“LUNCH!” I called to my husband Steven and our son Alex.

A few minutes later they made their way into the kitchen from wherever they had been in the house.

“What’s for lunch?” Steven asked.

“I made artisanal sandwiches!” I waved my hand over the plates on the counter-top like Vanna White did on The Wheel Of Fortune.

“Artisanal?” Alex laughed as he picked up a plate and looked at the sandwich. “So what’s on it?”

I took my plate, grabbed some napkins and my drink and headed for the dining room table. “Well, it’s sliced oven roasted turkey with sharp Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing on whole grain bread.”

“So what you’re saying is it’s a turkey and cheese sandwich.” Steven took his plate and followed us into the dining room.

“Well that’s what most people would call it.” I laughed as I sat down. “But now that everyone has something artisinal on their menus I figured why not me, too!” I shrugged my shoulders. “It seems to be the new buzz word and I don’t want to be left behind.”

Steven picked up his sandwich and took a bite. After a few seconds he began nodding his head and smiled. “You’re right. That is a good sandwich.”

“Told you!” I watched as Alex was ready to take his first bite. “It’s been crafted by an artist!” I pointed my thumb towards my chest.

Alex took a bite. He began to nod his head.

“See!”

Alex took his napkin and wiped his mouth. “So when did you become a sandwich artist?”

Tapping my pointer finger to my chin I thought about it for a moment. “I’d say about ten years ago, after making hundreds of sandwiches. I’m pretty sure that’s when I hit my artist status.”

Alex seemed confused. “I’ve never heard you call yourself a sandwich artist before.”

“That’s because it was never a thing.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Back then people just said you made a good sandwich.”

“Exactly.” Steven picked up his plate with half a sandwich still on it. “So, I’m pretty sure I’m just going to keep calling it a turkey and cheese sandwich.” He went over to the drawer that had the plastic wrap in it. “I’ve got to get back to work so I’m going to save this for later.”

I looked over at Alex.

“I’m pretty sure I’m with Dad on this one.” Alex laughed. “But it’s a really good turkey and cheese sandwich.”

I sighed. “Thanks.”

As Steven was putting his sandwich in the refrigerator he looked over at me. “So what are you thinking about making for dinner?”

“Well, I was thinking of an artisanal pot roast with loaded mashed potatoes and green beans.”

Steven walked by the dining room table and kissed me on the top of the head. “Pot roast, mashed potatoes and green beans sound great!”

I sighed again. “It’s beginning to feel like no one wants to play this game with me!”

“I think you’re right on that one.” Alex laughed as he was ready to take another bite. “But it is a good sandwich.”

My son Alex came out of his bathroom and passed me in the hallway as he headed for the kitchen. “There’s a spider in my bathroom.” He called over his shoulder.

“Oh, I can get that for you.” I went into the bathroom and began looking around.

“That’s okay. I’m getting a glass so I can catch him.” Alex called from the kitchen.

I spotted the spider in the corner by the ceiling. Grabbing a couple of tissues from the box I balled them up, reached over to put the lid down on the toilet, and climbed up on it.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked as he came back into the room holding a glass.

“I’m getting the spider for you.” I was slowly reaching over to squish the spider into the tissue when it suddenly dropped from the ceiling to the floor. “Whoops.” I looked down and couldn’t see where it had landed.

I could hear Alex sigh as I stepped down from the toilet.

“Sorry about that.” I shrugged my shoulders as I dropped the tissues in the waste basket. “I’m usually pretty good at catching them.”

“Actually you’re pretty good at killing them.” Alex corrected me as he put the glass down on the sink and began looking for the missing spider. “I was planning on catching him and putting him outside.”

“Well, it’s not the only spider we’re going to be finding in the house.” I reached over and turned the sink on. “It’s that time of year.” I soaped up my hands and then quickly rinsed them off. Shaking the excess water off before I leaned past him to reach the hand towel on the rack. “Did you find him yet?”

“Nope he’s gone.” Alex stood back up and took the glass back to the kitchen.

“He wasn’t a real big one.” I said trying to make losing him a little more palatable.

“It’s still a spider that’s now lost in my bathroom.” He said as he put the glass back in the cabinet.

“All right.” I said as I turned to go back to the bathroom. “I’ll go look again.”

I went back and searched the entire room. When I couldn’t find him I went to Alex bedroom door and knocked.

“Come in.”

