CH 3
Alan breathed a sigh of relief when Charlie finished the PBJ sandwich. He had finished writing his punishment lines a couple minutes ago. Now one could hope for some redemption and cuddles. Alan decided on a fresh start as he beamed at his youngest, "So son, with that behind us, how would you like to spend the rest of the day?"
Charlie picked up the plate and the book as he mumbled, "away from you." He dropped the plate in the kitchen and Alan followed him in. "Excuse me?" "I'm sorry, what? I was just clearing up. Here are my lines, sir. Will not omit information again. May I be excused to the garage?" Charlie had mastered the art of looking at a spot above Alan's right shoulder. Alan didn't bother to look at the lines, just breathed in deeply. Yes, son, you may. As Charlie headed to the garage, Alan settled in his recliner with a newspaper, his mind far away in time when the house was filled with people and laughter.
Alan woke up because of a kink in his neck. He had fallen asleep on the recliner. He stretched and walked out to the garage. The kid was still at it, moving boards, writing equations. He looked up at the clock, it was 3am, way past Charlie's bedtime. He cleared his throat but got no response so he went closer and put his hand on Charlie's back. The kid jumped then when he saw who it was, he relaxed and started blabbering incoherently or at least that's how it sounded to Alan. Alan tried to wait for something that sounded like a break in speech to get a word in but after a minute, he gave up and held Charlie's hand in his. "Kid, time for bed." He could see the realisation dawn in Charlie's eyes and he looked at the clock on the wall and figured how late it was. Charlie tried to pull his hand back but Alan held on as he said, "I just want to put you to bed and then go to bed myself. And then you nap after visiting your mom tomorrow okay? It's been a long, hard day. Let's not make it any longer." Once Alan's words registered, Charlie relented and let Alan take him upstairs and tuck him in.
Don reached home in time for breakfast and was surprised to find the kitchen empty. He figured he'd get the story soon enough and got started on pancakes. In ten minutes, Alan enetered the kicthen, showered but still tired. "Good morning, Dad. I have some coffee going for you." "Thanks Donnie. You're a life-saver. I really don't tell you that enough." "Geez dad, it's just coffee and soon some pancakes. Rough night?" "Yeah, for both of us, in our own ways." Alan didn't even have to to look at Don to feel the raised eyebrow and so continued, "I fell asleep on the recliner and Charlie was in the garage till about 3. I just tucked him in and he has to nap after your visit today." Don smiled at the excitement in Alan's voice when he relayed tgat Charlie had let him tuck him in and noted the ominious words, your visit. But it was mainly Charlie's time so that was that.
Charlie knew Don would be home to pick him up so getting him to wake up and get ready wasn't a problem at all. Sometimes Alan wondered if Charlie behaved as angry and hellion-like with him because he had to be nice and angelic around his borther and mother. He wanted to make use of the temporary truce and ask if he could join but couldn't gather teh courage so he stood at the porch and waved them off.
When Charlie saw his mother, he seemed to transform into a child much younger. He ran to the bed and hugged his mother, telling her about everything from their breakfast to the equations he was working on to school, but not his father. Margaret, after all these years, easily picks up on that omission. She listens to Cahrlie attentively and insists on hearing some stories from Don too, not letting him behave like Charlie's chaperone. She really wanted a full family visit and she sensed that a direct approach wouldn't work so she said, "I'd love some ice cream about now. How about you kids?" Charlie's face lit up. "Yes! Ice cream!" Don smiled indulgently, "your wish is my command". "No Donnie, stay. I don't think Alan will mind driving down here with some icecream. How about that?" She first looked at Don, who shrugged and pointed to Charlie with his eyes.
Margaret moved her hand around Charlie's head, "what happened between you and dad, baby? Tell me" Charlie couldn't help the tears running, "he he made me write lines and he yelled at me and he made me eat a PBJ and he made me nap." Margaret knew that she should back up her husband but she really wanted sone family time and acknowledging the need and righteousness of a punishment never went well with her youngest so she just rubbed his back as she said, "let it out, let it all out, child." Finally when Charlie was out of tears, he said, "Yes, dad can bring ice cream. Mint chocochip."
Margaret didn't need to be told twice. She called Alan, "We're looking for some ice cream delivery, if you're available." Alan grinned. He thought of how Charlie didn't deserve the treat and how he would never nap after the dessert and how in this weather none of them should be eating ice cream but then he shoved all that aside. He grinned, ice cream it was. "Tub of mint chocolate chip and chocolate brownie for Donnie?" "Sounds about right. If you hurry, you'll earn some as a tip for yourself too." Everybody laughed as she hung up.
The ice cream was excellent and the conversation even better. There was a lot of hungging and rubbing on hands and backs and kissing of foreheads. Alan leaned slightly towards Margaret's ear and whispered, "he needs to nap". She understood. She let out a loud yawn then said, "I'm tired and need to nap but I want to feel all of you around me so Donnie, Alan find chairs and put on a game or something. Charlie, come lie with me, I want to cuddle."
And just like that the family spent the day together, happy. Tomorrow would be another day but today was way better than Alan expected and for that he sent up a thanks to the powers that be.