And there was much rejoicing…

Well, this is the last one for today, folks, as the lot has fallen on me to enter the Fun Zone and take ¾ of the kids to their doctor’s appointment this afternoon. Due to my wife’s recent layabout, she has nearly exhausted her sick leave allotment and cannot help out. We usually do this together, simply because of the logistics required for getting everyone weighed and measured and poked and fingers stuck and the always fun task of the clean catch, usually demands at least one hand for each child. With only two hands, I will be outnumbered.

The oldest can usually be counted on to scream like a howler monkey being skinned alive whenever she gets even the most minor finger stick—but at least she does tend not to wander off or try to escape. The youngest, on the other hand (or finger), likes to show off for the oldest and not cry at all—“I gots a finger stucked and I didn’t cry and I’m just five and you is twelveteen and you cry like a big fat baby monkey girl and I didn’t and I gots a Barbie sticker and you can no get one ‘cause you cried.” Thus begins the competition to get in the last word and salve wounded pride—“I did not.” “YES, you dids, and everybody heareded you!” “THEY DID NOT!”

So, they argue for a while, then Miss No-cry will decide she’s had enough and will go explore and visit with all the sick kids. Which I will not know about until I get back from doing something with Little Boy (who is unfailingly quiet and pleasant) and I will ask Oldest where Youngest is, and will get a sullen shoulder shrug. Luckily, I can usually hear where Baby Girl has gone—crashing of metal, screams, buildings toppling, Raymond Burr and Takashi Shimura pointing excitedly…“LOOK—It is the Girlzilla! Hurry! Go! Go! Aieeeeeee!”

But, at least they’ve got their health.

So, I’ll see you later.
posted by Terry at 11:23:00 AM