The In-Between
With Oxbear fully recovered that morning, most of the family congregated in the pool off and on throughout the day.
“This is the best day of my l-i-i-i-i-ife!” Puck yelled with enthusiasm after his second round that day.
Meanwhile, Carrie saw a lime tree growing at the edge of the woods beyond the screened-in pool. Linnea grabbed one for a taste; turned out to be a very green lemon. I wondered what the owners would think of Linnea harvesting their lemon tree. But they lived over in Cumbria, England, so I guess one lemon wouldn’t be much of a bother.
It was already after noon. Rose was busy chastising Linnea-Irish for reading Stephen King. One of those not-till-you’re-older lectures from what I could tell. Siblings in big families tend to police themselves.
Warm sun, white clouds on blue sky, small lizards scurrying around the roof – Florida’s squirrels? Air hockey and pool in a hot garage followed by a few more swims throughout the afternoon for most of the posse. Puck triumphantly beat his uncle and dad and myself in air hockey as many times as possible.
Around five, one of Dad’s old buddies living in the nearby area – a pal he hadn’t seen in 37 years from junior high, high school, and college/football at MIZZOU – arrived with his wife for a visit. After the boys brought back pizza, the adults continued their six hours of conversation on the other side of the house.
Puck, meanwhile, continued to investigate the pool, creating contests for himself, including jumping into the inner-tube in circus-like feats.
“Welcome, ladies and germs for the Can He Make It?! Here comes out first contestant! Can he make it?” Run, run, jump, splash! “Yes he can!” … “Before you go into the pool, please put on your sun scream, ladies and germs! Always put on your sun scream!”
“Hey, Puck,” Oxbear suggested, “Go down under the water.”
“Guess my answer, Dad,” Puck grinned.
“No?”
“Yes, you are correct. You win one thousand pigs!”
When Francis faked him out by nearly tossing him into the pool, Puck yelled, “Francis! I almost fainted! And that was the worst time to FAINT!”
As we switched on the game later that evening after Puck was sleeping soundly upstairs, Joe regathered his equilibrium. Avoiding water for the past two or three days for various reasons, running, swimming, playing air hockey like a madman … he was beginning to feel the toll.