NO fomenting rebellion!

The Photo That Got Away

Ten children crossing the street. An adult at the head of the line, an adult at the back. Eight children holding hands in pairs of two wore light blue t-shirts, with the name of their daycare printed on them. The last two children? One wore a green shirt and a jacket, the other was in a red turtleneck. They were holding hands with each other, of course.

Todd and Sage are walking home together.

Sage Do you hear that whistle?

Todd Who’s blowing it? That is so obnoxious.

Sage A five year old. You can tell. The whistle blower has that complete disregard for adult nerves.

Todd The teachers on my elementary school playground used to have whistles exactly like that one. Hey, wouldn’t it have been great if I’d brought a couple extra whistles and handed them out to my classmates?

Sage If you tried that today they’d haul you away for terrorist activities. No fomenting rebellion! BAD!

After a thirty hour bus ride, Kite arrived in Toronto Monday night. We’d gotten our wires crossed, so we were waiting for her on one side of the street while she was actually on the other. After she called Todd’s cellphone to let him know she was across the street I had a little laugh with myself when I just about jumped up and down and waved to this homeless woman (who looked the way Kite generally does) and then didn’t recognise Kite at all when she appeared, as her hair was long and brushed and she was wearing linen pants. Paul was thrown too, and for the first time in his life was a little shy upon meeting Granny after a long absence.

Todd took this week off, so he’s home as well and we’ve all been getting along beautifully. Paul is (knock wood) not performing his usual “Granny’s here, so how I get to treat my parents like a) something on the bottom of my shoe or b) invisible ghosts.

Sage Plase take your plate to the kitchen.

Paul …and so then I found the sparkly purple rock, Granny!

Sage Paul, your plate needs to go into the kitchen.

Granny Did you hear your Mama?

Paul I tried freezing it, and -

Todd Paul. Take your plate to the kitchen.

Paul - and nothing really happened. I wasn’t sure -

Granny Please take your plate to the kitchen.

Paul Oh! Okay. [happily does so]

But like I said, the good news is that he’s not doing that this time, which has made Kite’s visit a positive joy. I felt kind of deflated yesterday, though, when I was feeling all warm and fuzzy and told Kite I was glad she was here, and she replied with, “Yeah, I’m really glad to be here too. I think it helps that we’ve both stopped trying to make it all perfect. Everyone I talked to before coming here said their relationships with their mothers were really hard.” Then I wondered if I was settling for some bland get-alongery when we could be having a really fantastic time. There’s no pleasing me, I know. Have I mentioned lately how happy I am that Paul is a boy?