Moose Country
"Pop, we need to talk."
Lou frowned, looking down at Didi and Stu who were seated at the kitchen table. "Well, that sounds rather serious."
Despite his attempt at a joke Stu and Didi weren't smiling. "It is." Stu let out a sigh. "Pop, what happened when you were watching the kids today?"
"Nothing. I told them about the moose we once caught and they played in the playpen."
"That's all?" Didi asked.
"That's it."
"Then explain to me why when I went to change Tommy a few minutes ago I discovered him and his little friends smelled terrible-"
"They're babies! Of course they smell terrible! If they smelled like sunflowers then you'd be right to worry!"
"That's not what I meant," Didi retorted. "They smelled like fertilizer. And their clothing was filthy. There was mud in Phil and Lil's ears, Chuckie's hair was full of dirt, and Tommy couldn't have even filled his diaper with all the mud in it."
"Ya sure it was dirt?" Lou said with a laugh.
Stu though wasn't laughing. "They were also sopping wet, pop. If Didi hadn't checked they might have caught a cold. I also found the hose broken… and muddy footprints that belonged to Tommy all around the back yard."
"What are ya sayin'?" Lou demanded. "I didn't let them play in the mud!"
"no… but you did go to sleep again when you were supposed to be watching them, didn't you?"
Lou stood up. "I'm not gonna sit here while you accuse me-"
"Pop, please," Stu said softly, looking up at his father. "I'm just concerned. I've noticed you falling asleep a lot lately."
"Of course I fall asleep! I'm old! You earn that right after ya fought ta save this country from all the Krauts!" Lou paused before his shoulders slumped. "Though… it does seem to be happening more often…"
Didi motioned for him to sit down. "I've done some research… I think you might have narcolepsy."
"Narco… I ain't never taken drugs OR ratted anyone out to them there cops ever! Lou Pickles ain't no rat!"
"Narcalapsy is a sleeping disorder, pop, We think you might have it."
Lou considered that. He had noticed that he seemed to suddenly find himself with missing time. He figured he'd just zoned out but…
"Pop, I want you to go get checked out."
"Oh, I'm fine!" Lou declared with a huff.
"What about Tommy?" Stu said. "Or Angelica? Even with the playpen glued up Tommy is really good at sneaking away from us. He's done it to me lots of times when I glanced away for a second. Could you live with yourself if you fell asleep and they got hurt?"
"…no, I could not." His shoulders slumped. "Alright son… I'll schedule an appointment tomorrow."
"And think of it this way," Stu said, wanting to cheer his father up, "it might give you more energy for your dates…"
"Well… heheh, I guess that would be a nice benefit…"