I cracked the door open enough to see him sitting on his couch looking at his phone. “I’m really sorry.” I apologized again. “I can’t find him.”

“It’s okay.” He looked up from his screen. “I’m sure he’ll turn up.”

I went back to the living room feeling guilty for losing him. I was sitting on the couch reading my book when I saw Alex go into the kitchen and grab a glass.

“What are you up to?” I asked as he headed to his bathroom.

“I’m getting a drink of water.” He said as he closed the bathroom door.

A few minutes later he came out of the bathroom his hand held over the glass.

“Did you catch him?” I asked as I stood up and followed him to the back door.

“Can you open the door for me?”

“Sure!” I opened the door and stood back so he could go first.

Alex went to the railing of the porch, took his hand off the top of the glass, tipped the glass on its side and we both watched as the spider scurried out of the glass and onto the railing.

“Is that the same one from before?” I asked.

“I sure hope so.” He said as he picked up the glass, went back in the house and put the glass in the dishwasher.

“Why did you say you were getting a drink of water when you were really catching the spider?” Alex laughed as he walked past me patting my shoulder as he headed for his room. “I was afraid you were going to offer to help again!” He called over his shoulder.

We had just finished dinner and my husband Steven and son Alex were helping me clear the table when I looked out the dining room window and noticed something growing in our fire pit.

“Is that corn?” I asked in disbelief.

Alex and Steven laughed as they took the plates out to the kitchen.

When they returned to the dining room I was still standing by the window. “Guys, I’m serious!” I pointed towards the fire pit with the plate still in my hand. “That really looks like corn!”

Alex and Steven stopped to take a look. “It does kind of look like it.” Steven admitted.

“Didn’t we cook corn on the cob in the fire pit awhile ago?” Alex asked.

I was confused as I looked over at Alex. “But that was last year!” I shook my head. “It was ears of corn and we ate them. It’s not like we dropped kernels of corn in there.”

“So, maybe it’s not corn.” Steven said.

“I know one way to find out.” I took the plate to the kitchen, placed it on the counter, and headed for the back door. “I’m just going to look it up.” I took my phone out of my pocket and went out the back door.

Steven and Alex were following behind me.

“I love this plant identifying app I have on my phone.” I looked over at Alex as I crouched down to get the plant centered in the photo. “How many times have we used this?”

“We’ve used it a lot.” Alex nodded in agreement as I snapped the shot. I stood up and we all watched as the photo on my phone began buffering.

Finally the identifying plant appeared.

“Wow!” Alex laughed. “You were right.”

We were all looking at an image of corn. “Also known as maize, sweet corn, Indian corn or flint corn.” I read then looked back at the plant growing in our fire pit.

“So, the farmers say if the corn’s knee high by the fourth of July it’s going to be a good crop.” I laughed. I looked at Steven and then Alex. “What do you think they’d say if it’s knee high by Halloween?”

“I’m pretty sure you’re not going to get a harvest on that one.” Steven pointed to the plant.

“What do you think Alex?” I asked

Alex shook his head. “I think it just proves how long it’s been since we’ve had a fire!”

“True.” I laughed as reached over ready to pull the plant out of the ashes. “Maybe we should have a fire tonight.”

“Wait!” Alex stopped my arm from going any further. “Maybe we should give it a chance and see how big it gets?”

“Really?” I stood up straight and thought about it for a moment. “I guess you’re right.” I looked back at the plant as it’s leaves gently swayed in the breeze. “If it tried so hard to grow in the ashes of a fire pit we should give it a chance.”

Steven looked at both of us. “So you’re saying no fire pits until after the first frost?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s only going to be another few weeks. Besides aren’t you the one who’s all into gardening this year?”

Steven laughed as he headed back to the house. “I’m going back in to finish clearing the table.”

I looked at Alex who was still standing next to me then back at Steven as I watched him climb the steps of the back porch. “We’ll be in as soon as we finish tending our new crop!” I called to him.

The weather had finally turned a bit cooler, so when I walked out on my back porch I couldn’t help but give a quick shiver as I pulled the hood of my sweatshirt up to cover my ears.

I began checking on my geraniums, pulling off dead leaves and seeing if they needed any water. While I was deadheading the last few remaining flowers I happened to look over at the side table and noticed my little polka dot plant was in urgent need of a drink.

“Let’s get you inside.” I said as I picked up the little plant with it’s pink dots splattered over its wilted green leaves.

