First Attendance

El Oso’s Monday afternoon and evening had involved meeting some “fancy interviewer guy” on the plane, returning from St. Louis’ ComicCon. And feasting upon “sea urchin on squid ink pasta for dinner with tiramisu for dessert.” A tad more exciting than the usual, I suppose.

Tuesday, Puck served me breakfast in bed; always up at that crack of dawn. When I left to transfer laundry in the basement, he was sitting on the comforter, guiltily sucking on the end of the butter stick, bright eyes. Eating. Butter.

This young tadpole of mine had caught himself a cold from his youngest aunt. I piled him up a bowl of pumpkin with honey and a cup of hot raspberry tea, also mixed with honey. While he swallowed and sipped – unaware that he had a cold at all – we read of the wonders and dangers of black holes and other treacheries littering the universe:

“But, Mom, what if there was a black hole by us and what would happen then?”

“I don’t think we have to worry about that one, pal.”

“Oh good. That is soooo a relief,” he sipped his tea calmly like a gentleman.

By the time his pumpkin bowl was completed, his sniffles were gone. So was another tooth:

“Just tugged it right out.”

He had indeed. Tooth five. He fixed up his raw gum with some tissues, leaving the blood-dabbed remains around the house in the excitement. After examining the new space in my hand mirror, he concluded that better things were coming:

“Pretty soon I’ll have big strong bus-crunchers teeth!”

Carrie and I had tickets – first game of the year. Puck rummaged in the kitchen art cabinet while we prepared to leave from the Big House. Finding Rose’s high school graduation name tag buried amongst the supplies, he clipped it proudly to his shirt:

“This means I’m a fan of Onion.”

Log-jammed down most of 40, Carrie and I finally entered the stadium, locked between four seats of guys, one of whom I was pretty sure hadn’t showered in a week. A handful of boxed championship rings, a few slick hits, and popping red fireworks later, Carrie and I exited the stadium with numb feet. Fifty degrees was feeling closer to 35.

Picked up Steak ‘n Shake grilled cheese and fries in the Valley. Mom and Francis joined us for a midnight chat in the kitchen. Francis was only there for the food of course. And to brag about his most recent life guarding saves. Crashed on the floor next to Puck somewhere before one in the morning, expecting about five hours’ sleep.