A few mornings ago, the benefactor woke and journeyed downstairs to find a trail of paper towels scattered across the homestead in various rooms, which has been a consistent and persistent annoyance. When confronted, the elder children balked at the notion that either of them could possibly be to blame. The benefactor, very familiar with the elder male and his habits of wasting paper products, harbored secret suspicion he was the culprit. After an intense round of questioning, he admitted that he, in fact, was the responsible party.
That evening, the benefactor couldn’t find the special cord for her talking machine. After searching every nook and cranny of her space, she ventured into the room of the male children, only to discover that the eldest male took not just the cord, but also the device that provides power, without permission. The benefactor was very disappointed and irate, as she had been seeking those parts for her device for hours. After finally sitting down to complete some tasks, the benefactor was visited by the youngest female, awoken by a dream. The benefactor, assuaging the young child, comforted her, and watched her leave return to her bed. However, when the benefactor prepared to go to sleep herself, she found the child had merely walked halfway up the stairs and fallen into repose on the landing. After some bargaining with the youngest female, only half awake, she managed to assist her in finding her way back to her sleeping nest. Next evening, the benefactor prepared a wonderful meal. After preparing plates for each progeny, they sat together, enjoying the evening dinner together, the children devouring every bite. When he finished, the elder male, for no good reason, placed his plate in the sink, only to retrieve a bowl from the cupboard to get a second serving. When the benefactor asked him why he insisted on dirtying more dishes than were necessary, he replied with his typical, blank response of, “I don’t know”. After dinner, the benefactor suggested building a fire for warmth and to roast confectionery squares with cocoa pieces and golden crackers. The elder male volunteered to build the fire, and the benefactor reluctantly consented. He prepared supplies, then insisted he was ready to light it as he had been taught by a male mentor. When the benefactor came outside, she discovered he merely crumpled paper into the fire pit, but did not add any actual wood to the container. When asked how he planned to set the logs on fire, he had no answer other than to say that he was absolutely sure he had recreated what he was taught, and that it would work. The benefactor gave him the matches for pure fun, just to watch as he failed miserably. Finally following her advice to put wood into the metal bowl for incineration, the elder male reluctantly admitted she was right that the fire would not magically appear without something to burn. As the children roasted their dessert, the benefactor was curious how the elder male kept the fire stoked, until she realized he had been using lined paper to keep the flames lit. A proper lecture on the appropriate use of school paper was given on the spot. After the younger children had been sufficiently plied with sweets, the benefactor tried in vain to wrangle them to bedtime, finally achieving success after twenty minutes of begging, pleading, and eventually, stern demanding. The younger children settled, the elder children and the benefactor sat by the flames, watching the almost full moon ascend into the sky as sparks from the fire rose to meet him. Twas a lovely ending to a hectic day, finding a small slice of perfection amidst the chaos.
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Our benefactor was sick yesterday, and required treatment. Forced to drag the youngest children, she also made the elder male join in the festivities of trekking to the medical office for the proper care. We waited for close to 60 minutes, which might have well been days. During that time, the youngest female could not halt touching the rock waterfall in the center of the lobby, despite being told numerous times to do so. The elder male knocked over someone’s tea on accident, and the younger male sat in a quiet stupor, which likely meant he was contemplating something less than savory for later.
After finally being tended to, the benefactor took us to the local general store for supplies. The younger children immediately began demanding she acquire a dessert of some sort, while the benefactor, barely feeling human, repeatedly refuted their request. We swiftly made our way procuring items necessary for their afternoon repast. But by the time we left, all the benefactor could hear was the pounding of their voices echoing in her head, so it seemed the perfect moment to initiate an argument in the transportation vehicle. We then journeyed to the pharmacy, where we waited for several minutes just to be told that the benefactor could not acquire her necessary medicines here, but would have to travel elsewhere. The manager assured her that they would only need to talk to the other location, and to have them reach them by landline. Not wasting time, the benefactor contacted the other location right away, and was told that the process could take up to an hour. We then headed home and prepared our late afternoon meal, the younger children instantly absorbed into the media box and a film about an unusual family with an uncle who can conduct electricity using only his mouth. Bickering erupted over how much was being served and to whom, as the elder male was keeping a large portion of the stratified bean concoction to himself. The benefactor, not feeling herself, found terse words tumbling from her mouth in all directions. For a short span, the nitpicking ended. Little over an hour later, the benefactor once again gathered the younger children to travel to the pharmacy. Arriving, the information had still not been appropriately sent. More waiting ensued. More whining ensued. The benefactor’s head felt like it might burst. The pharmacists kept apologizing, which really did nothing to smooth the situation. Near hysterics, the younger female hid in a corner, only accepting comfort from her sibling. After forty minutes of seemingly torture, the benefactor was asked to rejoin the long line and wait more to get her medicine. The children were irate at having to stand on their legs. If the benefactor could cut people with her glance, no one would have left unscathed. Finally, after more muffled apologies, she procured her prescription and they headed home. Upon return, the elder children were swiftly informed that they were in charge of preparing the evening meal. The elder female took offense at not being ‘asked’ if she would like to make the meal, apparently believing she lived in a free state. This even further ruffled the benefactor’s feathers, already on edge from the morning’s frustrations. There would be no democracy today. As the benefactor attempted rest, the younger children were asked to tidy their living spaces. This generated instant disagreement with the elder children on how to proceed with the task, ending with the younger male finding his way downstairs to join the benefactor in watching the alien doctor on the media box, and the younger female taking refuge in the benefactor’s bed to nap with the dog, who is generally forbidden on her sleeping surface. Finally, nighttime ascended, and the elder children did their best to cook a simple meal: frozen vegetable patties and corn. The elder female cooked the patties to a crumble before the corn was properly wrapped and prepared for heating, as timing was never a consideration. When creating meal plates, the corn had to be returned to heat once more as it was still stiff and unyielding. The benefactor journeyed into the kitchen only once, and quickly left, terrified by the sheer number of dishes that had multiplied in the sink for such a elementary dinner. It only furthered her nervous concern that once on their own, the elder children may, indeed, eventually perish. After dinner, the younger male and elder children decided to have the loudest conversation in the world in the kitchen, despite repeatedly being asked to quiet down. Moving upstairs, the noise increased tenfold. Truly vexed, the benefactor send the youngest female as a warning envoy that bedtime would be immediately enforced if the noise did not reach a tolerable level. The younger male made the wise decision to leave with his female sibling and return downstairs, where the benefactor engaged them in a media program about the mysteries of the universe. Finally, a semblance of whispering quiet fell over the house, and at last, the benefactor could truly rest. Friday afternoon, the benefactor swooped up the younger children, apologizing in advance for having to take them to an educational function that day. Upon arriving, the children immediately began protesting, not wanting to stay inside the building. The benefactor made it clear in no uncertain terms that they were not to be unsupervised. The childrens’ solution was to then run around the seating area until being reprimanded at least three times (the benefactor generally loses count after two). When threatened with losing the privilege of attending a special festivity later in the evening, they finally settled long enough to get through the opening remarks.