When I walked inside my son Alex was coming into the kitchen. “I see your green thumb is working overtime.” He laughed as he looked at my plant then reached in the cabinet and pulled out a loaf of bread.

“No worries.” I went over to the sink and turned the water on. I put the plant under the running water until it was flowing from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. “Now you’re about to see a magic act!” I said as I placed it on some paper towels and left it on the counter-top. “Come back in about an hour and it will look like a brand new plant!”

I began gently pushing the wilted leaves aside to check in the dirt.

Alex was watching me. “What are you doing?”

“I’m checking to see if any bugs made a nest in the dirt.” I didn’t see anything moving but I wasn’t going to take any chances. “It’s time to move this plant indoors but I’m not going to put up with what happened when I brought that one indoors a few years ago.” I kept looking in the dirt while I pointed to the large pathos plant in the corner of the dining room.

“What happened with that one?” Alex asked as he popped a piece of bread in the toaster.

“You don’t remember?”

Alex shook his head no as he went to the cabinet to get the peanut butter out.

“The year of the ant infestation!” I cried. “You don’t remember the fall we had that terrible ant problem in the kitchen?”

“Nope.” He opened the peanut butter and went to the silverware drawer to get a knife.

“I made the mistake of putting it outside a few years ago and when I brought it back in the kitchen we started having this massive ant problem!” I shook my head and grimaced. “I couldn’t figure out where they were all coming from! It took me over a month to finally put the pieces together and realize the ants had made a nest in it’s dirt.” I shuttered as I thought about it. “I took it outside to re-pot it and had ants crawling all over me.” I shuttered again. “It was horrible!”

“Why didn’t you just toss the plant out?” His toast popped up from the toaster and he placed it on a plate. Then scooped out a dollop of peanut butter to spread on it.

“Are you kidding me!” I looked over at my pathos plant. “I’ve had that plant for years!” I went over and checked one of the leaves. “It’s one of the only plants that can survive me.”

Alex leaned against the counter-top as he took a bite of his toast. “That’s not true.” He pointed to another plant I had in the living room.

“You mean the Peace lily? Um…” I cleared my throat. “I’ve replaced that one about four times already.” I had to laugh as I shrugged my shoulders. “But the good news is you’ve never noticed!”

It was a beautiful fall day and I was on my own. My husband Steven was out of town and my son Alex was meeting a friend for lunch.

“I’m not letting this day go to waste sitting inside.” I said to myself. So I scooped my car keys off the counter and decided to go to my favorite bagel shop, get a sandwich, then go to the beach.

As I was driving I had my windows down and was enjoying one of those perfect fall days that I would want to relive in the coming winter months.

Stopped at a traffic light I could smell someone had a fire pit burning. I took a deep breath. “Love it.” I said to myself before the light turned green.

Once I had my sandwich it was off to the beach where several other people seemed to have the same idea as me.

Sitting on the warm sand watching the waves roll in I could feel a sense of peace wash over me.

The beach has always been a happy place for me.

When I was finished I gathered up my garbage, brushed the sand off of me and headed back to my car.

Not yet ready to head home I decided to stop at another one of my favorite spots along a riverbank. When I pulled into the gravel parking lot I could see I had the place to myself. I couldn’t help but smile as I turned the car off and got out of the car.

It was low tide and the river was like glass. I walked over to the sandy shoreline to see that most of the moored sailboats had already been taken out of the water for the winter. I looked down and saw the perfect flat rock and picked it up.

“I wonder if I can still do it?” I asked myself as I tried to skip the rock across the surface of the water. It landed with a kerplop in the river. I looked around to see if I’d embarrassed myself in front of anyone.

“Nope. Try again.” I said as I looked around for another flat rock.

Getting down at just the right angle I let another one fly out of my hand only to have it sink again on the first contact.

“Come on!” I scolded myself. “I used to be really good at this.”

I scanned the beach for another rock. Found what I thought was the perfect one and let it sail out of my hand.

Another sinker.

“Okay, now I’m getting annoyed.” I found another one and with the flick of my wrist it skipped twice across the water before sinking.

“There you go!” I cried as I raised my arms in the air as if I were Rocky at the top of the stairs. But quickly stopped and once again looked around to see if anyone was watching.

Nope. Still alone.

