Sunday, October 12, 2014

I don't want to be a grown up

Why not, Jude?
How will I know how to do anything...?
Honey, you have years to figure it out. You'll learn. People will teach you. Day by day...
But how will I know how to do things?
Like what?
Like get a credit card.

on the phone at Dada's Friday night

The usual call from Mama needing to know exactly what is going on over at The Red House. I have no boundaries. I can't help it. Even though I know exactly what is going on, I have to call.

Hi honey, how are you?
Good.
What are you doing?
Playing Super Mario something or other I don't understand.
Is it fun?
Yes.
That's good. Make sure and also go outside.
I know.
How was school?
Good.
Did you have pictures taken?
No.
Okay. Was school fun?
Yes.
What did you learn?
I don't know. Dada! Here...
Dada tells Jude to turn off the video game and talk to Mama.

Time to end the call.

"I miss you, honey. I know it's only been two days, but it feels like a long time..."

"It doesn't feel like a long time to me."

Monday, October 6, 2014

at the bus stop this morning

Mama?  Do you sometimes take the alley back home after I get picked up by the bus?

We usually walk down the street to the bus stop, but when we have trash or recycling, we go the alley. I usually walk back home on the street and wave at the bus when it goes by, but sometimes I take the alley because I don't want to run into people on the sidewalk or deal with street noise, etc, that early in the morning.

Sometimes I do, honey.

Why?

Oh, I don't know...  It's—

It's quicker?

Well, no, it's not quicker... it's quieter...

Oh. Why else do you take the alley?

Well... sometimes I just want a different route. Or sometimes I like to walk around the block.... something different. It's a nice time to take a walk.

Which way are you going to walk today?  he asks.

I consider maybe that Jude would prefer the consistency of me waving to him and the bus when it goes by.

Which do you prefer I take, honey? When I wave I can't really see you, but I just wave knowing you'll see me.

I can see you, Jude says.

So would you prefer I walk down the street and wave, honey?

You could take the alley, he says.