Another Interlude

Grandparents Day at school meant an early morning arrival at the Big House for Puck’s transport in Mom’s car.

“I’m gonna be in a play today at school,” I heard him tell her in the kitchen. “It’s called ‘A Mushroom in the Rain’.”

First I’d heard of it. That punk.

So while Puck was busy performing this little play in his classroom twice for various sets of visiting grandparents – once as the Mushroom, once as Narrator #5 – Carrie and I worked on our podcast.

Francis walked inside with a small blowtorch, mid-morning, citing it as one of his better purchases.

“I might start bringing this with me wherever I go.”

When Puck returned from Grandparents Day with assorted goodies and a McDonald’s happy meal, the next time I looked over at him, he was sucking down a Sprite in one corner of his mouth with an orange Tootsie Pop wedged in the other. Definitely no more sugar until Halloween.

As the afternoon wrapped up, Puck lounged on the cool front porch – gray/rain mist – with his Minecraft books until El Oso arrived to bring him home for their own Guys Night.

Linnea-Irish had another set of volleyball matches in Washington, Missouri, along old Route 66. So Dad drove Carrie, Francis, and me the 45 minutes where Linnea was getting ready to warm up in the gym.

For such a tough year, unexpectedly losing their coach, we were surprised to find them winning their second match and third match. By this time, Francis was already snacking on pretzels at the cafeteria. Then they won their fourth, and finally the fifth. Impressive. Not to mention Linnea tearing up the court herself with some fine plays.

It was on the drive home – Dad chauffeuring us girls while Francis joined Mom – that Rose texted Dad.

“Guess what?”

Oh, I guessed fast. “She bought a car.”

Indeed. We didn’t know it right away, sitting in the Culver’s drive-through for cookie dough mixers and butter burgers, but it was an Audi S4.

These young kids with their bloated paychecks these days. In the words of myself, “Dang … dang.”

Anyway, I guess it was a successful evening for both sisters. Also for the Kansas City Royals in Baltimore. The season continues.