The benefactor dragged them to various educational classes to acquire information about the elder children’s academia. They sat in a relative stupor, just maintaining enough to get through each 10 minute period. At one of the last presentations, the youngest male was delighted to get an opportunity to take a pocket book of the constitution, wanting to grab an entire handful. Reluctantly, he whittled his take down to three. Finally finished with the formal aspect of their day, the benefactor walked the children to the Plaza, where a grotesque ball for children was being held. People in various costume littered the town square, and after procuring a light snack, they walked about, listening to the electronically generated music. Eventually, the children asked to mix with the crowd on the dance floor, slowly but surely inching upward to the stage. After pretending for an hour that they did not want to dance on the stage with the other young people bouncing and swaying, they finally ventured up and let loose. Occasionally they would return to the benefactor, and at one point, the eldest male came back to remind the benefactor that he had the constitution in his pocket, “just in case there is a riot.” Twas a lovely, peaceful evening despite his preparations for potential upheaval. Sunday, we journeyed see the effigy known as Zozobra, a huge, terrifying puppet stuffed with the ‘glooms’ of the city. Despite our efforts to leave at an appropriate time, we didn’t manage to undertake our travels until an hour and a half past our target timeline. The younger children were at first reluctant, until the promise of ice cream was presented as a reward for faithfully doing their weekend chores. Arriving at the warehouse of consumer goods, the children attempted an automatic beeline for the ice cream counter, and then became disgruntled when the benefactor forced them to first walk and explore the artistic displays. After wandering for a short bit in search of paper and writing instruments to write out our glooms, and a great deal of public haggling, the benefactor finally agreed to purchase the cold confection desired. As the children indulged their sweet teeth, the benefactor scrolled out her lengthy list of the year’s miseries for the celebratory inferno to come. The youngest female, upon finishing her dessert, begged to mount the overpriced, circling carnival ride. She sulked at the benefactor’s refusal. When the benefactor took her list of melancholy to place in the box for the effigy’s stuffing, the youngest female ripped her own piece of paper to record her gloom: that the benefactor refused her a ride on the much coveted merry-go-round. Returning home, the children dispersed to their various corners: the elders hid in their room whilst the youngest enjoyed a story with the alien doctor. The benefactor slipped outside to rest in her hammock, and the youngest female came to join her. After sharing that she felt glum, the youngest female curled up and requested the reading of a book. Her and the benefactor snuggled in the fresh air, the canine also joining to hear the tale of a dark haired, pale royal and seven height impaired men. Soon after, bedtime arrived swiftly, and the children were snuggled and tucked, the benefactor instantly exhausted from such a lively day. The morning came with the soft patter of rain and an overcast beginning to the day. The children rose very slowly, resembling sleeping mummies risen from their sarcophagi. The eldest male was asked to awaken, as he was expected at a morning appointment. When only fifteen minutes before departure remained, the benefactor passed his doorway, observing him still tucked under the covers. Terse words were thrown into the room to inspire wakening. Finally, he rose with bitterness. Fruit in hand for breakfast, the younger children quickly gathered their growing school materials and left to greet the gray day, the first genuine hint of fall’s arrival singing in the breeze. The benefactor sat in the transport vehicle, observing the elder male peeking out of the bathroom blinds, as she impatiently waited for him to finish coiffing his hair. She signaled a warning to remind him to hustle. He finally, reluctantly, left the home, leaving the door wide open. When asked to return to close it, his eyes became throwing swords tossed at the benefactor. He remained in silent, bitter stupor for the few hours.
