Games
“It’s a wintry wonderland out there,” said OLeif, early that morning.
It was actually not a wintry wonderland.
“I was kidding,” he guffawed at Puck.
It wasn’t until 8:30 that morning, that the snow really came, quickly piling the lawns and roads high with perfectly white fluff.
While they stayed at home that morning, keeping warm, Puck studied his round hairbrush in severe concentration, which was as white as the snow outside the window. His shiny white teeth click-clacked against the handle.
“Nah nah nah nah,” he said happily, lying on his back.
He gurgled at the brush and grinned at it. Then he reached for the ceiling fan and talked to it in seriousness.
After his long winter’s nap, he gleefully chased around his wind-up penguin from Grandma Combs and rolled around, crawling quickly from one room to the next before Collette might catch him in the act of eating something he shouldn’t. He watched several neighborhood kids outside, shoveling driveways. He talked on Video Chat with the family at the house, waving at them a few times while he ate his peach puffs. And as usual, he whined for more snacks, which included a whole pear (albeit a small one). He watched his pudgy hands try to clasp the juicy bits from his plate, and sometimes called for help when they slipped through his paws too easily.
Of course, as soon as OLeif returned from work, things got crazy. The boys had made a habit of having giggling matches in Puck’s room while OLeif changed him into his pajamas. Collette could always hear the tremendous roars of hysterics and slap-happiness while she prepared Puck’s dinner in the kitchen.
“Come join our game, Mama,” OLeif called to Collette.
Collette walked back to see what was going on.
“Here, hide over here,” OLeif told her.
Collette ducked below the changing table.
“Now, wait for it, wait for it.”
Puck was lying on his back on the changing table with a huge grin on his face.
“Come on, do it, do it,” OLeif whispered to him.
“NAH!” Puck cried.
OLeif sprang in front of him with a wild face, arms flailing. Puck erupted with laughter. This game continued for awhile.
The sun set red that night on Collette’s walk, although it wasn’t as cold. Some of the snow had already melted.