Drop-Kick
Puck was sitting in a city of Legos when I met up with him at the Big House that morning. Dad and El Oso were at the men’s Bible study/breakfast at church. Irish was leaving for Pointfest, whatever that was, with Hansel and Gretyl. And I was riding down to a very warm and green Forest Park with Mom and Carrie-Bri for Linus’ graduation.
While we waited at Mobil for a fill-up in the Valley, Rose texted us following her eight AM eye check-up:
“Only in STL would they give you a bottle of wine after a medical procedure.”
Dropped by Starbuck’s; Lucia needed a mocha delivery. I got a chocolate cake pop; Carrie’s treat.
And then the madness of Forest Park on a Saturday in May. I’m not sure how we got a place to park, but we did. A hot walk down the hill, back up the hill, stood around for half an hour, more. Aunt Petunia and Lucia found us first:
“You missed one of the girls here earlier who graduated with a certificate in Voodooism.”
Hmmm…
Anyway, The Muny was Webster University’s location of choice for the ceremonies. Linus and his Communications class had been arranged up front under wildly spitting cottonwood trees. It might as well have been snow. Fuzzy puffs for about another hour as we baked a little more in the sun and waited for Linus’ presentation. He was almost the last kid to walk across the stage. And so he became only the second male on the Combs side of the family to earn a full college degree since possibly the beginning of time. Uncle Mo had been the first.
We hit up Lion’s Choice on the way home, Mom, Carrie, and myself. Lion’s Choice was always the preferred fast food restaurant from our oldest days as kids. Dad ate our leftovers. Then, and now.
Mrs. Gigglesworth came inside for a visit before I left. Dad still insisted that she couldn’t stay.
Everyone was sleepy over at the Silverspoon’s when I finally got over there around two-thirty. Puck, who had spent an hour in the lawn sprinkler while I was gone, pulled his now-dry clothes and undergarments off the deck:
“Nana! Look! They’re dry now! Feel my underwear! It’s a little stale.”
Kitts, Mini Elvis, and Relevance called in on video chat from Austin. Theodore left to pick up organic chickens and four dozen eggs. Then he and El Oso built Puck a temporary water slide in the backyard:
“THIS WAS AN AMAZING IDEA!!!!!!” Puck yelled wildly, plunging himself headfirst down the subtle incline of the plastic.
Izzy joined everyone in time for pork steaks and sweet potatoes, talking finals and an upcoming trip to Connecticut with his buddies.