| Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
“Hi. This is Matt.”
“Hey what’s up?” Olivia just finished shower. She kicked away her slippers and jumped into the bed.
“Just want to make sure you got home safe and everything’s fine.” Matt said, “Sorry. It’s so late at night and we should have accompanied you home.”
“No worry.” Olivia stretched herself comfortably, “By the way, this is my first time seeing grown-up twins in real life. I’ve seen little ones but not big ones.”
“Every pair of twins starts as little and will eventually grow up…big. We really exist in the world.” Matt found her amusing, “So do you think we look alike?”
“Very much, though not as…scarily identical as I expected.” Olivia babbled.
Matt scratched his head, “What a description you have. Danny and I ain’t scary looking at all, hopefully.”
Olivia asked, “How’s Danny? Did he have a good time at the buffet tonight?”
“He came home and took shower, then went to sleep so quickly! He must be too full…probably ate too many cakes.” Matt smiled, “He really enjoyed the buffet. Thanks for treating both of us. I told you not to…but anyway…thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Seriously. And thanks especially for spending the time with Danny, being so considerate and patient with him. I’m sure he is very happy to have met you as a new friend.” Matt said graciously, “You didn’t discriminate him, or treat him as some odds, like many other people do.”
“Danny is just a little different, but nothing wrong with him.” Olivia was a very kind girl, “He’s a lovely boy. I’m happy to be friend with him too. We can always come out again sometime.”
Matt was touched, “Sure.”
“We can come out again…hm…the three of us.” Olivia thought.
“Yeah.”
“When?”
“Not buffet though. Got to lose some weights before trying those cakes again.” Matt tittered.
Both of them chuckled softly.
“Hm.” There was actually not much happening at the conversation, but Olivia just felt like holding onto the phone for longer.
“…hm…you said you have class early morning tomorrow, right? I guess I’ll call you again then.” Matt said
“…wait.” Olivia did not want to hang up.
“Yes?”
Olivia could not find an excuse.
“Goodnight Olivia.”
She curled her lips, “Alright then. Goodnight Matt.”
******************************
“Put on more sunblock. The sun is really strong today. Remember to pat some on your legs too! Yes rub them on…” Matt pointed to Danny and taught him.
Danny squeezed out more sunblock lotion and patted on his legs.
They were at the beach today. The weather was getting warm; having a fun day at the beach was one of the favourite events for the two brothers as summer-kick-off.
“Have to do the back too. Ok turn around...” Matt rubbed some lotion on Danny’s back.
“Hey you two are early!” Olivia ran over; her feet getting stuck by the sand though, “Whew…hard to run on the sand, hehe…”
“Hi!” Matt greeted. Yesterday on the phone, she found out they were coming the beach today. She wanted to join them too.
“Yo.” Olivia put down her hand-full of stuffs on their beach mat. She turned to Danny, “Hi hi, Danny.”
Danny tilted down his head and murmured, “Hi.”
“So Danny likes to swim and play around at the beach in summer time, huh?” The friendly Olivia tried to open up the conversation with him.
“Hm.” Danny bit his lips and shifted a bit away from Olivia.
“It takes him a little longer time to feel comfortable and make a new friend.” Matt explained.
“It’s ok. I think Danny and I are working out pretty well. Last time we had some fun time at the buffet.” Olivia smiled, “Right Danny?”
Danny did not respond, though his body gesture looked a bit more relaxed than before.
Olivia carefully hugged up something; it was actually a pet cage, “Look who I brought with me here today!” She opened it, and the head of a little puppy stuck out.
Matt was surprised, “Wow so cute! Is this your puppy?”
“Yup.” Olivia gently carried out the coffee-colour puppy, “Come on.”
The little puppy stood on the beach mat and looked around curiously.
Danny’s attention was caught deeply by the pet. He kept his eyes over it.
Olivia smiled and demonstrated, “Danny, do you want to pat the puppy? Look you can touch his hair…”
Danny observed for a while, then he reached out his hand and gently stroked the puppy’s hair, “Doggie. Doggie.”
“His name is Waffle.” Olivia said.
“Doggie. Doggie.” Danny did not seem to hear Olivia.
Olivia leaned over and patiently repeated, “Danny, doggie’s name is Waffle. Waf-fle.”
