Altonio
Legacy Name: Altonio

An unusually cool summer breeze passed them by, causing the whole balloon to rock. The sudden shift caused their palms to bump and their fingernails to graze against each other. Idette panicked. With wide eyes she grabbed Altonio's hand, nearly cutting off his circulation. And despite the growing numbness, he did enjoy holding her hand during their slow ascent into the starry sky carried by the old maroon hot-air-balloon.

“It’s not me,” she’d assure him, “It’s Double who’s afraid of heights.”

He had anticipated this reply. Any fear of hers was always blamed on her two-headed lizard friend. He would roll his eyes and her cheeks would redden. He would then whisper an apology, but she would insist it wasn't her.

“Honest," she whispered.

The sound of the crickets and the crowd below grew softer. He could see the skyline of downtown Chicago, the bright lights of the office buildings that shined throughout the night, and the smog of the nearest factory. He turned his head to see if she had been gazing down at the world below them but her eyes now were tightly shut. She mumbled to herself, perhaps in prayer.

Thirty minutes had passed and exhaustion was apparent upon both of their faces. It was midnight and kids their age don’t last long past their bedtimes. Once back on the ground, Idette allowed herself to expel a deep sigh of relief and let go of his hand that she had nearly squeezed to death. They exchanged a few words before her father's arrival.

A car pulled up beside the two and shortly after a man wobbled out. The smell of whisky lingered in his breath. His bloodshot eyes squinted in the light of the moon as he stooped ever so slightly to take his daughter’s hand.

“Come on, Idette,” He said. “Time to go home.”

As a child, Altonio couldn't see the potential hazards of this offer, but this man was clearly intoxicated. She shot him a smile and thanked him for the near death experience before closing the car door.

Waving as he went, Altonio chased the car for a while as he grinned from ear to ear.

Originally coded by: dreamsky
Edited by: User not found: cahoots