In the evening, the benefactor elected to take the younger children to a music festival. On the way, she asked the children to postulate who they knew that might be ‘with child’. After naming two women over the age of 50, they then listed the elder female and elder male as potential suspects, the last one troubling for obvious reasons, and a clear indication that the youngest female needs additional information on the miracle of reproduction. They were delighted to learn that their aunt, the benefactor’s sibling, was now pregnant. At the concert, the children enjoyed running through the grassy plaza, eating sorbet, and listening to the band play as night slowly fell. Dancing and joy were relished in large quantities. When they finally arrived home, it was bedtime, and they were ushered to their rooms right away. The older children lounged downstairs, like sleeping snails. The benefactor reminded them that a pair of socks needed to be picked up, the same pair that had been living at the bottom of the staircase, looking forlorn and forgotten for a week. Both grunted an acknowledgement that they heard the comment, yet neither tweaked a muscle to stand, which forced the benefactor to repeat the statement. With exaggerated eye rolling, the elder male finally discovered his legs and moved to collect them from the floor. The youngest female asked to read a book and presented two to the benefactor, and a selection by Dr. Seuss was chosen. As the benefactor began reading, the youngest female initiated a full emotional meltdown as it was not the book she wanted to read. When asked why she presented it as an option, all she could moan was, “I don’t know”. Finally, she calmed herself enough to enjoy the tale of a one, two, a red, and a blue fish. At last, tucked in and snuggled, the youngest children drifted off to sleep, the benefactor hoping to follow suit. The benefactor was unyielding in her demand that the children hike into the village center for its annual Indian Art Festivities. Only the eldest male was permitted to forgo the event due to extreme illness. The youngest female, barely four blocks in, began requesting the group stop and sit on a bench, heavily whining when they would not stop. The youngest male, on the other hand, seemed determined to walk at the pace of a rabid dog, refusing to wait for the rest of the party. He also kept collecting live leafs from trees, which brought him an ear beating from both the benefactor and the eldest female on climate change.
After a forty-minute trek, the plaza was reached. Stretching for what appeared to be miles in all directions, white booths and throngs of people flooded the narrow, brick streets. Immediately, the youth demanded to be taken to the sweets shop in exchange for the effort made in getting there. There, they agonized over penny candy and lollipops, finally making their difficult decisions on what hyper-inducing sweets they would purchase. Next on the agenda was seeking out the booth with roasted corn, a yearly tradition. After finally finding it on a side street, the benefactor and children waited for what felt like eons, primarily because some of the sugar had been ingested and standing still seemed like an impossibility. Finally, they relished the smoky corn with butter and chile, the benefactor’s favorite part of the event. They then sought out the frybread station, which proved more challenging, until the youngest male observed smoke in the air at the end of another side street, where booths of food purveyors lined the sidewalks promising the sweet, deep fried pastry. After another wait of epic proportions, they finally took their heavenly, plate sized breads to a quiet corner to enjoy them, where the youngest male promptly knocked his and the elder female’s frybread into a plant. Luckily it was quickly retrieved and little damage done, the five second rule put into fast effect. After examining the skill on display at various booths, it was time to head home. On the return, a deep-seated discussion about racism and geography pitted the elder female and youngest male. It eventually deteriorated into a conversation between two people talking at each other and ignoring the aspect of listening, with the elder female then walking at an extreme pace to be away from the rest of the pack. Arriving home, the younger children were forced to go to the market with the benefactor to gather provisions for the week. As soon as they arrived in the store, they grabbed a basket on wheels and took off with a healthy stride to the sample counter, where they lingered a bit too long, taking one too many paper cups of hummus and cucumber. The benefactor deduced this by the side eye given to the them from the market worker who had to cut said cucumbers. Finally back on track, they gathered their items and processed to the money line to pay for their goods. The younger male unexpectedly and eagerly jumped up on the counter to sit, knocking over an entire bag full to the brim with packed groceries, scattering heirloom tomatoes everywhere. The benefactor could only sigh. Home, the benefactor unpacked the goods and prepared a light meal, while the children readied themselves for their educational endeavors awaiting the next day. After eating and partaking in the media box for a short bit, the children were ushered upstairs to bed. At three in the morning, the youngest female snuck into the benefactor’s sleep space, needing to know if she had prepared a specific letter for her teacher. The benefactor sleepily assured her she had, and the youngest female informed her she never planned on sleeping alone before plunking herself into the benefactor’s bed. Daylight seeped through the windows quickly and fiercely. The benefactor, despite getting more than her usual 6 hours of shut eye, felt groggy from being awakened at 0400 by the younger male, who entered her room to rouse her and pronounce his throat was sore, then left and returned to sleep, leaving the benefactor to unsuccessfully resettle.
The children were not entirely enthused to be returning to their educational stomping ground, and dragged their feet to dress. Both pronounced they did not wish to eat, but the benefactor insisted on some form of nourishment. They became excited when they saw prepared waffle warmed in a mechanical heat machine in the icebox. After heating them, and embellishing with butter, the waffles were handed off, where the youngest female promptly complained because a.) there was a flavor of blueberry, clearly etched on the box, which she is now capable of reading and b.) there was butter, which she admonished did not mingle with the flavor of the blueberries. The male child, with as much solidarity as he could muster, merely shrugged and ate in silence as the female threw darts with her eyes during every bite. Finally, afternoon meals gathered, rucksacks collected, and materials readied, the benefactor and children ventured to their school. Walking them in, she asked for an obligatory snapshot to commemorate their advancements into first and fifth grade. Bulking, they finally posed and granted the benefactor her meager wish. Inside, the male immediately wandered off to his classroom, while the benefactor walked the female to hers. Inside, the first to arrive, she settled at her desk, a bundle of anxiety and excitement. She blew the benefactor a kiss and promptly booted her. Wishing to say one more goodbye, the benefactor made her way to the class of the male child, who sat scribbling his name in cursive for his desk tag. He gave a reluctant, backwards half hug and then shooed her away. The benefactor left the building feeling the immense tug and pull of rearing progeny: the excitement of watching them unfold, yet knowing they must age and mature to do so. A wave of nostalgia and pride wove its way across her chest and enveloped her heart, holding it tight. Later in the evening, as the benefactor was engaged in educating future parents, the elder male reached out to inquire when her task would be complete. After several exchanges, the benefactor discovered that the elder male, for the second time this week, had managed to lock himself out of their abode. Unable to leave, he was forced to call a local companion and have her transport him to her home until the benefactor finished and could swoop him up. The benefactor was less than thrilled to have to go out of her way after a grueling day of drudgery, but also felt gratitude that he had a place of safety to which he could turn. The homestead has become completely overrun with the touches of youth: singular socks, supplies for education, and random electrical cords belonging to advanced devices. A ceramic tooth cleaning container, the second of its kind, was broken yet again by the elder male, the shards left intact and preserved for another to find and remove. It is inwardly driving the benefactor to a slow insanity, but joy at their presence prevents full incapacity.
