18 JUL 25
“Mom?... Mom?”... sleepily check the time on my phone... 6:40... “Mom? Can I get to class early on Tuesday so I can see 'E' and ask her all about her engagement?”... she then begins asking questions about her impending Nike “bubble shoes”... “Can I wear them to parks?... Can I wear them to church?... Can I wear them when I'm babysitting R?... Can I...” // “What is this... Green Eggs and Ham? Patience... it's early... I just want to sleep a little longer...” Yali suddenly walks in and throws himself on top of myself and several layers of blanket to begin blowing raspberries on my arms while Patience continues... “But can I wear them outside?... Can I wear them...” Puck enters next... beached-whaling himself onto the mattress... it's so much comfier than his nightly Army cot that he reminds himself... “I can't fall asleep here... I have to work out...” while Patience begins audibly imagining what E's marriage proposal must have been like... until Joe lands a loud “Shut up!” at her and it's time to get up...
Some time later sitting at the table to my breakfast of Triscuits and Wisconsin cheese spread for breakfast(!)... little green rainbox through the glass... leftovers from the night... Yali walking around in quiet stealth... green velvet Hobbit's cape and 3D-printed skeleton ghost mask...
Patience begins her third “paid companion” gig of the week at the Big House that morning...
...while Oxbear and Yali take another play therapy session together...
...and Puck makes more decisions about another Lincoln Continental listing that Francis sent him overnight...
...all driving back and forth between counties in a world layered in scratchy greens of woodlands... heat haze and cottonwood wisps... fossilized french fries and IKEA pencils in and outside the dashboard because I keep forgetting they're there...
Everyone back together briefly in the afternoon of a too-hot heat... Yali is feeling nervous excitement for his introductory fencing lesson that evening and therefore irritating Patience while she practices dance in the living room... “Yali! Stop chasing your sister with a chair!” // Puck walks out in work uniform... “That sentence shouldn't exist” he suggests... as Yali flies around the corner scooting the last-remaining busted IKEA pine chair across the floor after his screeching sister...
Hours later and everyone home yet again before Puck leaves to meet friends... successful fencing introductions... Puck surprise-training a new produce employee with no warning provided... various fast foods collected... trades made between Puck and Patience over various knick-knacks... red velvet teacake... mosquito-bitten at the patio table July evening heat while Puck sits comfortably from behind hoodie and cargo pants... “I'm not getting bit at all” he grins...