Day 20/366

"I'm so confused," Leslie moaned, head in her hands.

"Allow me to clear things up for you, Buttercup."  Momma Fairy waved her lavender wand and a shower of purple sparks rained down.  Kyle appeared immediately.

"Kyle?"  Mouth hanging open, Leslie looked at her son, then her mom, then back at her son.
"No, angel, he's not really here.  This is what we call a hologram.  Now, hush up and listen."  Another wave of the wand and Hologram Kyle began speaking and moving.

Leslie watched as her son stripped down to his boxers and posed in front of his webcam.  "I don't want to see this again, Mom!"

"Hush!  You need to really see this."

Hologram Kyle flexed his arms, turned sideways, then put his back to the webcam.  Another turn, a bit more flexing, and then Kyle said, "So, Dad, what do you think?  Any difference?"

This time Leslie focused on the screen of her son's laptop instead of her nearly naked boy.  "Mom, that's Patrick!"

"I know, dear," Mom Fairy acknowledged, a finger to her lips.  They both grew quiet and watched.
"Looking good, Son!"  Patrick assured his boy, giving him a thumb's up.  "What a change...you must be working harder than you've told me you were."

Kyle nodded enthusiastically.  "I've been hitting the gym after school, and Coach said I could use the weightroom on my free period.  And Joe told me about a shake mix that helps move fat to muscle."
"You're doing great, but send me that product name so I can do some research on my down time."
Kyle flashed his lopsided grin.  "You'd do that for me?  While you're over there?"

Patrick nodded.  "Kyle, you're my son.  I might have to be away, but that doesn't mean I'm not there for you.  Some of those supplements can be risky."

Kyle nodded again, then ducked his head.  Leslie saw his eyes welling up.  He didn't want to let his dad see him cry.  Her hand covered her heart as her own eyes grew watery.  "He was just connecting with his dad."

"Exactly.  Which you would have learned on your own if you'd let him explain,"  Mom Fairy instructed, then another wand wave and the images vanished.

Leslie sank to the ground, one tear rolling down her cheek.  "I know it's hard for Kyle to have his dad away.  I've been trying to fill in the gap for him, but I don't feel like I know what I'm doing, or how to connect with him."

"I know Sweet Pea, but a boy needs his father.  It's natural, and I'm proud of Patrick.  And Kyle."
Leslie sniffed and wiped her cheek.  "Is that why you bugged Dad so much about retiring?"  She looked up at her mother, sincerely wanting to know the answer.

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