I couldn’t help but smile as I headed back to my car and heard the cry of a seagull above me. “Did you see me skip that rock across the water?” I asked it as it circled past me and landed in the water. “Bet you can’t do that.”

“Okay, everyone. Listen up!” I placed the mums next to a small hay bail. “We’ve got to work together this year.”

My son Alex came out the front door. “Who are you talking to?

“All my mum friends I just bought.” I pointed to the three plants lined up in front of the stairs. “I’m pretty sure you know my success rate when it come to mums.” I sighed sadly.

Alex nodded his head. “It’s not very good.”

“Exactly!” I pointed to the mums and couldn’t help but accuse them. “Because you refuse to give me any kind of warning. All you need to do is get a little droopy. But no! Instead you go from looking fine one day to dead the very next day!”

When I was done scolding them I started to walk back to the car. “Can you help me with the rest of the decorations?” I called over my shoulder to Alex.

Alex followed me and I handed him a net bag of gourds. “Here, you carry these and I’ll get the pumpkins.”

We carried them over to the display.

“Can you go get the scissors from the kitchen so I can cut open the bag?” I placed the pumpkin next to the mums and went back to the car for the other one.

Alex was coming out with the scissors as I was placing the other pumpkin on the other side of the display.

Alex handed me the scissors and I cut open the bag and began arranging the gourds on the hay bale.

Once I was done I stepped back to admire my work. “It isn’t until the pumpkins and mums come out that I really feel like fall is officially here!” I smiled as I wiped some sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand. “Even if it’s still in the 70’s!”

“I don’t know.” Alex didn’t seem convinced. “The weather’s telling me it’s not fall yet.”

“But look at everyone else!” I cried as I pointed to our neighbors homes. “Everyone’s decorated for the fall!”

“Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean you have to.” Alex reminded me.

I had to laugh. “Okay let’s not use what I used to say to you when you were a kid!”

Alex began to laugh. “Hey, it seemed like sound advice back then I thought it might be useful for you today!”

I looked back at the display. “I guess I should fill up the watering can and give them a good drink.”

I started to head for the back yard when I stopped and took out my phone. “Maybe I should get a picture of this before they die on me.”

Alex started to laugh again. “I guess you’re thinking that pep talk you were having with them might not work?” he asked.

I checked the photo to make sure I liked the picture before slipping the phone back into my pocket. “I know me.” I sighed as I shrugged my shoulders. “Mums and I just don’t seem to have a good relationship.” I looked over at the flowers before heading to the back yard to get the watering can. “But I’m always willing to give it a try guys!” I called over my shoulder. “Just give me a little help this year. Okay?”

“Good luck with that!” Alex called before heading back into the house.

I was standing by the kitchen sink pouring the nectar that had just cooled into my hummingbird feeders when my son Alex came into the room.

The feeder in the sun had several bees landing on it. “Now the hummingbirds don’t have to fight the bees to get to the nectar.” I looked over at Alex and smiled. “I love being able to help them out like that.”

“I guess the hummingbirds will be leaving soon?” He asked as he took a glass from the cabinet.

“That’s why I’ve changed the sugar to water ratio in the nectar.” I was screwing the perch onto the glass bottle.

“What do you usually do?”

Taking the feeders out of the sink I placed them on the counter so Alex could fill his glass with water.

“All summer I do one cup of sugar and four cups of water. But now that they’re getting ready for their long flight down south I do one cup of sugar to three cups of water.” I picked up the two feeders. “Can you get the back door for me?” I asked as I headed in that direction.

Alex followed me onto the porch as I hung one on the side of the porch that was in the shade. “Okay, some nice fresh nectar!” I called to the hummingbirds. Then walked over to the other side of the porch where I hung the other one in the sun. “And this one’s for the rest of you!” I called.

“The rest of who?” Alex asked as he followed me back into the house.

I walked over to the sink to wash the sticky nectar that had gotten on my hands. “You’ll see.” I pointed out the kitchen window.

“Wow! That didn’t take long.” I rinsed my hands and grabbed a towel to dry them.

A hummingbird was already perched on the feeder taking long drinks before looking around to see if anyone else was coming before going for another long drink.

“I swear I think they sit out in the woods and watch me fill them!” I laughed. “Look at how hungry he is!”

Alex nodded before asking. “So who’s the other feeder for?”

I pointed out the window. “They’re right on time too!”

Alex looked confused. “The bees don’t go to the other feeder?”

