Autumn Cometh

Monday, October 1, 2007

Collette’s favorite month. Cool autumn had arrived. Puck was happy about it. He spent most of his time every day dancing. Up, down, around, down went his arms and legs, flailing, as he rocked in his bouncy and smiled at his feet.

Over at the house, more rubber ducks lay cockeyed on the driveway. Frances was back at his battle station. Linnea, meanwhile, was in the process of carving a three-pronged river in the dirt under the old rope-swing tree, which curved down toward the driveway. Thankfully no water had been added, yet.

“I nailed Frances with a dirt clog!” Linnea announced, as she ran inside.

Frances and Linnea still had a habit of calling “clods”, “clogs”.

“Yeah, I’m sure he appreciated that,” Collette said.

Sometimes, they had dirt wars.

The afternoon was for groceries, etc. Collette found a pile of color-covered Composition notebooks in dark red, dark yellow, bright blue, and bright green. There was nothing like a new notebook, college ruled. And OLeif had to have his Genovese pesto. That boy knew how to cook.

Mums and pumpkins were stacked in front of almost every store. The day was full of wind, leaves, and cloud-scattered skies. The windows were open. No one wanted to stay inside for long. Even Frances’ math session passed more quickly than usual that morning. A shipment of spring bulbs was on an ocean liner from Holland which would be planted before winter. Hermann. Sausage supper. Reformation Sunday – Collette always wore all black. Fall had the best traditions.

Meanwhile, Rose had found a studio apartment near the Mizzou campus, cheap (all things considered), and furnished. A Masters degree seemed closer than she had originally thought, especially now that Collette had released her from taking another GRE. Instead, Collette gave her two textbooks on abnormal psychology and ethics.

Later that evening…

“Look, Mom, I’m a kite!” OLeif called for Puck, who was suspended in his footsy pajamas above OLeif’s head, supported by his hand.

By the end of the day, Collette had decided, (provided there was still room on the plane), to go to Israel.