0743 est

Sunday, February 16

Mac's Apartment

(I think we all know by now that it's Mac's POV)

For the second morning in a row, I find myself unmotivated to open my eyes or move from this blanket of comfort surrounding me.  Except that I get this strange feeling that someone is watching me.  I open my eyes, and there, two inches from my nose, is AJ Roberts.

"Good morning, Aunt Mac," he whispers loudly.

"Good morning, AJ," I whisper back.

"Can I snuggle with you and Unca Harm?"

I don't really know if that's possible, as Harm and I are on the couch, but I answer anyway, "Sure you can.  Just climb on up."

"Aww, but now I can't kiss her good morning.  Not in front of prying eyes."  Damn.  Is it too late to send the kid back to bed?

I guess so.  He's lying on top of me with his head on my shoulder.  On second thought, he can stay right here if he wants.  I feel like we're a family.

"So this is what it feels like to be a real family."  Hey, I just said that...thought it...whatever. 

I drift back off to sleep cuddling AJ and being cuddled by Harm.

0946 est

Mac's apartment

I suddenly feel myself jarred awake by something that I can't quite place immediately.  My sudden movement elicits a waking grunt from Harm and a casual glance from AJ, who is playing quietly (which is no small feat for Little Big Mouth).

"Good morning again, Aunt Mac.  Is it breffist time yet?"

Breffist time...time...time!  "We have to get ready for church!  It's already 0947!  The service starts at 1015!"  Well, at least I won't be bothered with trying to figure out what woke me up.  Now I know.

My outburst startled AJ into needlessly jumping up and fruitlessly running around waving his arms in the air yelling out, "Dear God, please don't let us be late to church.  Dear God, please don't let us be late to church.  Dear God, please..."

"AJ, buddy, how about while you're praying, you can start to get ready so we won't be late," Harm says.

"Okay.  Dear God..."  His voice grows fainter as he runs into the room, followed by Harm.  I go into the bathroom and take a shower in record time.  I walk out of the bathroom still dripping, with a towel wrapped around me, when I'm nearly bowled over by the little whirlwind, who is wearing his pants on his head.

"Look, Aunt Mac, I'm a shepherd!  See, this is what shepherds wear!  Aunt Mac, are you an angel?  You're pretty enough to be an angel.  Unca Harm, isn't she pretty enough to be an angel?"  Harm looks me up and down.

"Mm-hmm..."  "Yes, buddy, she's beautiful enough to be an angel.  Now why don't we just go ahead and put your shorts where they belong and let's let Mac get dressed, okay?"

"Ooooooookay!"  And with that, he ran back out of the room, praying, "Dear God, please don't let us be late to church.  Dear..."

"Dear God, please don't let our children be any more rowdy than AJ."  Amen to that.

Once Harm is done getting AJ dressed (with all clothes in their correct places), he jumps in and out of the shower.  It was a fast shower, but I still had him beat by twenty-nine seconds.  Hah!

It only took seventeen minutes to all get ready, and after a quick breakfast of Eggo waffles (without peanut butter, to the protests of AJ Roberts), we were out the door.

1021 est

Christ Church

Only six minutes late.  Harm looks at his watch to check the time.

"Maybe they haven't started the service yet."  Yeah, right.  When have we ever been that lucky? 

We walk through the doors into the anteroom.  The pastor's greeting can be heard through the doors to the sanctuary.  Mm-hm!  I knew it.

"Oh, well, wishful thinking." 

Once the hymn starts, we open the doors and quickly occupy three spaces on the back pew.  AJ immediately grabs a hymnal and opens it to a random page and starts singing along at the top of his voice to the tune he obviously already knows.

"Oh sing to our God.  Amen.  Alleluia!  Oh sing to our God.  Amen.  Alleluia!  Oh sing..." 

He really does have a nice little voice.  If he could just control the volume he'd be great.  I'm sure there's plenty of time for that, though.  Speaking of volume, he seems to enjoy singing louder at the Spanish parts, as though showing off that he can sing in Spanish.

"Hey-sus es Sen-your.  Amen.  Alleluia!  Hey-sus es..."

"As fascinating as this is..."  Yeah, I agree.  Can we end the song, please?

"...Amen.  Alleluia!  Cantad al Sen-your.  Cantad al Sen-yoooooooouuuuuuurrrrr."

"Amen."  Alleluia!

Author's note: Sorry it's so short.  Don't let the length keep you from reviewing, though *hint, hint*.  Oh, and after chapter 6 (I think) the updates will be slower in coming, because I've reached something of a standstill.  Keep reviewing, though, please...it only serves as encouragement!