Dirt Explosions

The fields were once against full of mists, cut perfectly across their tops, fanning slowly over the early morning.
After church, Puck was having a thrilling time playing with Linnea under the persimmon tree. They had found a mole hill, and once Linnea had loosened the dirt, that was all it took. When Collette turned around to see what all the giggling was about, Puck was covered in dirt. Dirt freckles had gathered on his nose as he tossed handfuls of dark brown dirt into the air. He continued this act, laughing after every explosion, until his hair was fully filled with dirt granules.
“Use the vacuum cleaner,” Dad suggested afterward.
It did the trick. The tears came when Collette set the vacuum hose above his head, but all the dirt did come out.
Meanwhile, Rose was busy ironing a stack of 67 one-dollar bills.
“You’re just going to be depositing them into the ATM,” Collette said. “Why bother?”
“It preserves them longer,” Rose explained, hunched up on the counter with her knees tucked under her chin, steadily ironing on the board below her.
And Mom had toasted rolls and set out vegetables and fixings for sandwiches. So by the time OLeif and Joe had returned from the second service, it was time to eat. There were the usual crazy conversations, and catching up on what had happened over Saturday.
“Augustus burnt his thumb by picking up a flaming log at our bonfire,” Rose said.
“And the Plums came over too,” said Mom. “We had quite a party over here.”
“Jimmy took Loraine for a ride in my go-kart at church,” said Francis.
And Grandma and Carrie had attended the annual autism walk Saturday morning, followed by a trip to The Loop with Uncle Mo and Lucia later that evening.
While Mom, Dad, and Puck napped, Collette and Rose watched part of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
“Where’s my whipping towel?” Joe asked, coming into the kitchen.
He took a new towel from a kitchen drawer and began flicking things.
“Yow!!” Rose exclaimed.
She threw something at him. Joe laughed.
And later that evening, Dad was taking Mom to see the musical Emma at The Repertory Theater.