Joe's Natural Talents

Sunday, March 13, 2005

The weekend had gone quickly as usual, with laughs and little disappointments here and there. But enough of the good had happened to suffice for pleasantness, even though Friday and most of Saturday, all were pulled in dozens of varying directions.

Dad and Francis were on a camp-out for his late birthday present, with Israel Silverspoon, Adam-Age English, and Chester Hobcoggin. Joe would have gone as well, except that he and Rose were obliged to co-star in a remake of “The Princess Diaries” at the English’s that Friday night following madrigal practice.

Saturday morning Joe and Rose went with OLeif and the rest of the youth group to help pour mulch around a house in North county for their monthly work day.

Carrie had an early morning exam in Florissant, which Collette accompanied her on, as it was her first. Collette brought along a bowl of strawberries, a cinnamon roll, and a thermos of mango juice for Carrie, as she had skipped breakfast at home.

And so later that morning they returned home, Carrie uncertain as to the outcome of the exam, and Collette played more rounds of LIFE with Linnea. They all discussed events and Rose’s future, Carrie ordered banana yellow shoes from Newport, and Collette rewrote Mistress Pat to her own liking, as there were too many parts she could not have. The book was soon crossed out in green pen in many places.

It was a satisfying afternoon all in all.

Saturday evening, as they waited for OLeif to return from tax work, and a run for the border, Rose slipped in “Rocketman”.

“Guys, what are you watching?”

Dad walked into the living room, with his look of ‘I can’t believe you’re really watching this’.

“This is the stupidest movie,” he went on, as he settled himself down on the couch to watch.

Soon, Dad’s infamous giggle came through, and before long, he was guffawing and tickled pink, literally. His face was quite red and he kept calling Mom in to see certain funny parts he knew were coming. By the middle of the film, he had moved to the closest seat by the television in Mom’s writing chair, and was thoroughly into the film. If Carrie hadn’t been at work, she would have laughed and said he was such a cute daddy.

And then, as they began watching a Norwegian comedy that evening, Joe put on his usual display of belly dancing and bum-wiggling, while Rose fixed the DVD player.

“OK, guys, this is my latest move.”

Joe began to maneuver himself in a most unmanly-like fashion, which was naturally met with many groans and laughs. Soon Joe tickled himself and his face turned red from laughing. Fortunately, Rose soon had the trouble fixed, and the film was ready for viewing.

Such were how things happened at the Snicketts’.