Taking Care of Business

Maria had Tony firmly by the hand as they made their way across the busy parking lot and into the supermarket. He was skipping beside her, prattling about the cookie he was going to obtain once they reached the bakery section, when a gorgeous, leggy blond almost ran into them.

"Oh, goodness, I am so sorry! I wasn't looking- "She held up her hand in apology. "Pardon me!"

Maria smiled and nodded dismissively, but Tony took one look at the attractive woman and spoke up in delight, "Oh, hubba hubba!"

Shocked, the woman turned to regard Tony again. "What did you say?"

Maria scowled down at the little boy, and stammered an apology for him. Tony wilted a bit under Maria's angry expression, poked his lip out in a pout, and protested, "That's what Daddy always says when the lady's pretty, though, Abuela!"

The woman laughed then, and smiled down at Tony. "Well, you cute boy- what's your name, Adorable?"

"Tony and I'm four years old now. This is Abuela. We're going to get a big cookie for me at the bakery section." He pointed towards Maria and smiled his megawatt smile at the attractive stranger.

"Well, four year old Tony, thank you for the sweet compliment. You have made my day." Smiling again, she turned and left, and Maria pulled Tony to the queue of shopping carts.

"Bambino, we must be more careful about what we say around you! Este bebé toma todo lo que decimos! I can not believe what you know. Hold up your arms for me." Tony did, and she swung him into the child seat portion of the cart and steered them into the store. Despite Tony's requests to go immediately to get his cookie, Maria saved the bakery aisle for last. Experience had taught her that she could use the treat as an incentive for good behaviour as they trekked up and down the grocery store aisles. Tony was an enthusiastic shopper, and when he spotted something he wanted, he would insist he had to have it- right that second! He was also extremely social, and initiated conversations with store personnel and other customers alike, which often kept them in the store longer than Maria desired. As Maria saw it, that cookie at the end was the gold medal for Tony, and a tangible acknowledgement to her that she had once again gotten them through a veritable obstacle course.

Tony was fairly cooperative on this excursion though, and they were in and out within a half hour. He nibbled his cookie choice, a gingerbread man, while they checked out. His bites were interspersed with his singsong narration of "Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me- I'm the gingerbread man!" from the story he'd been read dozens of times. Customers in the line behind him smiled indulgently, and his love of attention fuelled more expressive narrations.

He helped Maria load the groceries in the trunk of the car, and as they left the parking lot, asked for the dozenth time if it were time for the park. Maria had told him that morning that the day was beautiful and promised that the two of them would spend some of it enjoying a visit to their favourite park. Maria, or Abuela as Tony called her, was not actually Tony's grandmother, but was an integral part of his family. His father, NCIS special agent Jethro Gibbs, knew that she was a treasure, and thanked God on a daily basis that Maria had come into their lives. Her adoration of the little boy was equalled only by the baby's love for her. Tony's mother and sister had been killed, and with the exception of Jackson Gibbs, Jethro's father, there was no other family in the picture. They were blessed with good friends, though- Jethro's former boss, Mike Franks was one. Dr. Mallard (Ducky) and his mother, Victoria Mallard, were two very special others.

As soon as they got home Tony asked again, tugging at Maria's apron, "Abuela mia, when are we going to play at the park? It's time. I was very good at the store, remember? Let's go now and let me play with the other boys and girls. I want to go on the swings now, por favor."

"Bambino, remember that we need to eat a good lunch first, and then take a nap to be rested before the park."

Tony grabbed her hand and argued stuffily, "I don't need a nap, Abuela. I am not tired at all. Let's just go ahead to the park now. I will get your pocketbook for you." He started out of the room to locate her purse and keys.

Maria was busily trying to put up the groceries, but stopped a second to command, "Come here a second, vengan a mi." Tony returned, but then shook his head irritably when she pulled out a tissue, pressed it to his nose, and ordered, "Blow your nose now, Antonio, you have some cold, and it is not good to be stopped up." She held his head so that he couldn't escape, then kissed him when he was finished. "You are my sweet baby boy." Reaching into the refrigerator, she pulled out a juice pouch. "Now, go play in the living room for a while and let me get finished."

Tony, having forgotten the purse, started out but turned around to say slyly, "I will be a very, very good boy if you let me watch cartoons."