Slice of THE SUN
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
107.
107!
Index to pop at 110.
Thursday was expected to be the hottest day in June on record.
Wednesday was only going to be 97.
Balmy.
After pig-tailed purple-hands Naira (labeling boxes) was lifted from her house – which had gone under contract in the first day – produce was collected at the market across the highway. Okra, unshelled peanuts, kiwi, blueberries, peaches, etc. They also offered fresh loaves of bread, pizzas, bags of multi-colored corn chips, and walls of spices, sauces, etc.
Lawn mower ride in the backyard. Naira wore earmuffs to check the noise.
Books on the picnic table around bowls of peanuts and red grapes.
“How Things Work” – contact lenses.
They eagerly fed carrots to the bunnies.
Puck continued his afternoon experimenting with Francis’ red lifeguard whistle, after-which the two boys tinkered under the go-cart, which Francis had decided to gradually bequeath to his nephew, over glasses of milk.
OLeif had to break out the stops at work, so he killed some extra hours downtown.
Meanwhile, Mom returned Collette and Puck after some edible shopping was taken care of. Slim pickin’s around home. The grocery sacks included a pick-up “microwave” dinner for Puck – chicken fingers, mac ‘n cheese, and chocolate brownie.
“Yay!” was about all the response Collette needed when she asked if he was interested.
There was also a plushy-soft tan rug “for the buns”…
“Please, Mom,” Carrie pleaded. “Can you just imagine them rubbing their little tummies on it?”
Scotch tape, apple cinnamon Hostess mini donuts.
Some days were just junk days.
“Mama?” Puck asked on the ride home. “Could we watch the sunset tonight?”
OLeif returned in the middle of the game where Collette and Puck had been building Lego ships on bed, transversing space, time, and universes.
They looked over refinance papers, signed stuff, wrote stuff, etc.
It had been another long, fast, busy day and unsatisfying week for OLeif.
But the guy just didn’t complain.
He unwound with some comedy – as usual.
So in the end of another day – Collette and Puck hunkered down for the scorcher that was certain to follow into the next week.
Two days blocked in at home with a child loud enough to sink an ocean liner with a tidal wave by requesting egg salad for lunch.
Which he wouldn’t.
The vocal cords of that kid were incredible.
And there was a no-burn notice out.
Everything was burning.