Honor was thinking kindly of others. Sometimes, they would say, “They look poor,” and Jasper would correct them to say, “They look like life has not given them everything that they need.”
Today, Honor said, “They look like people make fun of their face!”
Jasper stopped to Honor’s level and said, “Don’t say anything about their face, okay? Of anybody makes fun of their face, that person is either mean or confused. Nothing is wrong with that child’s face. Something is wrong with people who make fun of people for being different.” Honor nodded. Jasper stood up and wondered, “You ready?”
Honor grabbed the second llama and they went to check out and get the receipt. They approached the woman and child. “Hi, excuse me, but my child is getting a little present when we leave the store today, and they just wanted to bring your child a little joy by giving them one, too."
The woman looked stunned and Jasper smiled and encouraged Honor, "Go on."
Honor held out the llama to their chosen child and said, "I picked up a yellow one because you’re wearing yellow. You remind me of a sunflower! That’s my Auntie Charlotte’s favorite flower!"
The woman looked like she might cry as her daughter accepted the llama with a gleeful laugh and excitedly showed it off to her. "Mama, look! It’s a llama! I love llamas!"
Honor gasped, "ME TOO! Hey, can I call you Sunflower?"
"My name is Netta, but.. Sunflower is pretty. Yes. I will let you call me Sunflower."
The two children talked joyously and Jasper handed the mother a receipt, "In case they say something at the door.” She nodded and started crying. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stir anything up."
"No, it’s just so seldom that another child approaches her and says nice things. I know that they never mean anything by it, but it’s heartbreaking when she has to wonder why kids greet her and say things about her face.”
“I’m trying to teach mine not to be judgemental.”
“His mother is very lucky,"
*Oh.. their mother isn’t in the picture… and we don’t call them a specific gender. They haven’t told me what they think that is, yet.” He shrugged with a small smile.
The woman smiled and nodded, “Right. I apologize for not getting their pronouns before saying something. It wasn’t my intention to be insensitive!” She looked genuinely concerned.
“No, it’s all good. At least you didn’t INSIST on calling them a boy.” They looked at the two children talking, like they had always known each other and Jasper offered, “We usually have a birthday feast for them, and my best friend, Henry. Their birthdays are near each other and shortly before Thanksgiving. Sunflower is welcome to come along.” He blushed, “I mean… Both of you, that is. They just seem to be hitting it off. Maybe, we can arrange playdates and stuff.” Her eyebrows raised and he tried to backtrack, “I mean, you don’t have to. You probably need to talk to their father or whatever…”
“He passed away when she was smaller,” she said and studied her hands.
“Sorry to hear that.”
“It’s been hard, but we make it. We’ve got each other.” She looked at her daughter, laughing harder than she had in awhile. “And, now, it looks like she’s got a friend!”
Jasper put his hands in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders, “Maybe you both do.” She looked at him again and smiled, then extended her hand to shake his, not realizing that his were in his pockets, then withdrawing her own when she noticed. By that time, he pulled his hands out of his pockets and dropped a few pieces of candy, his wallet and cell phone. He juggled the cell phone, to try to keep it from hitting the ground and she reached out, reflexively, and managed to catch it for him. They both laughed loudly and she gave it to him and shook his hand, “Alexa,” she said.
“Jasper…” He began to type on his phone and handed it to her, “Your number… for playdates… or whatever.” She smiled and nodded, putting her number into the phone. “I’ll text you about Honor’s birthday feast!” She nodded again and collected Sunflower.
“Bye, Honor! See you soon!” The girl said and she and her mother went on their way.
“Daddy… did you like that lady?” Honor asked.
Jasper smiled, “She seemed nice. Why?”
“Sunflower said ‘I think my mommy likes your dad.’”
“Oh yeah?” Jasper asked with a smile.
“Well, what do YOU think, Kid?”
“I think that you should be able to get something that you want too. You’re a good boy, Daddy. I’m thankful for you.” Honor took his father’s hand and they continued shopping, with Jasper trying not to cry.
