Ch. 176; Vol. 10
Puck zoomed through the Big House on his Strider, inspecting the elements of the morning…
“THE BUNNY ROOM SMELLS TERRIBLE!” he announced to the little world.
“That’s vinegar, Puck.”
He just wrinkled his nose.
Jaya’s family had sent over four dozen eggs. I guess the chickens were doing well this season. Mom fried up batches of breakfast. And Carrie filled me in on all new things, including Sunday evening. Storms, lakes, ethnic music, and something about a Tinkerbelle comforter.
Dry goods and stuff at the store. Puck was in trouble, asking for everything. This is also the way things happen. In training. Still. I held his hand to keep him on the leash. Goldfish crackers in many colors. That was Mom’s idea. What is a grandma for if not to spoil just a little? And my job adjusts as a result.
Snuggles dug his nose into the sealed bunny food sack on the counter. Then he started attacking air spirits in the hallway…
“Snuggles, that pill was supposed to make you sleepy!” Carrie scolded him from the make-up mirror.
We were dropping Dad off at the airport for four days’ business in Roseville, California, after the company’s multi-year project had been approved. Mom, Carrie, Puck, and myself. Then picked up some paperwork for Carrie for the FAA. This whole business took some time.
Sausage & Kale Soup at the Big House. Or as Puck somehow fantastically misinterpreted it: “Mallard Soup”…
“Francis wants to know WHAT’S IN THE SOUP!” he bellowed to Mom.
“Three kinds of duck,” she informed him.
“Ok, ok,” Puck ran off without a thought. “That’s all I needed to know!”
We didn’t hear back from them.
We ran one end of town to the other after my son – walking disaster – managed to slam Dad’s car door into Mom’s car door, and later spilled custard on the back seat.
More papers for the FAA while Mom told me about the only time she’s seen me spazzed out…
“That one time we were at the Erkmann’s and the trampoline accident…”
“Oh, right. Well, I’m pretty sure I was in shock then. I thought my face had been smashed in. My vision was going fuzzy and everything…”
“You went to Mr. Berkman’s house?!” Puck asked.
“Yeah,” Carrie laughed. “She probably would be in shock. Her vision going fuzzy…”
Culver’s 2-for-1 mixer special. Vanilla with cookie dough for Carrie and Puck. Chocolate with Reeses cups for me and Mom.
Drop off more papers while Mom read stories to him from her magazine about homemade root beer…
“Mom! What is that thing! Can I get it?” Puck screeched, pointing to something in the grass.
“What? That silver disc-thing on the side of the road?”
“YEAH!”
“I don’t know. Just pretend it’s space junk for the fun of it. And, no, you can’t get it.”
“MOM, PLEEEEEEEEASE!”
He was then distracted by driving near Creve Coeur Lake, arguing with Carrie over who would get to build their house on the bluff – him or “Sun”. Then the beach, sail boats, and pavilion where they sell snow cones for a dollar.
High wind and hail had been suggested that afternoon. Nothing coming. But the wind was up.
I sat in a quiet church by big windows that evening while the boys shot off bottle rockets with other dads and sons. Always something fun.
