Eight-fifteen and the kids have gone to school after failing to secure any rides whatsoever today. If it's raining they can easily convince any one of the boys to drive them up the hill. If it isn't raining they must walk, for it builds character to make your own way.
Or something like that.
We try not to spoil them.
Or rather, I try not to and everyone around me does their very best to ignore my attempts to make tough, resilient, self-reliant humans. You know, everything I am not.
Caleb comes around the side of the house to the front porch where we are languishing with the last of the contents of the teapot and the headlines and says Neamhchiontach.
I see Duncan shake his head just once.
This won't be good.
Yes? I ask. I don't know what he wants, truth be told. It's early. It's Monday. I have no plans other than a trip down the road to the store because we need milk and juice. I drank all of the juice. All of it. Not sorry.
Come. I need you for the morning.
Duncan says, she's busy. You can't see that she's busy?
She doesn't look busy, Caleb states.
Well, she's very busy today. Dalton confirms this with the most beautiful smirk.
My eyebrows go up and I look back at Caleb. I'm so busy. I'll have to catch you another day.
What are you busy with, precisely?
She's busy with...things.
Yes, things.
I'm busy with things, Diabhal. If you give me a little warning next time I can try to fit in a little time for you.
If we finish the things.
Yes, but these are ongoing things.
Who do I have to thank for your bodyguards this morning? Pyro? Benjamin?
I heard it was PJ.
Really? I thought it was Sam.
You said Batman! (I jump in because this is too much fun suddenly.)
Maybe it was...God himself. Dalton makes his chin quiver and I laugh.
Christ almighty. (Caleb is so done.)
That would be his son, yes, it could have been him too! Dalton suggests this and Duncan nods enthusiastically.
Bridget, I'll talk to you later today, when your fan club gets bored.
We're not fans. To have fans you have to do extraordinary things. She doesn't do anything extraordinary.
Well, not to us anyway.
Probably for the best. That would be so distracting.
Speak for yourself, idiot!
