"Do kids even have school anymore?" Angela asked her friend as they drove.
"Well of course they do. The state of Virginia requires students to be in school for 180 days, which is about 990 hours for grades 1-12," Brennan says, not picking up on Angela's sarcasm.
"I mean after almost three weeks of snow days, they're off for a three day weekend. It just doesn't make sense."
"I do agree that taking unnecessary days off is illogical, but celebrating two important president's birthdays is very nice."
"Yeah, but no one actually takes President's Day to do the thing it's meant for. All people care about now is furniture and car sales." As she talks, Angela circles the parking lot once again. It was completely full, like anywhere else that day, but they had to get the kids out of the house. Only three hours in there together and they were driving themselves and their moms crazy. "Look, I'll just let you guys out here. Go get the kids checked in and look for a place to sit. I'll find a spot," she says, pulling up to the curb in front of the trampoline park.
"Alright. We'll meet you inside." Brennan waits on the sidewalk for Michael, Christine, and Hank to get out, taking the hand of her youngest child.
"I'll be there in a minute. Michael: stay with Auntie Brennan, okay?"
"I will, momma," Michael nods, slightly annoyed at the babyish direction. He pushes the car door closed and dashes to the front doors with Christine.
The inside of the large warehouse is just as much a mess as the parking lot. And the echoing voices and loud music don't help much. Brennan waits in line with the kids bouncing everywhere, pointing out all the activities they get to do and whining about how long the wait is. Somewhere in the room, Christine's best friend Emma is with her mom and older sister; Brennan only knows this because Cheryl had texted her saying she'd seen them and was holding a table. But Brennan didn't tell her daughter that because she knew Christine's only goal would be to get to her friend, and she needed her help first.
"Christine: I need you and Michael to wait on that bench over there with your brother. Do not move from that spot until I come to get you, okay?" Brennan directs, pointing to an empty seat not far from the check-in counter.
"Okay," Christine nods, taking her brother's hand and going to where she was told.
Brennan steps up, and exchanges hellos with the smiling teenager behind the counter. "I need three 90 minute passes and two pairs of socks, please."
"You got it. I just need you to fill these out for all the kids jumping today," the girl says, handing over a pen and three permission slips. While Brennan fils out the forms, the girl collects the socks for Christine and Hank. "Perfect. Those are for you," she exchanges socks for paperwork and a moment later, the wristbands are ready to go. "Put these on their wrists. Socks must be worn at all times and no food or drink is allowed on the black carpeted areas. Have fun!" with one more smile, Brennan turns for the kids. The older two are able to put on their own socks, so Brennan only has to handle the smallest in their group.
"Christine! Christine!" Emma's squeal has the girl looking to the side and quickly hugging her friend who she hadn't seen since recess on Friday. The school had the audacity to separate them for fourth grade, so the only time the friends got to play with each other was during recess and on weekends.
"Wait," Brennan calls, stopping her daughter who was ready to run off with her friend. She quickly wraps a wristband on Christine and Michael and sends them off, Christine saying something about Michael offering to teach them how to backflip. She finds Emma's mother and older sister who have claimed two tables and waves Angela over when she appears with her youngest son on her hip. Phoenix's curly hair is more ruffled than usual from his nap in the car and he has a sleepy pout on his normally cheerful face.
"Mommy! Let's go jumping!" Hank demands, wanting to be part of the big kids' fun.
"I'll take him," Emma's sister Sophie offers, standing and pulling up her jeans. "Come on, bud."
"Okay, I knew it would be crazy here today, but this is insane," Angela remarks.
"It's like every elementary schooler in a thirty-mile radius decided to converge here all at once," Cheryl adds, agreeing with Angela.
"Is it bad that it's only eleven o'clock and I want wine?"
"I got you covered," Cheryl hands over a travel coffee mug and Angela takes a reluctant sip. But her reaction when the liquid inside his her mouth is very positive.
"I love you," she smiles.
"Rule number one of any kid-oriented event: bring wine."
"Amen to that," Angela says, raising the mug and taking another sip before handing it to Brennan.
"I'm not so sure about this. Is it really wise to be drinking while at a family entertainment center?" Brennan asks, eyeing the mug.
"They do it a Chuck E Cheese," Cheryl comments.
"Yeah, Brennan! The kids are happy, so why can't we? Everyone wins," Angela adds, taking the mug back.
"I can agree with that," Brennan says, finally taking a sip of wine.
While the kids play, the mom's gossip and trade the mug of wine around. Angela does take Phoenix to jump after the toddler nearly throws a fit because he wanted to go play so badly. Though, all that happens when he gets to the room full of trampolines is he's too scared to even get on one.
"Well, we tried," Angela says, sitting back down with Phoenix in her lap. She reaches for the wine mug and whines when it comes up empty.
"That means it's time to go," Cheryl says knowingly.
"Yeah, I think this one is just about done," Angela agrees, lifting Phoenix to her shoulder, trying to quiet his tired whining a bit. They gather their bags and coats and head off to find their kids. Hank and Sophie were easy to find as they were heading back at the same time and ran right into the moms. Sophie informed her mom and Emma was taking one last turn on the trapeze swing and would meet them in a minute. Michael and Christine are waging a dodgeball war against another team of kids, and their team seems to be doing pretty well. The game ends, Michael and Christine's team losing, and all of the kids clear out smiling and breathless.
"Come, on, it's time to go," Angela tells her son, catching him before he can run off again.
"Okay," he sighs reluctantly. The two had out for the car first, knowing the others will catch up.
Brennan had had to follow Christine back to the free jump area and was trying unsuccessfully to coax her daughter off.
"One more," Christine asks. "I want to show you something!"
"One more," Brennan agrees, holding up a finger. Christine takes three more jumps before going into a near perfect backflip, landing on her feet but quickly falling onto her bum.
"Did you see?"
"I saw, that was very good," Brennan smiles.
"Michael taught me and Emma. He said the trick was to jump back and not up," Christine says, taking her coat from her mom and following her to the door.
"Well, Michael is a good teacher."
"Yeah, he is! He said next time we come he's gonna teach me how to do a back handspring."
"That is a very difficult move to execute. I think I'd rather you learn from a professional with more experience than Michael," Brennan says, fighting with her son, Christine babbling on about really wanting to take tumbling classes to learn the things her cousin can do. "Hank: we are going out into a busy street, you need to hold my hand." Hank starts to throw a fit, so his mom simply swings him up into her arms and crosses the street with Christine holding onto her hand. He's still fussing while Brennan buckles him into his car seat, and gets louder when Christine accidentally bumps him on the way to the third row with Michael.
"Got any more wine?" Brennan asks Angela, a headache already starting.
"We can stop somewhere if you want," Angela offers, pulling out of their spot and onto the main road.
"No: I think it would be best if we get home."
"Why? Because drunk driving is bad? Or because Booth is at home and can deal with him while we go back out?"
"The latter, definitely the latter," Brennan laughs. They'd taken the kids all day, Booth can handle them for a few hours. Especially after they'd been worn out playing at the trampoline park.
"Well then, hold on everyone: We're taking the carpool lane," Angela announces, changing lanes into the one that allows her to legally speed. They get home quickly, leave the kids with their respective fathers, and meet up for more wine and gossip. The kids had fun and so should they.