I'm sorry. What were you saying?
“Want to dig up the yard, Puck?” I asked.
“YES! Let’s go!”
I explained that we had to prepare the tools of the dig before we were able to just go on an arrowhead hunt, which meant maybe next week. So instead he arranged those tiny town Christian school playground rocks on the couch in circles until eggs-in-a-nest were ready for breakfast.
Whatever rain had lingered in the night, was now vanished. We were on the flipside of October, which, if it hadn’t been for two more home games, I wouldn’t have appreciated so much. But blue sky can have its benefits.
Puck looked skeptically at the Tom’s of Maine organic strawberry toothpaste sample that Carrie had given him several days ago. I’ll admit that kid can usually be coaxed into anything. But for some reason he had held up at this one.
“I don’t like it,” he half-whined Tuesday night.
But things grow quickly even in five year-olds, like mushrooms in the night, and by Thursday morning, he was old-pro with the new specimen, and brushed the pearlies as usual.
The Bear checked in after twelve. After enough headaches to sink a tanker over the last two years, he had finally consulted a chiropractor. Following x-rays, he would have a more complete idea of his status on Tuesday. And probably another extensive diet plan that would involve things like organic radishes and butter oil.
Meanwhile, the afternoon was turning silver and another handful of hours had already rattled away for Puck and myself. Things tend to happen fast like that. I told him to fill a cup of water for himself. He returned, panting, a few moments later with the empty cup, having chugged the contents.
“Was that enough water, Puck?”
“Yes… I kept… drinking… little motions… small water motions. I had five or something. I think I had five, Mom.”
Heading into seven o’clock, my nerves were just frizzed enough at the ends from the suspense of Wednesday night to claw on for Thursday. Crackers joined me on the couch, one soft paw on my leg – suddenly a calmed feline – as if to remind me to chill a little.
The Bear arrived earlier than usual on a Thursday night, following a brief meeting with his fellow dudes, and indulged in a stack of soft and fluffy – if I do say so myself – pancakes remaining from dinner.