One Hundred Thirteen
Spongy yards. The rain had returned again.
“BYOOM!… BYOOM! BYOOM! BYOOM!”
Punching fists went flying through the air like Calvin-&-Hobbes inspired super heroes…
“Puck…”
“I have to byoom everything, Mom!”
He went back to visit The Bear who was getting ready for work…
“I’m going to miss you so much while you’re away.”
“I know, Dad. But I will only be gone for three days.”
“This will be your first business trip.”
“It’s not a business trip,” Puck giggled.
“What’s your job?”
“To be a boy.”
“Well if you’re doing your job away from home, it’s a business trip.”
Puck watched The Bear mitigate a small flood problem with some spartan irrigation under a whacked gutter before leaving. It didn’t take long for Puck to be suited up in rainproof motorcycle jacket, yellow CERT hat, and wellies, to continue administrating the situation. Two minutes later he was done. Apparently sticking his big tree-climbing pickle bucket under the gutter solved the problem faster.
“So… are you done?”
“Well I just want to stay out here for a little while and watch the rain for my science project today.”
So he lugged as many buckets and containers out of the garage that he could find, and lined them up under the eaves. If we have eaves; I’m not sure.
“I’m seeing how much it RAINED!”
Puck wasn’t the only one involved in this process…
“Mom! A worm! A worm!”
We discussed the various methods of rescuing the worm currently stranded on the porch…
“Mom, he doesn’t want to get on the shovel!”
Puck was getting excited for his three-day camping trip with Gloria. They had plans to visit Uncle Claus and Aunt Agnes about four hours away. After spending the night with his Nana, they would make the drive early Wednesday morning.
“Tell Dad I will miss him really much, more than anything, except God.”
Windows open – cold, green, rain, blue. Wahoo. Readings. Examining ancient pottery and old letters. A little thunder before five. Tossed an empty cage free egg carton back and forth. We find our own fun.
“Watch, Mom! Watch!”
The egg carton now attached to the pair of dead ear buds was being slung around the room…
“CATAPULT! CATAPULT!”
And why not? On a cold rainy day in April.
“Ok, Mom! You stand over there now, and I’ll toss it back to you on this rope!”
He got pretty creative with the whole apparatus. But then again, when does he ever not?
Gloria came to get him a little after five-thirty. They had fun things planned. Even if it was cold and swampy. I had no doubt they would have a great three days of fun together.
“BYE MOM! I LOVE YOU! BYE MOM! I’LL MISS YOU SO MUCH!”
Two little-big hands waving to me from the back of the car as they drove off in the remains of a rainy day. Breaks your heart. My first flavor.