The youngest children were afforded extra time in the morning, so they spent it watching the alien doctor fighting an alien robot, which kept them quiet and satisfied. Walking around as if in a trance, the elder children slowly gathered their belongings and lunch pails to meander to school, leaving a trail of bread crumbs and various objects in their wake. The benefactor took the youngest children with her as she prepared to enlist them in activities of physical movement. Sitting in line for an hour felt like twenty years, as there were three young girls in front of the benefactor, blasting the world’s most annoying moving picture song on repeat from their talking device. It felt like proper torture, and the younger children, unburdened of having to sit in line, smartly disappeared to play in another room. After registration, the benefactor and children made their way to her employment, where they argued and whined for over an hour straight as the benefactor attempted to accomplish something outside of correcting behavior over and over and over and over and over and over. The youngest female then engaged her brother in a contest of physical wills over a futuristic toy sword, ending in broken disaster and crying. It finally reached a pinnacle when the benefactor forced them to settle themselves and take a nap, where they curled up together and finally fell into sweet, silent, if short, repose. In the afternoon, the benefactor and children ventured to meet their school marms for the new educational season beginning tomorrow. Supplies were handed in, and desks were chosen. Behavior was kept in check by the dangling promise of freely distributed cookies on departure. Returning once again to the benefactor’s employment for a forum, the children slowly began to lose their composure. At one point, sobbing erupted while arguing over who was the boss of who, the answer to which, of course, is NO ONE. At the end of the day, baths completed, vittles procured for lunch, and the evening repast served, the children were tucked in with delicate care before whisked away to sleep, and the benefactor’s sanity restored. Morning came harsh and swift from the moment it was time to rise. The youngest children were challenging to rise, hanging their heads in fatigue. The elder children were still nestled in their beds, attempting to postpone the inevitable. With a stroke of grace, the benefactor and youngest children managed to leave the house in a timely manner.
A long day forthcoming, the benefactor set up the children with the talking, portable, picture player, indulging their requests for various forms of animation and story. This settled the wee ones until roughly noon, when lunch time pains racked their bodies and increased their whining ratio greatly. After being fed, the children settled back into their zombie like state, merely breaking the quiet to argue over matters that were so inconsequential a gnat wouldn’t care, as they watched a holiday movie despite summer still lingering. After the long work day, the benefactor prepared to pick up the eldest female, who communicated, without asking, that she expected the benefactor to transport a school mate to a train stop. This precipitated an argument after dropping the classmate at her destination, as the eldest female, a non-transporter, did not comprehend the angst of being committed to transport another, as she saw it as, “no big deal.” This vexed the benefactor, who had picked up the elder female to attend an event in Santa Fe proper, and was detoured. The benefactor did take internal, small glee in knowing that one day, whence the elder female began operating a moving vehicle, there would be plenty of opportunity for the benefactor to ask her to drop off various family, which would be, “no big deal.” The benefactor and three children attended a Rally Against Racism, which is sadly required in these dark and dire times. Sitting on the ground, the youngest female sad forlorn, claiming she was famished, despite eating during the entire time they traveled to arrive. The elder female, already on the benefactor’s list of people she would rather not engage, also began complaining, and asked to leave the rally to acquire food, which would take the entire rally time. The benefactor managed to coral them for 40 minutes, before the youngest lay on the ground as if she might perish. The children and benefactor trudged back to the moving vehicle they just left and traveled to a general store to acquire food necessities. As they began collecting their items, the elder male communicated that he had arrived at the homestead without any way to enter, and had been sitting outside for approximately one hour. This forced the benefactor and children to hustle and rush, likely forgetting critical items. Whence they arrived, the elder male sat sitting on a stoop, looking fatigued and embarrassed. When the benefactor reminded him that a spare key had been left with close by companions, his face dropped even more. Finally home, a meal was quickly procured, and the children settled in to watch a moving picture they have seen now approximately 13 times about an infant in higher management, the younger two falling asleep before the end was reached, the canine happy to rest on their warm bodies. This past weekend celebrated the anticipated return of the eldest children. They arrived with their large valises, eager and happy to have returned to the Land of Enchantment. Once back at the dwelling, they immediately do what they do best, and made a concerted effort to cover every inch of available space with their clothes and belongings, created a land mine of vast proportions.
