((This is told from Ben's point of view))
"So dad," Conner said, "I know you're busy and all but if you could come to my play that would be great."
If I could come to his play? I wouldn't miss it for the world.
"Of course I'm coming,"I told him, "I would never miss anything like that."
"Cool," Conner said, "Oh Carrie invited me to go out for ice cream with her tonight."
"Like a date," I asked him.
He blushed and admitted it.
Conner was at a complicated age. He was not quite a little kid but he wasn't quite an adult yet. He was becoming his own person. He had his own ideas. He was developing relationship with girls. I sighed. Caroline was in high school before she started developing an interest in boys although she did have her own tastes from a very early age.
"I'm okay with you going," I said, "But I want you to text me when you get there so I know you got there safe. Also wear your baseball cap and sunglasses."
"Yeah I won't stand out wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap in the middle of winter," he said laughing and rolling his eyes.
"The kid has a point," Mike said.
"The ice cream parlor is right across the street," Conner pointed out, "and I'm actually wearing my ski jacket because it is freezing outside."
"Fair enough," I said, "But still text me"
"I will dad," he promised skipping out of the room.
After Conner left Mike said he had a good joke.
"Let's hear it," I said.
I don't mind laughter. I am fun and light hearted.
"How do you start an adult novel of Tale Of Two Cities," Mike asked.
"How," everyone asked.
"It was the breast of times."
Everyone laughed.
"Okay I got one," Ruth said.
Ruth has been one of my best friends since college.
"Fine," I said, "But after that we need to get back to business."
"Why are the policies that hurt people like a vacuum?"
I knew that topic would come up sooner or later. In a way I was glad it came up sooner rather the later.
"Because they suck," I answered.
"Did I tell you the joke before," she asked.
"No," I said, "But it does suck and so do vacuum cleaners."
"Maybe we should think about ending the policies that hurt people," Tommy suggested.
"There's no maybe about it," I replied, "But that's already been done. I'm announcing it at my next press release."
Everyone cheered.
"What gave you the idea," Dan asked.
"Conner," I said, "We talked about it a few nights ago. I always thought the policies that hurt people was a stupid idea. I just never even took the time to think about it."
Just then Mike's phone rang. He looked at me apologetically and answered the phone.
"Leah is in labor," he said when he hung up, "It just started."
"Go," I said.