Iced In
“GERM SPRINKLER! AAAAAAAH!” Puck spun around rapidly in a circle on the kitchen linoleum. “Look, Mom! I’m a germ sprinkler!
Fortunately for Puck, whatever germs he still had, didn’t seem to do much damage; bit of a hacky cough. Unfortunately for Puck, due to strict school policy, he could not yet return to school until a full 24 hours removed from his fever. “Fever”. Hey, I wasn’t complaining; another day with my Big Guy.
On the way to drop off adoption papers at the pediatrician that morning, Puck tucked the latest stuffed animal under his arm. No, it wasn’t Waddles the Penguin with big over-sold sparkly eyeballs. This guy with a long hearty stuffed neck was Bob the Turkey. Bob the Turkey had been an immediate hit when Oxbear brought him back Monday night from the CEO.
“Two stuffed animals in a week!” Puck declared as we rolled out of the parking lot.
Another day off of school – minus a smattering of morning homework – allowed Puck a day at the movies “with Grandma”, pretzels, buttered popcorn, and ICEES included. 95 minutes with “Paddington Bear”.
This left Carrie-Bri and me to handle the podcast, technical issues included – like Francis interrupting for food – before the freezing rain – and Dad – rolled in. Then the snow; just a scratch of it. But apparently it was enough to snarl traffic for hours all over the city. Puck – no surprise – was thrilled to discover that he would be spending the night as a result.
“Grandpa?” Puck was busy cutting up and glueing cardboard on the floor. “Do you have a pencil sharpener?”
“I do not.”
“What kind of a grandpa doesn’t keep a pencil sharpener in stock?” Carrie scoffed.
But Dad was getting ready to leave. Linnea’s windshield iced over during her shift at Dairy Queen, and she was without a scraper.
“Can’t believe you guys can’t get your cars defrosted,” he mumbled to himself, walking through the room.
Carrie had a little time to tease Puck before dinner.
“I’m going to study to become a nurse so I can give you your shots in your chubby arm.”
Puck grinned maniacally. “I think I would become an astronaut and live in space.”
“Then I would become – an astronaut nurse!”
“Aah!”