Chapter One Hundred Ten

“Time to get up, Dad! Today’s a big day!”

Puck’s timing was better, and later, this Saturday morning. We were grateful. Especially after a later night with Carrie and Rose watching a silly movie about salmon and Yemen. They had stumbled in after eight o’clock that evening with a sick sugar sour gummy worm high and an unopened can of chicken and dumplings. But Puck was right – he did have big plans. Big City Museum plans with Kirk Lewis all day.

“Mom, I want my red coat,” he explained with gravity. “Because I want to represent the Cardinals today.”

I sent off my boys. The Bear was three weeks behind in Greek, but it wasn’t going to stop him from celebrating more birthday with his son. And this left me with the dishes, a Japanese paint box, and “The Wonder Years”. Some bacon for lunch. I was living the high life.

I was a couch potato.

Eleven episodes of “The Wonder Years” later, The Bear dropped by to get me. Puck had already been delivered to the Silverspoon’s for the late afternoon. We were out to join them.

Puck had been served another birthday on a silver platter – the City Museum, pretzel bread grilled cheese sandwich, Orange Leaf yogurt, and then a wrapped box on the counter. Cowboy boots. A few sheets of bubble wrap waiting on the chair. Bubble wrap and cowboy boots. I mean, seriously, what more could a 6 year-old want? Oh, and pork steaks and a chocolate cake topped with cream cheese frosting and shiny red strawberries. This kid had the life…

“Could I stomp on the bubble wrap, MOM?”

What else was it there for?

Puck was still calling for me after eight o’clock that night. I guess all the energy and sugar had combined into less fatigue and more adrenaline…

“Mom?…”

“What’s up bud?”

“I’m having strange daydreams.”

“Daydreams, huh?”

“Yeah… Can you come back here?”

I was in a tight headlock before I knew what was what, although I expected it.

“Don’t leave, Mom!”

“You need to go to sleep, bud.”

He grinned big at me…

“You’re my teddy bear for the night!”