August 8

Sunday, August 8, 2010


Puck and OLeif were busy playing after breakfast of yogurt and blueberries. OLeif was laying motionless on his stomach on the bed, pretending to be comatose.

Mama,” said Puck seriously. “My old Daddy can’t speak words today.”

Once Puck had revived his chuckling father, he smooshed all of the blankets and the comforter together in the middle of the bed, and tossed himself into it.

Come see, Mama!” he called gleefully. “This is my beautiful nest!”


By five till eight, on the road.


Judah was behind the pulpit that morning as Sinai was in Congo, missioning. Followed by another fascinating lesson on Augustine and the fifth century…

And after Sunday School, Puck jubilantly waved a googly-eyed fish-on-a-stick at his mama, his project of the day. Then he dumped his toys in the box and hurried over to Anneliese to announce to her that he was leaving.


In the mid-afternoon, Dad, OLeif, and Francis went shooting.

And it was tax-free weekend, which meant that the stores should be avoided at all costs. However, there were gifts to find. And Rose had an eye appointment anyway, so… into the din.

On the way, Rose discussed the condition of her sight without using contacts. “I can see pretty well without them after all,” she said. “Does that bumper sticker say ‘Jesus’ or ‘Darwin’?”

Then Rose mentioned the resuming of her ladies’ (really, elderly ladies) Bible study dinner that Tuesday night. She was bringing a dessert.

What shall I create for you?” asked Carrie.

Something that I can refrigerate or keep in the car.”

Too hot for anything to stay in the car. Unless I give you cake batter and let it bake in the car for you.”

Or something with fried eggs. I’d cook them on top of my car.”

Then they talked about which surnames would be good, or not so good, to have. Of how there had been a girl named ‘Mary Christmas’. Of the Native American customers who had called in at the old NAWS building with names such as ‘Power of the Bear’ or ‘Who runs with Eagles’, or the Indian name Rose had heard once that sounded something like ‘Tyrannosaurs Rex’.


The afternoon was baking.

Into the mayhem of the mall. There was a little concern that Rose might possibly run into something because of her eyesight… Or lack thereof…

We should get you one of those tapping sticks,” Carrie said to Rose, and called out directions to her as they entered, so that walls and pillars, etc., might be avoided.

While they waited for Rose’s exam to be completed, Collette and Carrie checked out the shelf of travel writings at Borders and considered Mrs. Field’s Cookies.


When they returned, Francis shared of his air-softing Saturday with Creole, Puff ‘o Lump, and a bunch of other kids, four of whom Francis took captive and marched them back to base. And of how Creole bashed his face in his gun, after tripping over something, ‘and the blood was streaming’.


After such a delightful narrative, dinner was served. It had been intended for a welcome-home for Linnea-Irish. But they were obliged to begin without her, as she would not be returned until 7:45 by the Pie family. This included grillwork by Dad: brats, burgers, and hotdogs, a hot potato casserole from Mom, and then a round of ice cream for dessert. These decadent weekends…

As they sat around the table, Puck gnawed down a giant corn-on-the-cob like a beaver and chugged a baby carton of milk while the rest of the family laughed over old times.


That night, OLeif and Collette laughed it up over The Road to Morocco.

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Jamie Larson
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