What the Crud

6:15AM.

THUD!

“WHAT THE CRUD IS YALI DOING OUT THERE?” Puck yelled from the bedroom.

Whatever Yali had done, it was too early in the morning to deal with, even if it was a school day. At least from Puck’s point of view. He exited the top bunk in search of his little brother and any potential shenanigans. I never heard any follow-up on what happened, so I figured no need to research.

Circa 4PM.

The school gym – empty except for Puck, Heidi, and Yali.

“WHAT THE CRUD HAPPENED IN HERE?” Puck shouted as we entered.

Candy wrappers, snack wrappers, sweaters and jackets, littered the floor.

“Must be from After Care,” I said, as the kids perused the leftovers.

Heidi found a rope of red-white-and-blue Twizzlers out of its package on the floor. She looked at me with big bright eyes. “Think I can eat it?”

“I wouldn’t.”

When I looked over again, while Heidi was busy teaching Yali how to play kickball, Puck had confiscated the licorice and was slinging it sky-high to the gymnasium ceiling. Ultimately it landed with a thud in some unreachable crevice. I guess that was the whole idea though.

“WHOA! I DID IT! I DID IT!”

Puck’s Monthly What-do-You-Want-to-be-When-You-Grow-Up Status:

“Probably a scientist.”