Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Solitaire

The other day, boy genius Caleb was begging me to play a card game with him, but I had a lot of yard work, so I put him off. Don't judge me. I had already played with him for quite a while that morning. Sometimes a dad has to go out and do what needs doing.

He followed me out and set up in the driveway. Then he started the game without me, taking a toy penguin for his opponent.


"Oh nothing, really. Just sitting here all alone on the concrete, getting
sunburned while I party with an inanimate friend. What else is there to do?"

I can't decide if this is the saddest thing I've ever caused and I'm a shameful, horrible father, or if it's an inspiring display of independence and resourcefulness. Maybe a little of each?

And I'm not sure who won the game. If Caleb played like he does with me, he probably cheated.


4 comments:

  1. I LOVE this. Your commentary on this precisely reflects what I would be asking myself, but as an outsider viewer I can tell you it's not sad, but it's definitely very touching. What a sweet little, resourceful boy! Reminds me of my own.

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    1. Thanks, Katia.

      Scenes like this are the reason Momma sometimes tells me we need to get another boy, about Caleb's age. I point out that they are kind of expensive. You can't exactly run to Wal-Mart and pick one up.

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  2. Don't tell the penguin Caleb cheated. They have notoriously rigid moral senses.
    Especially the stuffed ones.

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    Replies
    1. Baloney, Guap! The penguin probably cheated too. And I'm pretty sure my daughter's teddy bear has been stealing money from me.

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