"I can't believe you're going to have two kids in school," Lindsay commented as she and Austin followed Colton, Isa and Sarah into the store.
"You make me sound so old."
"You're younger than me."
"By like four months."
"Yeah, so if you're old then I'm old and I don't want to be old."
"How do you feel about your son the pimp daddy?"
Lindsay looked over at Colton who was holding hands with Sarah and Isa, and looking very happy.
"I think I might be a little proud and a little embarrassed."
Austin chuckled and grabbed a basket while the kids giggled and started to pick out their supplies. Colton and Isa grabbed the first things they saw, while Sarah took her time, examining every piece, comparing it to others and holding onto it for a few minutes before she finally decided and put it in the basket. She was bound and determined to do well in school and she knew she needed the right tools to do that.
"Look mama! Crayons! Can me and Isa share like we did in kindergarten? We won't fight about them this time, I promise."
"No, you should probably just get your own packs."
"But… we can share when we sit next to each other."
Lindsay and Austin exchanged a look and crouched down in front of their kids, knowing this news wasn't going to go over well.
"We have something we need to tell you," Lindsay started, clearing her throat.
"What, mama? Are we in big trouble mister?"
"No, you're not in big trouble. It's just that um…"
"You two are going to have different teachers this year. In different classrooms."
"We know that! We can't keep our kindergarten teacher forever," Isa said with a slight roll of her eyes. "She's not Mr. Feeney."
"No, I mean that you are going to be in one classroom with a new teacher and Colton is going to be in another classroom with a different new teacher."
There was silence as the news sunk in and they just stared at their mothers for a few moments.
"Well that must be a mistake. Cuz me and Isa, we always stick together. We are always best friends and on the same team. We will just have to call them and tell them that."
"We already tried, honey. We can't switch classes right now. Your kindergarten teacher thought it would be a good idea for you to be apart."
"Is she crazy?" Isa hollered. "He's my Colt and him and me are best friends! No one can take us apart!"
"Isabeth, I know you love Colton-"
"I won't go to school if we're in different classes."
"Me neither."
"Kids, you have to go to school," Lindsay said, trying to use her calmest voice. "Look, me and Austin are best friends and we don't work right next to each other everyday. We survive it. Sometimes it's better that way because we don't get annoyed with each other."
"I don't care," Colton replied, putting his arm around Isa. "We are not going without each other. You can buy our school tools if you want to, but we won't go."
They turned and walked to the end of the aisle, looking at a display and whispering to each other.
"Well that could have been worse."
"Colton would have thrown a fit if we weren't in public."
"I'm surprised Isa didn't. I wonder if it will hit them more the first day of school."
"I don't know. It breaks my heart as much as it breaks theirs but I know it's going to be good for them to be apart too. It's not like we said they won't ever see each other again."
"I know. Oh well, they'll get used to it. It will be an adjustment, but they don't see each other every day now, so it shouldn't be a big deal."
"Maybe it will be okay."
"I hope so. Sarah, what's the matter?"
"I just don't know what re-raser to get," she said, holding up two pink erasers of different brands. "I just don't know!"
"Oh honey," Austin chuckled, taking both from her. "Which one is cheaper?"
"I don't know. I think that one."
"Then we'll get that one. When in doubt, always get the cheaper one."
"Okay. Did I get everything on my list?"
They went through the list and made sure she had everything, while Lindsay picked up where Colton had left off, making sure he was prepared as well. Her phone rang just as she finished up, and she steeled herself, wondering what was so bad that Adam had to call her.
"What's the matter?"
"Ben says his throat still hurts him."
"Did you look in there?"
"He won't let me. I felt his neck and it feels swollen."
"Let him have a spoonful of honey and I'll be home as soon as I can. Is he running a fever?"
"No, he seems fine, he just keeps complaining about his throat."
"Alright, I wouldn't worry about it too much, he's probably just trying to milk it."
"Okay. I'll see you when you get home. Want me to start dinner?"
"Yeah, if you want. No big deal either way."
"Alright. You guys have fun."
They said goodbye and she looked up to see Colton taking all the school supplies out of the basket and putting them back on the shelf.
"What are you doing?"
"Not goin' to school. I don't even care about the first grade anymore. I just want Isa in my class."
"Colton-"
"What if someone separated you from daddy? Wouldn't you be sad and want to cry?"
"Yes, but this is different. No one said you couldn't be friends or see each other anymore. You'll probably see each other at recess and you'll ride the bus together too. The only time when you won't be together is when you're supposed to be learning anyway."
He sighed and drooped his shoulders.
"But mama, don't you understand? It's just like you and daddy! Like how you want to share your life like you always say. I wanna share my life with Isa and how do I do that if she's in a different class?"
"Honey, I know you don't want to hear this, but I need you to listen to me. I know you love Isa. She's your best friend and I would never, ever want you to not be best friends. But you can't be together all the time. Even if you want to be, even if you love her, there's going to be times when you have to be apart. That's life."