The next day, the younger children joined the household and were delighted to see their siblings. Gifts from their travel were exchanged from the eldest children’s’ travels. They caught up on their summer escapades. The youngest regaled with a description of her new media scratchpad, describing how she planned to learn new languages, such as Spanish and English, until she paused with the recognition that she was already quite familiar with the English. The eldest female offered all jellied candy in the shaped of soda bottles until the benefactor hid them. This greatly increased the excitability factor, until the younger children were enticed to watch the time traveling, alien doctor, as final arrangements were coordinated for their day of adventure. After bags were packed with essentials, and food was gathered from the nearby cooperative, the benefactor and the children traveled south to the Duke city to a local midway. There, the children dived into water play, except for the youngest, who only tentatively placed a hand under the falling water. Unfortunately for her, as she was attempting to climb a rope bridge, a deluge of water came crashing down, and she was unintentionally fully soaked and shocked. The benefactor pulled her to safety as the other children laughed with glee at her poor timing. After fun in the liquid sunshine, the children and benefactor roamed the large, mechanical, fun machines, riding and laughing. Twas a near perfect day with nary a bicker from the mouth of any babe. Sun-kissed and with joy in their hearts, all returned home to relax and slumber, the heat of the afternoon bringing fast repose. The morning began with a robust blue sky stealthily shining into the benefactor’s room, waking her from slumber, much as the moon had twice during the middle of the night. The younger children bounced around gaily, as he benefactor slowly eased into the day.
As the benefactor prepared morning tea and vittles, the children languished on the porch stoop, appearing to share secrets and conversation. On closer inspection, they were merely debating who should carry their lunch pail. They had gathered two piles of objects to carry along, and the younger male was asked to leave his virgin 734 piece set of molded bricks in the home, which he argued against vehemently, before capitulating and taking it to his room. Again, arriving at the benefactor’s office, the children immediately spread out and took over any corner of untouched space. The younger female demanded to watch moving pictures on the portable, intelligent screen, whilst the younger male began to pull bags of bricks from his backpack, the very same set he was asked to leave behind, but stealthily hid. This temporarily irritated the benefactor, until realizing the focus and attention he was pouring into building produced both quiet and less disagreement. Thankfully, the first half of the day flew by, and a splendid repast was provided. After, the younger male continued to construct his pirate ship, while the younger female engrossed herself in the story of a singing redhead and a bald foster parent. All went well until reaching home, when the younger female accidentally kicked the completed project that took the younger male 5 hours to build, severing it from its base. Many, many tears of frustration were shed, as it was discovered it must be rebuilt from the beginning. The younger female felt great remorse, and apologized with a whole heart, which was eventually accepted. The younger male then asked to watch the alien doctor as a way to settle himself, and the benefactor obliged. During preparation for slumber, the younger female asked if perhaps her life was really just a dream. “What if I am story and it ends?” she questioned. The benefactor replied, “That is why it is important to write your life to be as wonderful as you want it, and to fill it with the things you love most.” Yesterday we celebrated the nativity of the younger male child, who happily turned the ripe age of 10, while simultaneously going on 65. The benefactor took both younger children to her place of work for the day, where they engaged in their favorite activity: ‘how much can we stress the benefactor before she breaks?’ Fortunately for the youth, the question was never answered, although the answer was much closer than they realized. For instance, the benefactor left the office for two minutes to gather something, and upon her return found the children had decorated a cup entirely with push pins. Their quickness and efficiency rivaled the fastest gunslinger on his best day.
Unbeknownst to the benefactor, the children smuggled celebratory pieces of chocolate dessert with their lunches, and hungrily munched on them throughout the day, elevating their sugar levels to new highs previously unrecorded. This resulted in a terrible late-afternoon crash for the younger progeny, although it brought a blissful sixty minutes of successive silence for the benefactor, whose nerves were circling the point of fracture. Finally, after leaving said employment, the children nestled in at home, watching the media box in their bed clothes at 5:00 o’clock in the early evening, simply because they ‘can’. As they immersed themselves in tales of a British alien time traveling through space, the benefactor prepared the youngest male’s dinner request, and they celebrated with a light feast and the opening of gaily wrapped tokens. The evening was finally complete when the youngest female was found to be decorating the inside of her handbag with metallic, adhesive pictures, and they were sent to prepare for slumber. After the full evening tuck in ritual was realized, the benefactor bid them adieu and sweet dreams until morning strikes again. And then there was one…waffle. The elder male lay immediate claim as soon as he spied it, which was slightly unfair due to his singular presence when the lone breakfast item appeared. Immediately, sensing the betrayal, the youngest female appeared out of thin air, and attempted to demand the breakfast circle. Ferocious bickering erupted, followed by an intense negotiation worthy of United Nations standards. The elder male was granted the baked good, stipulating the youngest female was given full authority to feed the canine.
Of course, the youngest female was heavily disappointed when she went to feed the dog and found her food dish still mostly full. This created a mild bout of crying, easily soothed with a physical embrace. She then settled for a hearty bowl of crisp rice, but balked at the nut milk the benefactor offered, eventually capitulating. While the benefactor readied for the morning, she sifted through the children’s self-made lunches. The younger females included blue, spun sugar packaged as a fruit and a bag with three heirloom tomatoes. Clearly this needed to be supplemented. As she added nutrition to their lunch pails, the children snuck off with the spun sugar and ate it for breakfast, as a side dish. They then began to fill imitation firearms with water, and proceeded to squirt them outside. When the benefactor caught them, they claimed they were watering the sunflowers, which continue to grow strong, despite such unorthodox care. Finally, after belongings were gathered, the children chasing themselves to the transportation vehicle, the benefactor herded them unsuccessfully for several minutes until they were finally contained in safety restraints. The benefactor will have a short break of four days without any progeny, and despite the chaos and kerfuffle, will miss their daily presence, as she does the absent elder children daily. Fall has gently begun to trickle into the air, with cool breezes fluttering through windows at night, and a slight chill as we wake. The younger children were reluctant to rouse in such comfort, but needed to prepare for a special journal they would undertake with their camp leader to visit wild animals in captivity. The benefactor had been misled to believe the trip was to be the day before, necessitating rewashing of uniform shirts and new preparations. Finally, they found the motivation to move and ready themselves. The benefactor prepared them a nutritious beverage of blended banana and yogurt, with a touch of cacoa thrown in for good measure. They youngest female turned her nose up at its contents after sipping, inquiring what kind of chocolate the benefactor had used, then in her very polite, mannered way of telling the benefactor to sod off, refused to drink the rest.
