“But I wanted to eat it now!” Thomas exclaimed, palms upward, accenting each syllable. His fifth birthday ice cream cake sat on the table in front of him. He had finished his lunch, played all the games, beamed through the chorus of Happy Birthday and blown out his candles. He watched eagerly as his mom …
Built For Me
Amelia has already staked her claim on a bedroom in her new house. We watched as the foundation was poured and the walls went up. The doors and windows stand ready in the garage, waiting to be installed. Giant metallic limbs spiral down from the attic like an overgrown octopus held back by a net …
Who Is Your Yes?
“Daddy’s not here,” I told Jake on my way from the kitchen to the laundry room for the third time in half an hour. His head pops up anytime I walk near the garage door between eleven and two. His internal clock keeps trying to push dinner earlier and earlier. “You can wait until at …
Level
“There’s something wrong with your level, Papa,” my nephew, Caden said after applying it repeatedly to the surface of one board after another of the foundation of my niece, Ava’s tiny home. My dad, who is overseeing the ongoing construction project, learned contracting mostly from his dad but also from his father in law, my …
Invitation
“What color invitation do you want, Yolly?” asked Amelia from her side of the table. “I like yellow best,” I replied. “We don’t have any yellow ones,” she parried. I’ve come to expect this answer from Amelia when we’re pretending. She’s much like me when her train of thought leaves the station, it’s already heading …
Wish I Had Known
I spent Sunday morning in the emergency room at my local hospital being evaluated for any and everything that may have caused floaters to appear abruptly in my right eye. After observing no facial drooping, having me extend first one arm and leg and then the other and comparing my grip strength, the triage nurse …
Skewed
Our Great Dane, Jake is so big that every other dog looks, well, not so big. I’ve been shadowed by Jake with his long legs and massive body for the past eight years until my dad’s Labrador Retriever, Buddy, who is fairly large for a Lab resembles a Welsh Corgi. When my dad was hospitalized …
Working Together
Friday’s early morning scheduled garbage pick up means our trash must be gathered on Thursday evenings and placed at the roadside. No matter who carries out the bags, the grandkids always want to help. Maybe it’s simply a ploy to go outside again but Poppy invites their help. He balanced them on one arm in …
Worth Imitating
Ezra and I were sharing a yogurt with some granola at the island in the kitchen. Amelia wandered in from the back porch where she had been playing with clay. She climbed up on the kids’ bench at the end of the island and asked to try a bite. She tasted the spoonful I offered …
Not Far
“Don’t you fall asleep in Lolly’s bus!” I teased, knowing my attempts at keeping Ezra awake during our short drive after lunch were largely pointless. I had already tried narrating the trip, pointing out familiar sights and counting the turns left to our destination. His mom smiled from the passengers seat. “It’s fine,” she said. …
A Fitting Reply 