Ch. 229; Vol. 10

Somehow I wasn’t surprised when it happened.

Wasn’t surprised at all when the Christmas tree in the church foyer exploded into a tiny volcano all over the faded blueish carpet, lava flowing slowly to the sanctuary.

I figured it was my duty to warn the Sunday School classrooms.

“Volcano!”

Smiles and nods.

“Volcano!”

Smiles and nods.

M&M was improvising a wood shop class as Sunday School…

“Volcano!”

Smiles and nods.

Every, last, one of them.

As the day dragged on into night, I watched through the windows – rivers of orange-yellow lava sizzle around the edges of the building.
Apparently volcanoes aren’t of any real concern for the PCA.

Meanwhile, something of actual importance had happened on the other side of town. Francis the Lifeguard, had saved a little girl from drowning in the pool, who was apparently unresponsive. Something to make a big sister proud.

Anyway…

Theodore and Gloria were in Arkansas on business, and Izzy was involved in creative collaboration with Magnus somewhere else. But there were dark chocolate chips, which The Bear poured into a goblet for Puck to hold. He apparently took this job very seriously.

Puck squished himself beside me into the chair while “A Bug’s Life” began to play on the television.

“One at a time, Mom.” he watched me, alarmed for my health. “One at a time!”

But of course, I was attacking two at a time.

“Mom. I’m going to try to keep this away from you, because you’re too detected to it.”

“Puck…”

“It’s too much sugar for you.”

No kidding.

Well, I was groaning twenty minutes later. But from the caffeine, not the sugar. The world should thank me for never drinking coffee. No one needs to see that.

Oh, the curse of caffeine…

Help was on its way.

After a happy afternoon of baseball and editing, The Bear and Izzy stocked up on meat. Normally I’m not a huge meat fan, but today, some smoked protein was a good cure.

Puck was in trouble.

Almost ten o’clock, still awake.

No more Pixar marathons – or caffeine – for that punk.