Again, the hound was a source of argument, and the two children bickered until reaching a stalemate, at which point the benefactor decided she should just provide the dog its necessities. The dog looked at all of the humans with quiet confusion and embarrassment. While the benefactor was busy, the younger children escaped to the upper floor to discuss something ‘important’, led by the youngest female. They came back somber, which should have been a warning sign for the benefactor. Finally, chores completely and breakfast enjoyed, everyone gathered their belongings to leave. As the benefactor lifted some items from their dining table, she noticed a distinct sweatiness emanating from the cloth. The youngest female took this moment to confess that she had spilled vase water and left it, concerned the benefactor might be upset. For the thousandth time under the sun, the benefactor explained how much more vexed it made her when she was not informed of such incidents. The benefactor then hurried to move books and other essentials, already touched by the dampness, mumbling they should thankful they lived in the desert, as it should facilitate everything drying by the time of their return. She then cuddled the youngest female, truly remorseful for the unpredictable disturbance, before departing for their daily routine. Monday began with its usual feverish rush to wake and exit the abode in a timely manner. As usual, bickering ensued before leaving, with the youngest female deeply offended that the younger male child was asked to procure vittles for the dog, who cared less about who offered nourishment than actually feeling nourished. An agreement was reached when one undertook hydrating the animal, and the other provided sustenance.
In the evening, the benefactor and youngest children took the canine for a short jaunt. Again, squabbling erupted after the youngest female was granted permission to manage the hound. It was decided she would complete the first leg of the journey, and the younger male the second half. This brought a momentary peace, with some bitter resentment thrown in for good measure. The rest of the night ran smoothly, until the youngest male decided to test the effect of dropping a glass on a thinly carpeted tile floor. When asked by the benefactor why he felt the urge to do this, his explanation only alluded to an ‘experiment’. The benefactor was vexed, considering the day before, this theory was fully investigated when the youngest male knocked a delicate frame from its place on the wall, and discovered how far the shards travel on ceramic. He claimed an ‘accident’ despite its lofty position, one only perfectly reached by launching from the staircase toward the wall. Needless to say, this experiment has fully concluded and without need for repetition. It has been so long since we last captured our activities to the written word due to unforeseen circumstances and challenges. Our lives, previously turned upside down, have begun to establish equilibrium once more, and peace is slowly settling upon us.
This past weekend flew by at light speed. The elder female, KK, migrated to Boston for dance studies, after a strenuous two days of packing. This usually entailed sifting through a gigantic pile of clothes on her floor to select the appropriate wear, and leaving the rest disheveled and lonely. After a strenuous journey to reach the flying machines, the benefactor accompanied her to the weaving line of rope where those manning the country’s defense scanned and searched belongings. Having special clearance from an organization known as TSA, KK gets the privilege of both keeping her shoes on and not having to endure excruciating lines. It both delights the benefactor that she received the advantage for no particular reason, and also irks the benefactor that she has been traveling for forty years with no such benefit. Regardless, the elder female will be missed greatly, as is her brother, who is thriving and enjoying the Windy City and all its entrapments. The younger children enjoyed a sunshine filled Sunday afternoon traipsing through the railyard park, moving to electronic music and enjoying the balmy weather. This proposition was initially met with resistance as the younger children had made plans of their own without first consulting the benefactor. After heavy negotiations, and some breakdowns, an agreement was reached to enjoy the park and have a picnic provided the young children were furnished with Arnold Palmers and cupcakes. It was properly fun, and thoroughly exhausting enough for the young to feel worn and tired to sleep at a time that was conducive for the sanity of all. The air felt pregnant with rain by evening, and the clouds gave the appearance of potential moisture diving to meet the earth. After a very stressful evening, the benefactor arrived home, and invited the elder female for walk to the local food stand, in order to procure dinner.
