Doing housework with two small children was not an easy task,especially when one of them was underfoot constantly. After nearly tripping over Peter for the fifth time, Helen said a bit impatiently, " Peter,why don't you go colour or play with your toys."
" Otay" ( okay) Peter said disappearing from the room,he came back a few minutes later armed with paper and crayons,settling down on the rug in front of Susan's playpen,he started drawing. Helen went back to cleaning and the house was quiet except for Susan's babbling.
The front door opened and Stephen came in,Helen stopped cleaning," You never told me you were coming home for lunch." she said in mock disapproval as he kissed her.
" Yes,well,I wasn't planning to,but then I thought,why call me when it's ready,I'll be in my study." Stephen said .
Helen headed into the kitchen to get lunch. Five minutes later,Stephen came in,"Helen,you didn't clean the study,yet,did you?"
"No,why,is something wrong?" she asked wiping her hand on her apron.
"No,well,yes,I seem to be missing some papers,they were important for the case." he was a partner in a law firm.
"No,I haven't seen them." Helen said ,Peter chose that moment to walk in.
" Look,Mummy,I dew pidure" (I drew a picture),he held up a paper full of colourful scribbles.
"It's lovely,darling." Helen said distractedly," Have you checked your desk?"
Peter tugged on her apron," I dew pidure,Mummy" he said again (I drew picture)
Helen turned to him and took the picture from him,"Oh no." she said,somewhere between the yellow,green,blue and every other colour were the words ,"Law Offices of Mardsen and Stevenson".
"Peter,where'd you get this paper from?" she asked kneeling down
" Daddy." Peter said sliding his thumb in his mouth.
"Daddy gave you paper?" Helen asked,then looked up at her husband.
" I never gave him any paper." Stephen said kneeling down so he too was eyelevel with his son," Tell Daddy where you got the paper from ,buddy"
" In dere." Peter said pointing in the direction of the parlour and study.
"Study." Helen said standing up,handing Stephen the paper,"Well now you know what happened to the paper,Peter used it for a colouring book."
"Peter,you can't go in Daddy's study and just take paper." Helen said lifting him up on the counter.
" Why?" he asked
" Because it's bad." Helen said
"Why?" Peter asked.
" It just is." Helen explained
"Why?" Peter persisted
" Mummy says so." Helen sighed.
"Why?" Peter asked
"Because I just do." Helen replied wondering why she was even bothering to try to explain to a two and a half year old.
"Why." Peter asked.
"Because I'm the Mummy and that's what Mummies do." Helen said in a last effort.
" Why?" Peter asked
" I t just is" Helen said ." Help Mummy with lunch okay." she said handing him a bowl and spoon
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Saturday morning ,Peter's new bed arrived,needless to say he was not pleased to have to give up his cot. He climbed in and refused to move when the men from the furniture store came to pick up the cot and assemble the bed.
" Don't you want a big boy bed?" Helen asked .
"No!" Peter said a stubborn tilt to his chin.
" But all big boys sleep in big boy beds." Helen tried to reason. "You're not a baby anymore."
" Susy have cot." Peter said standing up.
" Yes,well that's because Susan's still a baby and you're not you're a big boy ,you could feed yourself and do other things that Susan can't." Helen said." Besides that's a special bed."
Peter's eyes widened," It is?" he asked.
" Oh yes, of course ,it's a magic bed . Every night when you go to sleep you go on adventures." Helen said .
" I wanna go on ventures!" Peter cried climbing out of the cot.
" Not now,tonight,the bed has to get ready to pick the right adventure for you." Helen said .
" Susy come too?" Peter asked.
" When she gets big enough,she'll have her own adventures." Helen explained taking his hand,"Now let's see if Daddy and Susan want to go to the park and we can have a picnic."
A/N: Next up is Susan.
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