The shopping excursion for the bed went off without a hitch. A full sized captain's bed with storage underneath. It had rails that fit the sides for beginners in "big boy' beds. Still, it wasn't like a crib that could keep Neal contained in one place during the night. Peter was concerned about this. Neal had a knack for disappearing almost in front of your eyes. He had gotten away from him and Elizabeth at the furniture store for a moment, but it was a moment that lasted a lifetime. He and Elizabeth had never been so frantic so quickly and just as quickly relieved when they found him in the toy isle on his knees playing with some building blocks. At the same time they blurted out, "Neal", and he could tell that they were angry, but once he flashed his little megawatt smile, they had no choice but to smile too. They scooped him up and went home to await the delivery of the bed.
Neal was having a fun time playing with and in the box that the bed had arrived in. To a two year old it was huge and the perfect place for hiding with Satchmo and watching for intruders. Peter had cut a hole in the side for a window and Neal had been playing with it for over 2 hours while the adults were putting his new bed together. He would giggle when Elizabeth would tell Peter he was doing it wrong and to please read the directions. When they were finally done they found Neal sound asleep in the box with Satchmo standing guard.
Elizabeth had taken Neal downstairs while Peter disposed of the box and everything else that needed to be thrown away. It amazed him that there were always left over pieces when you put things together. He figured it was the manufacturers' way of putting it in your head that you had done something wrong. He had fought the bed and he had won, directions be damned !
Once he had taken all the trash out and walked Satchmo Peter came into the kitchen where he found El making supper and Neal making a small mess. Two saltine crackers have covered half of the dining room table and Neal's mouth is full, how is that possible? Satchmo is waiting patiently for something to drop his way. El puts supper on the table and Peter cuts up the chicken for Neal. It is still amusing that Neal picks up a piece of food and puts it on his fork and then pops it in his mouth. It's double work but he hasn't quite grasped the concept of being able to keep things on his utensil from plate to mouth. It's actually amusing.
Elizabeth had bought sheets with dogs on them, so while she was busy making up the new bed Peter was awarded bath duties. It wasn't that big a deal, making sure Neal got clean, it was tidying up the bathroom afterwards. Neal splashed around like a duck and there was hardly a surface that didn't have water on it by the time he was done, much less the person that was supervising.!
"Come on Neal, time to get out and get ready for bed."
"NO!"
Peter chuckled, then told him again that it was time to get out.
"NO! I pwaying!" Neal said and scooted to the far back corner of the tub and splashed water at Peter.
"Come on buddy, you've been in there long enough now, please don't make me ask you again."
This time Neal just ignored him and continued to play with the toys in the tub.
"Neal , okay then," Peter stood up and reached in and plucked him from the tub. Neal immediately started to scream and kick.
"No, no, no, no, no! Put me down, No !" He was squirming and kicking and twisting and it was all Peter could do to hold on to a wet,naked little body. As a matter of fact he almost dropped him once.
"Hey, hey, Neal, settle down what has gotten in to you?"
By this time and because of all the commotion Elizabeth opens the door and asks ,"What in the world is going on in here. Peter ? Neal ?"
"El, I have no idea. He didn't want to get out of the tub and when I pulled him out all this started." Peter had loosened his hold on Neal and set him down on the floor and once Neal was free he turned and tried to get back into the tub.
"Neal, No !" Peter grabbed him by his little shoulders and turned him back to face him and told him "No" again and with that gave him a smack on the bottom.
Neal was stunned for a moment and looked at Peter. Then he began to cry. Not the mad cry of not being able to do what I want, but the oh, you have really hurt my feelings cry.
Elizabeth was standing there with her mouth open. Not really understanding why Neal was acting this way and not quite believing that Peter had actually smacked Neal. Of course he hadn't hurt the child, but it did the trick and got his attention for sure. They carried Neal into his room and put his night clothes on him while he continued to cry. Then Peter picked him up and took him to the rocker. He could tell that Neal was overly tired and cranky. As they rocked the cries quieted.
"Daddy, awe you sorwy?"
"Sorry for what Neal"
"Sorwy you pank me?"
Peter had to use every bit of self control he had not to burst out laughing.
"No Neal, no I'm not sorry. You were acting bad and you had a spanking coming."
With that Neal started to cry again. Peter just continued to rock and think that was just like something Caffrey would do, con him into thinking he should feel guilty for disciplining him.
Some things never change.