Small flashes of lightning turned on an off above, and a few meaty drops fell their way to the pavement. The short jaunt gave the benefactor and elder female, KK, the opportunity to air grievances and discuss some of the recent hardships each has been enduring. At the co-op, they selected their items, and KK attempted to barter away her goat cheese to convince the benefactor to buy her new earrings. The benefactor reminded her that jewelry cannot be ingested. Returning home, the benefactor attempted to reach the elder male, for whom he had received communication earlier in the day that curfew has been overlooked, and that he was caught on another floor without the proper accompaniment. The only response was the elder male asking the benefactor to provide a package packed with green chile, much to the chagrin of the benefactor, as the elder male never apologized for his viciousness. He sent a typed communication stating that his apology did not reach its destination. Whether this is to believed, the benefactor has decided to move on in the spirit of forgiveness. KK then resumed her cultural study of Manhattan teenagers, aka Gossip Girl, while the benefactor performed calisthenics to relieve the pressure and stress of what has been, at times, an overwhelming week. This morning, the benefactor drove the elder female to her daily activities, slightly tardy due to KK’s languishing morning routine. When they arrived, KK’s master plan to arrive later, deduced by the benefactor, to avoid being greeted by the masses was thwarted by a throng of students and educators celebrating each new arrival with song and clapping. Or, as she eloquently whispered under her breath, “f*** my life.” Hopefully the weekend brings good tidings, much rest, and less stress for all. Yesterday was an excessively long day for the benefactor, a grueling 13 hours. When she arrived home, the elder female was doing a mountain of assignments. The benefactor inquired why she was working so belated, as she had finished her daily recreation six hours ago, and she remarked that she had indulged in a several hours long, midday nap. For weeks (years, really), the benefactor has been requesting that the elder female organize and tidy her personal living space, which could currently qualify as a Red Cross disaster zone. The benefactor was livid.
It only grew more tense between them when the canine relieved herself upstairs as the elder female had not given her access the outdoors. Much arguing over responsibility for the hound ensued. The conversation came to a jolting halt when the elder female elicited the benefactor’s fury when commenting on the demise of her previous nuptials. Doors were closed and communication ceased for the benefit and survival for everyone involved. On a brighter note, the elder male and benefactor patched up their relationship via the talking box, after the benefactor reached out to affirm her affection for the elder child. He responded in kind with words of fondness and a blazing, blue heart, before again requesting monetary compensation. The holiday of selective independence was both chaotic and peaceful. The younger children maintained their manners at the benefactor’s place of employment, but managed to take over the small work space, gradually spreading their molded building blocks across the floor in tableaus and inventive creations. Other than one episode where they bickered over choosing what to watch on the media box that erupted into tears, they otherwise displayed the good sense the benefactor has tried to impart.
Interacting with the elder children was a different tale. The elder male reached out to the benefactor for funding, but grew irate and confrontational when she offered to parcel out his capital over a designated period of time, and ended their conversation with cross statements. The benefactor was having none of his outrage. They have no spoken since. Similar, the elder female became vexed when the benefactor could not act as her chauffeur and whisk her away for a holiday celebration. Unlike her twin, after her initial disappointment, the elder female made different plans and found a new celebration to attend without relying on the benefactor. She did however, arrive home much later than anticipated, and was appropriately chastised. Whence arriving home, the benefactor finally received forty minutes of bliss lounging in the outdoor hammock, despite three interruptions regarding sustenance. The elder female assisted by providing nourishment to the younger ones. To beat the dog day sun, the benefactor took the younger children to a delightful moving picture show about talking cars. It was refreshing and jolly fun. Today, the benefactor regains her sense of peaceful space, although it feels empty and silent without the laughter and play of the youngest. 'Tis the bittersweet nature of both loving others, and finding solitude necessary to life. Yesterday the youngest male and female accompanied the benefactor to her place of employment. Despite some internal struggles, they managed to survive the eight-hour day without catastrophe or violence, which felt like a miracle.
The youngest female asked the benefactor if she could get a piece of art needled pricked into her skin whence she turns 19. The benefactor is both terrified and impressed with her ambition to plan the future. Hopefully, however, she will outgrow the notion of getting the names of her parents as said body art. Last night the youngest female also demonstrated for the benefactor how she plans to kiss one of her future boyfriends using a Styrofoam cylinder. His name was Paul, and the benefactor was sure to remind her that this projection was at least ten, preferably twelve years into the time ahead. She also suggested loosening her grip so she doesn’t inhibit the breath of her future love interest and face possible charges of strangulation. On this celebration of the nation’s independence, the benefactor and younger children find themselves again at the benefactor’s house of labor, whittling the day away watching pirates and building structures out of molded bricks. Optimistically, the time will pass like sand through the hour glass, and everyone will survive, once more. What an adventurous two-day span! Saturday saw the benefactor and the eldest female in verbal combat again for most of the day, communicating via finger messages in furious tones. A good night’s sleep and personal space did wonders to allow the relationship to breathe and heal for a fresh start. The benefactor also received contact from Chicago regarding the elder male missing his curfew and not responding to multiple methods of communication, which caused much hand wringing and angst until he confirmed his presence was safe. He received an ear beating via the talking, hand-held square device.
Yesterday was the nascent celebration of the elder male and elder female. He telephoned the benefactor to thank her for his life, and to share that he would be attending a production of Aladdin in the city. The elder female made plans with her companions for the afternoon, so the benefactor treated her and her younger siblings to brunch. Initially, plans were solidified to go to the wondrous Tea House, until the younger siblings demonstrated an inability to listen and retain good sense, almost cancelling the event. Instead, the elder female picked a more suitable space for all where poor manners might be easily forgiven. This morning came too quickly, but surprisingly, everyone rose in a timely manner without ridicule or whippings. Both the younger male and female prepared activities unprompted, as they are accompanying the benefactor to her place of profession for the day. However, preparing to leave, the benefactor caught them shooting a tube device filled with water, whence they had claimed they were watering the garden. As if that was not enough to incite ire, the younger male kept intentionally inquiring, “but why?” to every statement made by the benefactor, after which he peeled with laughter. He knows not how narrowly he retained his life this morning, and how lucky he will be should he find himself extant by end of day. Still, despite these struggles, there is nary a spec of cloud in the ocean of blue sky, and it is a tremendous morning to be in existence. Yesterday, the benefactor and eldest female spent the day furiously using their fingers to communicate in anger via small talking machines, arguing over perceptions and future events. When the benefactor finally arrived home, they silently showed forgiveness by watching the media box and lightly chatting. The benefactor decided it would not be a day to mention some of the things that were left undone in the flat, as it might only precipitate another standoff, and the balance that was barely achieved toppled.
