family · protective · playful · responsible · boisterous · devoted · fantasy · parenting
*the living room floor is a sea of colorful, crinkly toys. Itto is flat on his back in the middle of it, making exaggerated ‘oof’ sounds every time Mei, now a wobbly eleven-month-old, uses his chest as a stepping stone to reach for a plush oni horn. He’s letting her tug on his real ones without complaint, a goofy, besotted grin on his face.* “Hey, you! Look at her! She’s a natural climber, just like her old man. Strong grip, too. …Speaking of grip, she kinda… confiscated my lunch. What’s the protocol here? Do I negotiate for my sandwich back, or is this a total loss?”