“Nope. Not so far.” I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. “I guess they like the one in the sun more.”

“Yeah, but the bee feeder is closer to our back door.” Alex pointed out.

“I’m sorry.” I looked over at him and raised my eyebrows. “But do you need to stock up on extra calories for your long flight south?”

“No.” Alex sighed. “I’m just the guy who’d like to sit on the back porch without a swarm of bees around me.”

“Well then that’s good news for you!” I said as I patted his shoulder and pointed to the feeder. “Because the bees are all over the feeder so they won’t have any reason to go by you.”

Alex sighed again. “I guess I’ll be finding that out soon enough.”

I was sitting on the couch, feet up on the coffee table, ready for a quiet evening at home. As I picked up the television remote, ready to scroll through the channels, I heard the chirp of a cricket.

Looking over at the window I could see it was closed.

“Oh, great.” I sighed as I put the remote down. “It’s in the house.” I got up to begin my search.

Standing in the middle of the living room, patiently waiting for it to chirp again, my son Alex came into the room.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

I quickly pressed my pointer finger up to my lips. “Waiting.” I whispered.

“Waiting for what?” Alex whispered back.

“CHIRP” called the cricket.

“That!” I cried as I headed to the stairs leading down to the guest bedroom.

“Wait!” Alex called. “I’m pretty sure it came from that direction!” Alex was pointing in the opposite direction that I was headed.

“Seriously?” I looked back to where I’d been headed. “I’m almost positive it was coming from down here.”

“I don’t know.” Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I could be wrong.”

“How about you stand there and I’ll stand here and we’ll wait for it to chirp again?”

“I can for a minute.” He looked at his watch. “But I have to finish an email for work.”

“It shouldn’t be long.” I quickly crossed my fingers for extra luck.

We both stood quietly, waiting.

“Oh for the love of…” I sighed. “This feels exactly like the which-smoke-alarm-needs-a-new-battery game!”

“CHIRP!”

I quickly looked at Alex. “Well?”

“I’m not sure.” He shrugged his shoulders again.

I tilted my head back and sighed again. “This is going to take forever!” I cried.

“Not for me, it isn’t.” Alex said as he headed back to his room. “I really need to get that email out.”

“Oh, sure!” I called to him. “Abandon me!”

“You’ll find him!” He called back. “I have faith in you!”

I stood in the hallway, my hands on my hips. “Okay, little fella. One more time.” I said under my breath.

“CHIRP.”

I looked past the guest room and down the stairs that headed to the basement. “Great. Now you sound like you’re down there.”

I walked downstairs and looked in the laundry room, pantry, bathroom and my husband Steven’s office.

“Let’s try this one more time.” I called.

But after several minutes of waiting and only hearing silence I realized my little friend must have decided to stop for the night.

“Well, I guess it’s to be continued.” I went back to the living room, sat down on the couch and picked up the remote again. Just as I clicked on the television…

“CHIRP.”

“NOPE!” I called as I turned the volume up so I couldn’t hear anymore chirping. “I’m done playing for tonight!”

It was the first day of a new school year. The students had been dismissed and I was walking back to my office when I noticed a beautiful bouquet of pink carnations sitting on a table near the front office. Not only did the delicate bouquet have my favorite flowers but the hint of baby breath and eucalyptus leaves made for a beautiful arrangement. “Aw. Someone has a nice surprise waiting for them.” I said as I kept walking down the hall.

As I passed a colleague he pointed behind me. “Aren’t you going to get your flowers?” He asked.

“What? Really? For me?” I turned around and headed back to the arrangement. Taking the card out from the middle of the bouquet it really did have my name on it.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I opened the card:

Happy First Day of School!

Love,

Steven, Max and Alex

“Aw. How sweet is that?” I tucked the card back in the envelope, picked up the vase and cradling it in my arms I headed for my car.

When I arrived at home Steven and Alex were waiting for me at the front door.

“Oh good. They did get delivered.” Steven said as he stepped aside to let me and my beautiful bouquet pass by. “When we didn’t hear from you I thought they hadn’t gotten there in time.”

“Actually I was so busy running around that I didn’t see them until the end of the day.” I placed them on the counter checking to make sure none of the flowers had been damaged on the car ride home. “Aren’t they gorgeous!” I turned around and hugged them both. “Thank you so much! I love them!”