Tis finally the denouement of the week. For the first time in four days, the benefactor received a full night of slumber, and woke feeling human once more. The morning has been so quiet, and lacking a warmth and joy that the elder male brought daily. He arrived safely to his destination and has been immersed in the culture and beauty of the grand city. He promises daguerreotypes of his adventures upon his return, which feels untouchable. Again, the benefactor rose for calisthenics at 0600. The sun had risen strong and clear, with birds greeting the morning with fervor. It is summer’s promise of endless possibilities that make the days feel more magic, and make such early greetings to the world less tedious and painful. May the rest of the day bring such peace. Twas a quiet and lonely morning for the benefactor. The youngest male was spirited off at 0630, and the only noises were those of the females slumbering in sweet repose. Her morning routine felt a tad empty without the eldest male there in the background. She was pleased he arrived safely to his destination, and was optimistic that his artistic training would be productive and fruitful.
She transported to work, feeling a pang at the empty co-pilot seat next to her. When she arrived, stepping into her administrative box, the eldest male’s backpack sat in her chair, a reminder of his absence. She valiantly fought back tears but they refused to be tempered, and her wistful heart gave into a momentary lapse of grief. She hopes the adjustment to his leave will be hasty. The night before, their dwelling was filled with an eerie silence of familial mourning. The benefactor came home to find that the eldest female had tidied up a substantial amount of the living space, and wondered if she was becoming ill with a ravenous disease that forces behavior that is antithetical to one’s true nature. She will continue to monitor for any signs or symptoms of a dreaded contagion, although she would not be opposed if this side effect became a permanent change. Today is bittersweet. The eldest of our clan will be traveling north to the midwest for an extended period of seven weeks, where he will receive instruction in the art of ballet. Due to educational duties, our benefactor is unable to transport him to the avion center, and she feels forlorn. Although his transportation has been arranged, it is the absence of a formal goodbye just prior to departure that hurts her heart. Last night we celebrated with an evening repast at a local saloon. Immediately, our benefactor had to accompany the youngest to the lavatory, where a door in the wall led her to exclaim, "maybe this leads to certain death!" In our usual fashion, the dinner eventually degraded into a bickering match, as we can't get enough of arguing in public, much to our benefactor's chagrin. At one point, one of us pretended to leave, so fully frustrated with our exercise of vicious wit. However, everything was quickly smoothed over with Nutella milkshakes. Our home still remains a minor disaster, as the eldest female chose to indulge in a marathon of 'Gossip Girl' on the moving picture box rather than tidying up from her celebration. To say our benefactor was displeased is a severe understatement. It will be so quiet without our clan leader, and not quite as neat. May the next two months pass with the speed of lightning, and may he be returned safely to our hearts. This morning greeted us harshly. The females were given the sweet luxury of sleeping in, whilst the males were to rise slightly after dawn. Catching extra sleep during our transportation was a necessity. The past weekend was a blur of festivities and chaos. Our kindly benefactor planned a soiree to note the aging of the eldest of us. We, at times, bitterly complained and argued over the preparations, even evoking threats to cancel the celebration. We would then ask for certain specialty items, such as ice cream sprinkles, which created angst. We resorted to writing pleading messages on the shopping lists we provided her, even in foreign tongues, hoping she would she reason and provide those things most coveted. We celebrated the coming of age with a large group of hormonal beasts we call friends. Over twenty of us gathered at one point to eat mass quantities of beet hummus, chips, dip, and pizza. The eldest child had his face pushed into a gelatinous mass, and we roasted marshmallows to make sandwiches over a fire. It was all very wild and wonderful. Eight of us spent the evening slumbering beneath the stars and spread across our casual living space. We were still celebratory when our benefactor finally fell asleep at 0245. We were also kind enough to wake her at 0830, just guaranteeing she would receive slightly less than six hours of sleep. Another benefactor kindly brought us burritos, and we gathered around the moving picture box to watch the show our party was designed to replicate. Twas a wonderful experience, although our modest living space is still in throes of disaster. We may or may not decide to assist with its clean up on this quickly arriving Monday. The night before, the benefactor, having worked until the tip of dusk was just gliding below the mountains, arrived home to discover the eldest female splayed on the settee, engrossed in an anthropological study of youth titled, 'Gossip Girl'. It is her third time studying the ways of this culture. The living space was relatively tidy, again surprising, until the eldest inquired about a social gathering for the following evening with her confidants, which explained the brief spurt of motivation.
This morning was thick and still. Not even the dog rose to greet the benefactor. As she wandered into the kitchen to concoct her daily chai tea blend required to manage at her place of industry, she discovered the kitchen sink refilled with dishes that must have mated and birthed overnight, as she had diligently emptied the sink the night before. She then went to the ice box to retrieve her imported butter needed for her breakfast beverage, and discovered the eldest female had left an approximately 1/4 inch square in its wrapper. This may mean certain death, as this is not the first violation of Kerrygold the eldest female has performed. Hastily, the benefactor whipped up her liquid refreshment and shuffled off, deciding that death, at the earliest, would be left until later. Perhaps your prayers will spare her. |
AuthorWelcome to the jungle of my life as a 40-something single mother of four. Archives
May 2018
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