He sighed and leaned forward to hug her, knowing that she would never lie to him but wishing it wasn't true. He just couldn't imagine school without Isa.
"Mama, what if she gets a new best friend?"
"Maybe she will. But that doesn't mean she loves you any less. Nobody is ever going to have the same kind of friendship the two of you have, okay?"
"Okay."
"Now, let's finish getting your supplies so we can go home for dinner."
He nodded and found everything he had put back and dumped it into the basket. Isa was similarly sad, but they managed to get all the supplies purchase and were soon headed to family dinner.
"Do you think this is a good idea, Colt?" Isa asked warily, looking down at what he was doing.
"Yep."
"We won't get in trouble with Indy?"
"My mama will see that we are right and then she can't get mad at us! Come on, let's go show them."
"I'm not sure about this," she sighed as they struggled to their feet.
"Well I am," Colton reassured as they made their way carefully down the stairs. They joined their parents in the dining room and the conversation stopped.
"What did you do?"
"We are stuck together now, daddy! You can't take me and Isa apart!"
"Did you use an entire roll of duct tape?" Adam asked, looking at their joined legs.
"Yep! And also some clear tape! We tried glue but it wouldn't dry."
"Do you guys realize that it's going to hurt when we take that tape off? You're wearing shorts aren't you?"
"Yep we are but you're not taking the tape off. We have to be together. We have to go to school together. Don't you know that?"
The four adults let out a collective sigh, not sure what to do about this.
"Alright then," Danny said finally. "Stay taped. Isa, you can sleep here tonight. See how much you like being taped together."
The kids high fived, unaware of how counterproductive this was going to be.
"We will show them that we're better together."
"Just like all the songs!" Isa agreed as they struggled back up the stairs. "Your plan done worked, Colt! And even I get to sleep over!"
"I know. I am brilliant like my daddy."
They walked back into the bedroom where Ben, Junior, and Sarah had been waiting to hear the verdict.
"The grownups said okay! I get to sleep here tonight and we get to stay stuck together."
"Are you sure this isn't a lesson?" Sarah asked, well aware that their parents often let them make their own mistakes.
"How could it be? We winned. We get to have a sleep over, Sarah. Don't you understand?"
Sarah just nodded. She knew they would get tired of being stuck together. Ben and Junior, upon seeing how well it had gone for their oldest siblings, were hatching a plan to tape their legs together too. Unfortunately they were out of tape. First Ben, and then Junior started to cry.
"Wait guys! I got an idea! Don't cry. I know what to do. Sarah we need your help because you can go faster than me and Isa."
"What should I do?"
"Go downstairs in the kitchen to the junk drawer. Inside is a stapler. Can you do this mission?"
If anyone else had asked her, Sarah would have refused, but she knew Colton would never ask her to do anything wrong. She made her way downstairs and found the stapler, then rushed back upstairs to deliver it. Without a word, Colton set to work stapling the boys shorts together. Sarah had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and she backed out of the room and rushed downstairs, into Danny's arms.
"What's the matter, honey?"
"I don't understand children."
"Are the other kids doing something wrong?"
"I can't tattle. I can't, daddy."
"Sarah, what's goin' on upstairs?"
"They're just bein' too quiet. All I did was get the stapler, I didn't know why."
Danny sighed and the adults stood up from the table, all making their way upstairs. Sarah was quiet as she followed them, not sure of the fate that was about to befall the rest of the kids.
"What is going on?"
"The boys wanted to have a sleepover too, so I done stapled them together!" Colton said, proud of his ingenuity.
"You stapled their shorts?" Lindsay asked, leaning down to inspect.
"Yup! I'm so clever, right?"
"Oh Colton."
"What?"
"This was not a good idea honey."
"But you didn't get mad when me and Isa taped our legs together!"
"Tape and staples are different."
"I'm sorry, mama. They wanted to be stuck like us!"
"Colton…" Adam started, not sure what to say. He left it dangling there while Lindsay and Austin crouched down, trying to figure out how to get the boys shorts apart.
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, Colt. I got an itch on my leg."
Colton sighed and swiped his hand across his forehead.
"I was just tryin' to make a statement."
Ben sighed and rolled over in bed, wanting to fall asleep because he was so tired, but not able too because of the bickering going on in the other bed. Colton and Isa were still taped together and trying to sleep, albeit uncomfortably. They were definitely not enjoying being stuck this way.
"Isa, you are too close to me!"
"I can't get no further away Colt!"
"We need to get this tape off."
They continued to argue and pull at the tape, and Ben buried his head under his pillow. His throat still hurt and he wanted to go to sleep. That was the only time his throat didn't hurt anymore. He was tired of cough drops too.
"Ouch! Colt, you're pullin' on my leg skin!"
"Well I gotta get the tape off."
"Ow! OW! Indy! Help!"
Ben laughed a little to himself and sat up in bed, excited to see this drama unfold. Lindsay and Adam both came into the room, yawning and disheveled.
"What's the matter?"
"We can't sleep! We can't move!"
"My leg hurts so bad!"