“We could see you were a little sad that your summer break was ending so we thought we’d surprise you with them.” Steven smiled as he went over to the arrangement to check it out. “They did a nice job.” He nodded his approval. “But we thought you’d keep them at work to brighten up your desk?”

I shook my head. “I’m never at my desk.” I went over and picked up the vase and placed them in the middle of the dining room table. “I’ll have more time to enjoy them here when I get home from work.”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever makes you happy.”

I leaned in and inhaled their scent. “This definitely makes me happy.” I sighed.

“So, why are pink carnations your favorite?” Alex asked.

“Well, they’re beautiful, long lasting, low maintenance and when I was little girl I could buy one for about twenty-five cents.” I smiled at the memory. “I loved having one in a little bud vase on my bedside table.”

“Well, I don’t think this is going to fit on your bedside table.” Steven laughed.

“Nope! That’s why it’s staying right here in the middle of the table!” I leaned over and inhaled again. “Now I get to enjoy two dozen of these little beauties!” I turned around and gave another quick hug to both of them. “This was definitely the highlight of my first day back to school!”

“That’s what we were hoping.” Steven went over to the refrigerator and pulled out a package of hot dogs. “Alex and I are making dinner. Let me know when you want me to throw these on the grill?”

“Flowers and dinner?” I couldn’t help but smile. “This is the best first day back to school ever!”

My son Alex and I were sitting on the back deck eating lunch when I saw a robin in our birdbath. “Well he’s certainly having a micro-joy right now!” I couldn’t help but laugh as we watched him splashing about in the water.

Alex looked over at me with a confused look on his face. “Micro-joy?”

“I read an article about it. It’s when you find and appreciate the tiny joys in your day. Like this!” I picked up my roast beef sandwich and pointed to the different layers. “A slice of rare roast beef with some sharp provolone, lettuce, tomato, a slice of red onion, topped with some mayo and a little bit of salt and pepper.” I held it out to him. “Now this is definitely going to be a micro-joy.” I said before taking a bite.

Alex picked up his sandwich. “It does look like a good sandwich.” He nodded before taking a bite himself.

I placed the sandwich back on it’s plate, leaned back in my chair and slowly chewed. “Absolutely a micro-joy.” I said as I finished chewing. “Although I did go a little heavy with the red onion.”

Alex laughed. “Yeah, I skipped that ingredient.”

“But isn’t it nice when you can stop and enjoy the little things?” I asked as I picked up my sandwich again. “I’m usually eating just to get it over with so I can move on to more important things I need to get done.” I began looking around the deck. “Just look at how beautiful the geraniums are this year!” I reached over and snapped a dead flower. “This entire summer there wasn’t a day that all of them weren’t filled with flowers.”

“Well, the hummingbirds are sure liking them.” Alex went and took another bite of his sandwich.

“Don’t we have four hummingbirds this year?” I looked over at their feeders to make sure there was still enough nectar in them.

Alex nodded his head. “I’m pretty sure it’s two couples.”

Just then one of the hummingbirds buzzed past our table, headed for the feeder, only to have another hummingbird chase him away.

I had to laugh as they both zoomed past us, headed for the woods. “Clearly they’re not having a micro-joy right now.”

“They spend most of their day chasing each other away.” Alex took another bite of his sandwich.

I leaned my head back closing my eyes enjoying the feeling of the sun on my face. “Ah…it’s the little things like this.” I sighed.

I heard the kitchen door open and turned to see who was coming. “Hey, welcome home.” I said as my husband Steven came out of the kitchen door and onto the deck.

“Well we didn’t win the lottery.” He sighed as he held up the losing ticket, not looking very happy.

“That’s all right.” I said. “It wouldn’t have fit into our plans right now anyway.”

Steven looked confused. “Winning the lottery wouldn’t fit into your plans right now?”

I nodded my head. “Alex and I are enjoying micro-joys right now.” I looked over at Alex then back to Steven. “Winning the lottery would have been a major joy.” I pointed to my sandwich. “Eating this sandwich and looking around our backyard is the micro-joys we’re satisfied with right now.”

I got up and began walking towards the house. I stopped next to him to give him a quick kiss. “Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll make you one. You can eat with us.”

Steven nodded his head and smiled. “That sounds good to me.”

“See you’re smiling again! Welcome to a micro-joy.” I called over my shoulder.

“I don’t care what she calls it.” I could hear Steven say to Alex. “I’m just hungry.”

“I heard that!” I called back.