New Fic: Word of the Day (A Late Solstice Story)

[jackwabbit]

Word of the Day

Fandom: Stranger Things
Rated: G
Category: Gen. Double drabble. Family. Hopper and Eleven.
Time Frame: Shortly after season two.
Spoilers: Stranger Things, season two.
Summary: Words are hard.
Note: What the heck. Here. Have a late bonus, because it was on my desktop. I’ve addressed this idea before, in another fandom, but this is a true story of myself as a kid.

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The radio played a tinny version of “Up on the Housetop” as Hopper watched Eleven string lights around the Christmas tree. She was doing an admirable job, despite her lack of experience.

And Hopper was doing a fine job of holding down the couch and giving occasional pointers.

Suddenly, El stopped and tilted her head to one side, like a dog listening hard.

“What?” asked Hopper, instantly alert and glancing out the window.

“Nothing,” said El, shaking her head. “It’s just… this song doesn’t make sense.”

“In what way?”

“Reindeer don’t have paws.”

Hopper was still for a beat, then laughed out loud. That made Eleven’s quizzical look turn annoyed. She hated it when she didn’t understand something and that made her the butt of a joke she didn’t get.

But Hopper soon stopped and patted the cushion next to him.

“Come here, kid.”

El cautiously approached and sat down.

“Here,” said Hopper, pulling the battered dictionary off the coffee table. “Look up pause. P-A-U-S-E, not P-A-W-S.”

El did as she was told, then tossed the book back onto the table.

“That’s stupid,” she grumbled, crossing her arms and flopping back onto the couch.

And for once, Hopper couldn’t argue.