Since I didn't do much of anything on my first day of Spring Break, I decided to make today count. I did some work on the computer, trying to get ahead in a class or two since I'm starting a flex-term class next week, and after that, I decided I had earned an hour or so poolside. I normally start working on my tan in February. It's warm enough, and, well...why not?
I'm slacking this year, it seems, so I dug out a swimsuit, sprayed on some sunscreen, and took off for the pool. It was, honestly, the perfect day for starting a tan: mid 60s, a nice breeze, and just enough clouds to give your eyes a break from squinting. I brought a book, but I kept getting distracted by the breeze and couldn't keep focus. That's about when I decided some music would help, so as I punched up a playlist on my phone, I heard the gate slam.
I looked up to see a woman wearing jeans, a long sleeve thermal shirt, and a scarf walking through the pool area with her dog. "Pepper, it's so cold out here. I can't wait to get home and make a nice cup of te..." she stopped abruptly, when she saw my head raised off the chair, looking around to see who had slammed the gate so loudly. Seeing me in my paisley bikini, she stopped, and then started talking to Pepper again, "I don't know how people can stand to be out in the weather on a day like today. I guess some people just really want to get skin cancer, don't they Pepper...but not me. Nope, we're cancer free and we're going to keep it that way, aren't we baby?"
I didn't have an appropriate response, so I pushed "Play" on my playlist, and was thrilled when Eminem came blaring out of the speakers. She walked by outside the fence, right as Eminem dropped the first F bomb, and shook her head in disgust as I smiled and waved. Nobody's raining on my parade! I spent a delightful hour by the pool, enjoying the breeze and the warm sun on my (sunscreened) face...and nobody's taking that away from me either!
I got home, cleaned up, and changed just before the boys got home. They both had good days, so B went out to play while N worked on his homework. When he finished, both boys took off to go play at the playground. I told them I'd be over in a little bit, after I finished getting all of B's baseball stuff together. When I got over there, B ran over to me in tears. I have to say, for the record, that B has become a serious crybaby as of late. It doesn't take much to set him off, and he has quite a flair for the dramatic. I realize some of that comes from his mother, but I feel the majority of this dramatic flair might come from his father's side of the family. It's true. There are plenty of people who are more dramatic than I am. Sobering thought, right?
Anyway, B was distraught. Why? Because nobody would throw him the football...his brother's football. This little kid was being a total jerk to B, and he was just dissolving in tears. I told him nobody wanted to play with "Crybaby B," so he needed to suck it up. I'm so loving and understanding. I sent him back into the mix, and told him to ask his brother if he could play on his team. N agreed, immediately...probably because he saw me sitting there. And things were fine...until someone said they were going to throw the ball to B, and then they didn't.
I told them we needed to go home after that, over the shrieks and howls of Crybaby B. When we got back, B's dad was almost there, so the boys played catch right outside, while I sat on the steps and contemplated the meaning of life. Or maybe I psyched myself up for conversation that I didn't want to have. Probably that.
As I was explaining why I was sending three backpacks with him: One school backpack, one baseball gear bag, and one practice bag with clothes/cleats, the boys continued to play football...until there was a crash and B collapsed in a heap.
I didn't see it, but I heard it, and took off running. There was B. On the ground. In a heap. He had a fight with the wrought iron fence, and the wrought iron fence won. Like, line on the side of his forehead, won. He was going for a pass, and the fence intercepted. Really, I could go all night with this one. It was funny, but he was really upset, so as I comforted him, his dad laughed at him and poked at him, trying to get him to laugh. He wasn't having it. He wanted to be cuddled and loved on, so that's what I did.
And yet, he says he wants to be at his dad's more...
I just don't freaking get it. I'm glad N can see the forest for the trees and knows better. I hope B will be that way someday, too...that he'll see all of the "stuff" money can buy can't hold a candle to all of the love and affection and silliness we have going for us here.
Man, I've been pretty redonkleeus tonight...forest for the trees, hold a candle, contemplate the meaning of life.
Help.
Aubs
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