Danny paused, then he called the puppy again, “Waffle.”
Olivia smiled, “Danny, how about giving Waffle some crackers? He loves these crackers.” She took out a small bag and poured some crackers into Danny’s palm.
Danny opened his palm. The mellow puppy nibbled the crackers and rubbed his head on Danny’s arm.
A soft and sweet smile lit on Danny’s face. He cuddled and fed the puppy; so concentrated; so enjoying; so satisfied.
Matt gladly watched Danny. He said softly to Olivia, “Thanks for bringing your doggie. Danny loves little animals.”
“I was guessing that he’ll like my puppy.” Olivia said, “Last time I was browsing the internet and read a bit on autism. Hm…Danny probably doesn’t like dealing with people, but he should feel more comfortable with little animals.”
Matt gazed at his twin brother, “Look how happy Danny is. He’s just like a kid. He’s very simple and innocent. Very little things can make him happy. Very simple. He doesn’t ask for a lot. He never does.”
Olivia listened.
“He’s harmless. He would never hurt anyone.” Matt’s eyes turned teary, “All Danny needs is love and respect, to be treated fairly like everyone in the world does.”
Olivia could feel how they suffer from the discrimination in the society, “Matt, I can tell. You’re a very good brother. You take very good care of Danny. How about your family?”
“Dad died in a car accident when we were 10.” Matt sighed in sorrow.
“Sorry.” Olivia apologized, “How about your mom?”
Matt’s attitude changed, “I prefer not to talk about her.”
“Oh…sorry.” Olivia was stunned by his answer, but she knew it would be inappropriate to ask further.
Matt shook his head.
Olivia cheered him up, “Alright let’s stop the chit-chatting. What a waste of the sun and beach! Let me go get changed and we should all jump into the water! Sounds good?”
The bubbly girl lightened up Matt. He chuckled, “Sure.”
“Ok Danny! Take care of Waffle for me for a bit! I’ll be back soon! Get Waffle to do some warm-up exercise first, okie?!” Olivia grabbed her bag and quickly ran to the changing room.
********************************
Olivia, Matt and Danny became good friends. They buddy up to eat around, go hiking, playing at the amusement park, sunbathing at the beach…all simple and inexpensive. Yet everywhere they went were filled with joy and laughter. The cheerful and easy-going Olivia was like a beam of sunlight, shining and warming up the hearts of the two brothers.
Matt had never had so much smiles on his face like recently, maybe not even as much when he was with Ivy in the past. He felt eased up and relaxed, and could temporarily put away the heavy burden of his tough life.
When Olivia was around him.
But no matter how happy the three were when they hung out together, three, was an odd number. Three, was just a little too many sometimes.
“It’s very beautiful weather today.” Olivia lifted up her head and closed her eyes, sniffing in the refreshing air.
“Yes it is.” Matt imitated her and closed his eyes also.
Birds were whispering. Breeze was softly stroking. The world seemed to be left with just the two of them.
Matt turned around and peeked at Olivia. She was still enjoying the charming atmosphere. An innocent sweet smile gently hung over her lips.
Matt was stunned: so beautiful, so innocent, so sweet.
Olivia seemed to feel Matt staring at her. She took a look at him.
They looked into the eyes of each other.
“…kite’s not going up. Not going up.” Danny suddenly ran over with a kite in his hand.
Matt and Olivia was shocked and intuitively looked away from each other.
“…ahem.” Matt cleared his thoughts, “Danny do you remember how I’ve shown you? You have to wait for the wind and try a few times to get the kite up. I see you haven’t been patient enough. Go try it again.”
“No…” Danny whined for help.
“Watch those kids over there! They could do it too! Come on Danny, go try again and you can do it too!” Matt was firm to encourage Danny to learn.
“Olive…Olive…” Danny dragged Olivia’s arm. Matty says no, but Danny had another person to go to now. He knew Olivia would help him.
“Alright, let’s go fly the kite together!” Olivia stood up.
“You’re spoiling him.” Matt chuckled casually and went to take out some food from the bags on the picnic table.
Danny happily pulled Olivia away. She turned back and had a glance at Matt.
Matt had his head down and concentrated on making sandwiches for Danny.
Olivia felt lost.