Ben watched it all with a grin as Colton and Isa hollered in pain when the tape was taken off of their legs.
"Ow! Indy that hurt!"
"Well honey I don't know what else to do for you."
"Duct tape is not water soluble guys."
Colton was pouting and Isa was on the verge of tired and frustrated tears.
"This is the worst sleepover ever!" she shouted, rubbing her leg. "Colt, I am never gonna do what you say ever again!"
"I'm sorry, Isa! I promise, I didn't know!"
"Indy, this hurts really bad."
"Alright sweetie, we'll put something on it. Come with me."
They left the room and Adam sighed, cleaning up the duct tape.
"Colton you really didn't think this through, did you?"
"I'm sorry, daddy."
"We all make mistakes buddy. Just try not to involve your best friend next time."
"Okay."
The girls came back into the room and Lindsay tucked Colton and Isa back into bed, making sure they were both comfortable before she kissed them goodnight.
"Alright Benjamin, show's over."
He smiled and slid under the covers again.
"Night, mama."
His voice was croaky and she turned his bedside lamp on.
"Sweetie, can I look in your mouth?"
"Why?"
"Because. Let me see it."
He opened his mouth and she looked into his throat with a sigh, as she had done so many times in the last few months. It was red and swollen, one tonsil almost touching the other. No wonder he had no appetite.
"It's a good thing we're going to the doctor in the morning honey. Do you need a drink of water?"
"Nope. Gimme nigh-night kissies."
"Alright. Come and get me if your throat hurts more baby."
"I go to sleep now mama."
She kissed him goodnight and turned the light out before leaving the room.
"Hey Ben?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't ever play with duckie tape."
"Okay Cole. Don't even have a hurtin' throat."
"Okay. Night Ben."
"Night Cole."
"Well Mr. Ben it looks like you have tonsillitis again," the pediatrician said, after examining Ben's throat. "How bad does it hurt?"
"I cry," he reported, curling into Adam's lap.
"I bet you do, bud. It might be time to get those tonsils out."
"You really think he needs that?" Adam asked, panic rising in him. He didn't want to even think about Ben getting surgery.
"He's had so many sore throats in the last few months. They're not just small ones either, every time I've examined him it's gotten a lot worse and I don't want it to get any worse than it is now. Does he snore a lot when he sleeps?"
"Um… I don't really know. He complains that his brother snores too much, but I don't know. His mom would know."
"I do snore, daddy. Jus' like you."
"Well I guess he does snore then."
"He sleeps through the night?"
"Um, no hardly ever. He usually wakes up a few times."
"We might think about an adenoid surgery too."
"Daddy, what that means?"
"We'll talk about it with mama okay?"
Ben nodded as Adam and the doctor continued to talk. He was a little scared about what this all meant but he knew that the doctor wanted him to feel better, so maybe it would be okay.
It wasn't long before they were headed home, Adam silent as they walked.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"What is the matter?"
"Nothing really, son. I just don't want you to be sick anymore."
"What is gonna happen?"
Adam swung Ben into his arms and held him tightly.
"Well basically what is going to happen is that you'll fall asleep at the doctors and while you're asleep he's going to fix your throat so it doesn't hurt anymore."
"I be all better?"
"Yeah."
"Why you so sad, daddy?"
"I just wish you didn't have to be sick."
Ben nodded and rested his head on Adam's chest.
"We go home. Tell mama I be better."
"Wanna ride on my shoulders?"
Ben laughed and nodded and Adam put him up on his shoulders where he giggled and held on tight as they galloped home.
"Well, what's the verdict?" Lindsay greeted as they came laughing through the door.
"Doctor says he needs his tonsils out."
"Mama! I gonna feel better!"
"Well if that's what we need to do, I guess that's what we need to do."
"He wants us to come in next week for another appointment and to talk about having his adenoids done too."
"We'll talk about it later. I know you're itching to get on that computer and research it for yourself."
"A little."
"Come on Ben, I made lunch for you. Are you hungry?"
"Yeah. But my throat so hurts."
"I know. I made you some chicken soup and you can have some Jello too."
"Oh yum! Cole and sissy eated?"
"Yeah, Avery's taking a nap and Colton's reading."
"Sissy not sleep," he said, climbing into his chair. "She up now."
"You think so?" Lindsay asked, just seconds before Avery started to cry from the other room. "Ben, how do you do that?"
"I jus' know," he said, taking a bite of his lunch. Lindsay gave him a look then went to get Avery while Adam sat down at the table with his laptop.
"Are you studyin' 'bout my throat?"
"Yeah. I need to figure out what's going to happen."
"Can I see?"
"Nah, not while you're eating."
"Okay," Ben agreed, reaching over to pat Adam's hand. "It be alright, daddy. I good."
Adam gave him a half smile before pulling his son into his arms.
"I love you, Benjamin."
"I love too, daddy. Don't be scared."
"Okay buddy."
He'd try his hardest not to be scared, but he knew that he would not feel better until that surgery was over and Ben was back to his normal self again.