62 : A VBS Week
Heat index predictions had increased to a high of 105. Somehow it didn’t feel quite that hot. It was about 10:30 in the morning. Yali and I were camped out under the pavilion at Vacation Bible School. Quiet, summer heat. Only the soft rush of nearby passing cars and lawn mowers running on neighboring soccer fields. We had a total of three hours to kill while Puck completed VBS. So while I caught up on some laptop work, Yali went to town on the remains of our ballpark snacks from Tuesday night: Walgreen’s knock-off goldfish crackers: “cheddar penguins”.
After awhile, Yali left the little picnic table to observe nature. He returned with two plucked sweet clover blossoms for me. Monday, he had also gifted me clover at Faust Park. I don’t know who taught him that the ladies like flowers, but it’s a good way to butter mom up.
I had finished my work. We sat in the dense heat with an occasional stirring cool breeze, waiting for noon. It was close.
“Ma Ma Ma!” Yali yelled for me, with one beckoning hand.
He pointed to the ground where several of the cracker crumbs were being carted off in droves by ants. We sat there for awhile, watching pieces of crushed cheddar penguins scoot across the asphalt, like satellites in the night sky. Almost mesmerizing.
Noon.
Puck greeted me in the gym. “Mom! The church LIED! They said I would only get a little bit wet for water day! I GOT SOAKED!”
He handed me his rain jacket in disgust.
On the drive home, he had more opinions for me. “Nobody likes to get wet in the PANTS! NOBODY! They LIED!”
We talked that one over for a little while. A few minutes later, he was recovered, and moved on to schooling Yali in the ways of life, including a method of discipline that he felt I could incorporate on a daily basis.
“Mom, I have the perfect way for Yali to learn how to behave.”
He brought out the color card system he had duplicated from Hans’ class back in 2nd grade.
“Okay, Yali. You’re on green right now.”
Yali yelled, for no apparent reason.
“Oh, Yali… now you’re on yellow.”
Yali yelled again.
Puck shook his head. “You’re on red now, buddy. Better not do anything bad again or you’ll go to blue and then you’ll have to see Dad.”
Yali walked over to him, squeezed him around his legs. “Hug!” he said with a big smile.
“Good, buddy! That’s good! Okay, you’re back on yellow again!”