“No, don’t take your shoes off, we’re heading back out.” My Aunt Kristen reaches for Harry as he pulls his last shoe off. She lets out a long sigh, one that I feel on a personal level.

I finish making my way down the steep stairs, coming to a stop in front of Harry. “Hey, I didn’t take that long. Put your trainers back on- No leave your coat!” He giggles as I pick him up, his grasp on the zip of his winter coat slips. The vibrant blue of the padded jacket almost makes him glow, there's no losing this one in a crowd.

It takes a while, with Harry kicking his legs and turning away like nothing happened when I look up to him, but I do it! His shoes are back on his tiny feet, velcro pulled tight.

“Thanks Jem. I’m working on a new show and am tired as hell. He does not make it easier.” My Aunt takes Harry’s hand, gearing up to leave when she spots my mom coming to join us.

“What’s Lianne doing?” I ask, slipping a denim jacket over my yellow hoodie.

“Not enough. We had an argument about it, little guy saw. I guess we fake made up when he started crying. Haven’t gotten the chance to talk to her since but hopefully she’ll pick up the slack.” Kristen rubs her forehead and then her eyes. Dark circles make her eyes appear small and eyelids weighty.

My mom bends to pick Harry up, resting him on her hip. My mom has a small, thin build yet still surprises me with her strength. Harry certainly isn’t light anymore. “I hope she does. She does care about you both a whole lot so I’ll bet she gets over whatever slump she’s in.”

Kristen smiles, reassured by my mom’s careful words. “Thank you, but let’s forget about this and spend a day out! I’ve been excited for this.”

“Jem drive!” Harry shouts, a huge smile pointing towards me.

He’s so cute. Luckily I have no problem saying no to him. “I’m not on the insurance kiddo, so no can do.”

He seems confused, no wonder though, what kid knows about insurance? But then he adds on, “but you drove when we went to that river. Like a race car!” He smiles again, contrasting my wide eyes.

“What?” My mom says, both her and Kristen turning to me. Oh no.

“David let me drive.” Is all I say. That was a fun day, we went to visit my dad and walk around the countryside. My dad’s neighbour, David, has both a fast car and a small child so I went with them and Harry.

Probably wasn’t the best idea to speed with children. I think I’ll save doing that for being alone in my own vehicle.

“I’ve never been so happy knowing insurance is too much for you.” My mom says, stepping outside.

We end up at a coffee shop, eating sandwiches and slices of cake with drinks. When it comes to instant coffee, I prefer it black. But if we’re going out, a black coffee is a crime. I sip my toffee latte, enjoying the sweet, creamy flavour.

“So Aquarius, if I remember right, it’s a certain Sagittarius’ birthday soon. Do you have a gift yet?” My Aunt asks after finishing her food and moving onto her fluffy Victoria Sponge.

With my mouth full, I can’t speak. So I stare at her in confusion for a few seconds. “Why are you speaking in code?” I mumble, reaching for my drink to wash the sweetness down. But I know what she’s talking about.

I’ve never gotten Isaac a gift before, like he hasn’t for me. We never shared our addresses and didn’t care too much about it either. But now everything’s changed. Now I could send him a gift. And maybe I should, after everything I put him through, not that some little gift would make up for everything but. It’s the gesture that counts, right?

“Oh, my poor boy. So uneducated. You don’t even know my star sign do you?” My Aunt shakes her head in fake disappointment. It gets a laugh from Harry and she looks up slightly, matching his happy face. “Since we’re out, let’s go birthday shopping.”

“You guys just want an excuse to roam the clothes stores.”

“We don’t need an excuse,” my mom puts in, setting her empty cup down, “but we would like a babysitter. Harry, do you want to help Jem get a present for his friend?”

Before I can protest, Harry jigs upwards with excitement. Only a child could be this excited about shopping for other people. Not that he’ll stay this way, just wait an hour and he’ll be dragging his heels, complaining that he’s cold and hungry and that I’m practically torturing him with all this exercise.

This is why I want to refuse, but before I know it, my mom and Kristen are waving at us and heading to the nearest shop. My favourite shop. Damn, I want to join them.

I look down at Harry, the bright blue of his coat overwhelms his pale face in the flat winter light. His little hand holds onto my fingers, a tight grip for such a small being.

“Okay, you can help me pick out a card.” I say, directing us towards the party shop, rows and rows of cards visible from the large windows.

We make our way inside, overwhelmed by the amount of colour and shimmery surfaces. Well I am, can’t say the same for Harry. His eyes reflect the sparkles of a huge balloon, the words “Birthday Boy” written in metallic blue. 

“We are not getting that balloon.” I pull him inside, weaving past people and coming to a stop in front of the aged cards. I scan through rows of fancy, bold and bright writing, landing on the 19’s.

I forgot how much I hate card shopping. Even at this age you find dark blue cards with beers and sports and cars for the men, and champagne and pink and shopping for the women. I’m not usually up for a gender debate, but what is with this? 

Anyway, I pick a few up, skim through the words and put them back down. Would this just be a waste of card? Do I need to give him one?

“Here!” Harry prods my leg, holding a card out to me. I take it, scanning over it’s colourful exterior. It’s a generic birthday card aimed for kids, like Harry. But it’s cute. “It has fuzzy bears.” He informs me, shifting to his tiptoes to point to the bears.

I brush a finger over it, feeling the velvety fuzz tickle my skin. I don’t like the feeling, but I smile anyway to share Harry's joy. “They're cute.”

He wears a proud smile, the happiness enhancing his warm eyes. He picked out a good card and I kinda like the idea of giving Isaac a kids card. Until I turn it over to view the price. 

“£4 for this?” Okay, nevermind. Isaac needs no luxury card, no matter how cute it may be.

“I can help pay!” Harry looks to his pockets, shuffling around in one with his eyebrows pulled down. When he comes up empty, he switches to his other side, conducting the same search in the padded pocket.

Eventually, he draws his hand out, opening it in front of me to show two neatly golden coin chocolates and a lollipop.

I chuckle, a warmth of affection spilling over me. “You can keep those. I won’t be getting a card. But maybe we can get him something else.” I ruffle his hair and tuck the card back into its stand.

Isaac likes insects and Harry’s sweets gave me an idea. So we make our way through a local shop, local for the city dwellers, and pick up a bag of gummy worms. I know from the sudden need to take notes that sweet bags can be used as paper when equipped with markers.

Speaking of markers, he likes using any piece of cheap stationary he can find to draw with. I could get him something a little better, something actually made for art. 

A mental map of town forms in my head as I try to remember where the art store is. It’s only small but should have what I need. So I begin following the lines in my head.

“We’ve been walking for hours!” Harry complains. Here it is. The downside of small humans.

“It’s been less than an hour since we left the coffee shop.” I tell him, taking his hand.

“I can’t read time.” His now snippy voice states. A pout is forming on his round face, eyes looking down and his shoulders sagging. His pace begins to slow too.

I can’t really blame him. He’s only small and following me through a busy city. I’d also feel the tiredness starting to hit. 

I crouch in front of him, grabbing his attention back. “Do you want a piggyback?”

His eyes light up. Without replying, he circles me and jumps hastily onto my back. I stumble a little, caught by surprise from the force, but I manage to straighten out and stand up. “After this last stop we can find your mom and go home, okay?”

Harry nods and holds his arms around my neck, tightly grasping the front of my hoodie. All secure and once again happy, we set off.