Now that schools out, Che's taking to accompanying Lainey on her
Morning drag of me through the neighborhood, which we call "exercise.
Down the street, behind the Library and the school, there's a path through the woods. It's a spectacular trek, dotted with lagoons, ball fields, patches of thick woods, an outdoor assembly ground and a playground for kids.
The lagoons are stocked, beaming with fish and turtles, which Che loves to feed.
Everything about Lainey dragging me for morning exercise, and what's involved, has changed because of Che.
She has to dress right before we leave and it's usually some theme. She's a Fairy, a police officer or a spy. I never know.
Then she packs, something I never found necessary. Lollipops, Gold Fish, gum with food for the Turtles thrown in a backpack with other miscellaneous things she may need.
It weights 32 lbs and I know I'm going to carry it soon after the walk starts.
I use this time to smoke a lot of medicine.
A lot!
As Che yells she and Lainey are ready, I eventually join them after enjoying personal hygiene products.
She hands me the lease and, Lainey immediately jerks me out the house so quickly Che has to run to keep up.
We find a pace and stroll along tall Pine Trees, a football field, a large lagoon full of egrets, Lilly pads and frogs.
And we talk.
"Da, when Mom and you are gone, Jacob and I are going to live in our house," she says sweetly holding my hand.
"What? When Mom and I are gone?"
"You know," she explains pulling me along, "when you're dead."
"Yeah?" I ask, completely intrigued.
"You're old Da, so you will die first. Then Mom. So Jacob and I will get married, move in, and Lainey and HopHop will already be there and we will take over your bed. We will change Cassidy's room to be my office and for my art supplies."
"You are your Mother's child," I smile.
"Jacob will take care of the animals because I'll have to work," she continues.
"You two have really thought this through."
"But," she sighs, "we will also have a place in New York and the Beach."
I howl in laughter.
The picturesque lagoon teams with fish and turtles accustomed to being fed so they flock to Che holding a stick of celery, which they eat from her hand.
She squeals in joy and actually pets one.
"Mom has to come!" Che proclaims.
After the turtles are full, we have snacks and I learn Che's belly button, an innie, is big enough to hide a "Smarty."
Dragging me back, we talk about things we're going to do and what Mom's got up her sleeve because Sarah forever comes up with the most wonderful excursions or things for us to enjoy together.
Before we make it back she's already playing with a neighbor.
Inside I unleash Lainey and collapse on the sofa.
As soon as I can, I smoke some medicine.
Sarah gracefully floats in, immaculately dressed, taking a break from the several billion things she manages, asking me how it went.
"Well," I begin slowly, "she really wants you to come so we have a family time feeding the turtles."
"Of course," Sarah laughs, pouring a glass of Lemonade.
"But then after we're gone, she and Jacob have it all figured out."
The lagoons are stocked, beaming with fish and turtles, which Che loves to feed.
Everything about Lainey dragging me for morning exercise, and what's involved, has changed because of Che.
She has to dress right before we leave and it's usually some theme. She's a Fairy, a police officer or a spy. I never know.
Then she packs, something I never found necessary. Lollipops, Gold Fish, gum with food for the Turtles thrown in a backpack with other miscellaneous things she may need.
It weights 32 lbs and I know I'm going to carry it soon after the walk starts.
I use this time to smoke a lot of medicine.
A lot!
As Che yells she and Lainey are ready, I eventually join them after enjoying personal hygiene products.
She hands me the lease and, Lainey immediately jerks me out the house so quickly Che has to run to keep up.
We find a pace and stroll along tall Pine Trees, a football field, a large lagoon full of egrets, Lilly pads and frogs.
And we talk.
"Da, when Mom and you are gone, Jacob and I are going to live in our house," she says sweetly holding my hand.
"What? When Mom and I are gone?"
"You know," she explains pulling me along, "when you're dead."
"Yeah?" I ask, completely intrigued.
"You're old Da, so you will die first. Then Mom. So Jacob and I will get married, move in, and Lainey and HopHop will already be there and we will take over your bed. We will change Cassidy's room to be my office and for my art supplies."
"You are your Mother's child," I smile.
"Jacob will take care of the animals because I'll have to work," she continues.
"You two have really thought this through."
"But," she sighs, "we will also have a place in New York and the Beach."
I howl in laughter.
The picturesque lagoon teams with fish and turtles accustomed to being fed so they flock to Che holding a stick of celery, which they eat from her hand.
She squeals in joy and actually pets one.
"Mom has to come!" Che proclaims.
After the turtles are full, we have snacks and I learn Che's belly button, an innie, is big enough to hide a "Smarty."
Dragging me back, we talk about things we're going to do and what Mom's got up her sleeve because Sarah forever comes up with the most wonderful excursions or things for us to enjoy together.
Before we make it back she's already playing with a neighbor.
Inside I unleash Lainey and collapse on the sofa.
As soon as I can, I smoke some medicine.
Sarah gracefully floats in, immaculately dressed, taking a break from the several billion things she manages, asking me how it went.
"Well," I begin slowly, "she really wants you to come so we have a family time feeding the turtles."
"Of course," Sarah laughs, pouring a glass of Lemonade.
"But then after we're gone, she and Jacob have it all figured out."
"What?" my wife asks.
So I let her know what's coming.
