Saturday

Flash Fiction

Saturday

Walking around the house, outside so really around… I was sorting plans, work the gardens? rake? trim…? when I came upon a pile obviously left by my son.

Jared was five, old enough to go outside and play without me hovering. However sometimes young enough to make questionable decisions. At the moment he was still with his father, getting the tires checked. I chose not to go…

Looking at the pile, I tried to imagine what he was aiming for. There was a bucket of sand (It almost always starts with some kind of dirt) a brick, and a box of tools he had permission to use from the garage. A hammer, plyers, and a small hand-held broom. The broom was a surprise. I smiled at the thought that he was thinking about cleaning up. I smiled at how it popped into my head even though he had never cleaned up even once, without being told to.

Just then the “boys” got home. Jared ran over, seeing me looking at his pile. “Do you have a project started here?” I asked.

“It’s a surprise!”

“Oh? For who?” I asked.

“For Dad, don’t tell!”

I immediately stepped in front of the pile as Dad walked up. Jared smiled.

Later, after some actual yardwork by me, I noticed the pile of stuff, still untouched, still sitting in the same place as that morning. My husband had settled inside for a football game. Jared was sitting on my lounge chair.

“Are you going to finish your surprise for Dad?” I asked.

He looked at me, thinking, then jumped up! “Oh yeah! I forgot!” and ran off.

I laughed, he’d forgotten all about it! Plus, somehow the empty lounge chair seemed to be calling me. I decided to answer.

Life is good.