NATURE’S FIREWORKS

It was dusk and I was heading into the kitchen when I saw a tiny yellow glow on the window of our back door.

“Ah…” I came closer and saw that it was a lightning bug, pulsing its light as it looked for a mate. “I think you might be too late.” I said sadly as I looked out at our woods and didn’t see any other flickers of light from any other lightning bug.

“Too late for what?” My son Alex asked as he came into the kitchen looking for an after dinner snack.

I pointed to the lightning bug resting on one of the panes of glass on our back door. “Remember a few weeks ago we noticed how many lightning bugs were out this year?”

Alex nodded his head. “Our woods were full of them.”

“That’s because we had a really wet spring.” I went over to the cabinet and took out a glass.

“That’s the reason there were so many of them this year?” Alex asked as he opened the pantry door and took our a box of crackers.

I shrugged my shoulders. “That’s what I read. They like a damp environment so they love a wet spring.”

My husband Steven walked into the kitchen. “Who loves a wet spring?

“Fireflies.” I said as I filled my glass with water and walked over to the back door and looked out at our woods. Still not a single firefly could been seen. “It was only a few weeks ago when you looked out at our woods dozens and dozens of fireflies were floating through the underbrush, flashing their lights.” I looked over my shoulder at Steven. “It was like watching nature’s fireworks!”

Steven sighed. “Well, I’m glad they liked the wet spring because the tomatoes in our garden sure didn’t.”

“The beets and carrots have been good so far this year.” I reminded him.

“Well, the cabbage has been tough, the tomatoes aren’t ripening on the vine, and I’ve been fighting a fungus on the hot peppers for weeks now.” He shook his head and laughed. “But I guess I’m glad the fireflies liked the weather.”

“See! Now you’re looking on the bright side!” I looked back at the firefly still on our back door window with its light still glowing. “But you my friend, I’m sorry to say, are late to this year’s party.”

Alex ripped off a square of paper towel from the roll, placed it on the counter-top and shook a few crackers onto it from the box. “Maybe he’s not too late.” He said as he went to the refrigerator and pulled out a block of cheddar cheese.

“Really?” I leaned against the counter-top and took a sip of water. “What are you thinking?”

“Well, maybe he’s already mated and he’s just stopping by to say goodbye to you.” Alex cut a slice of cheese and put it on his cracker.

“Ah…” I put my glass of water down and went back over to the door. “I love that idea!” While I was admiring the firefly I could see Steven’s reflection in the window as he stood behind me shaking his head.

“Why do you get her started like that?” He laughed asking Alex.

“Look how happy it makes her.” Alex replied as he put the cheese back in the refrigerator and picked up the paper towel with his crackers and cheese on them.

“She does seem happy.” Steven agreed.

“You know I can still hear both of you.” I said not bothering to turn around. The firefly suddenly took off flashing it’s light as it headed to our woods. “Goodbye my little friend!” I called to him. “I’ll see your babies next year!”

CHEESE TAX

“Winston’s here!” I called out to my husband Steven and son Alex as I stood by the front window.

Our friends were going on a trip and we were going to be dog sitting. I watched as Winston came trotting up our sidewalk, pausing a moment to get some momentum up, before climbing our front steps.

“Ah…poor little guy.” I said as Steven, Alex, and I walked to the front door together. “He’s starting to show his age.”

Opening the door, Winston was the first in the house with our friend Erika following him carrying his overnight bag. Our friend Kathy was right behind her carrying a set of steps to help him get up on the couch.

Reaching down to pet him I could see even more gray sprinkled in his black fur. “Hey, little man.” I said as he broke away from me and took a tour around our house, his leash dragging behind him.

“He’s got another med along with his eye drops.” Erika explained. “It’s for his cough.” She showed me the container that had his pills in it. “I’ve already split the pill so you give him a half a pill wrapped up in a small piece of cheese twice a day.”

“Got it.” I said as I watched Winston come around the corner looking at me as if he wanted to be sure I was understanding his medical needs. “I’ve got you covered little man. Don’t worry.” I said to him.

Erika unsnapped his leash and draped it over his bag. “We’re also trying to cut back on his treats right now. It wouldn’t hurt for him to lose a few pounds.” I looked at Winston standing next to his Mom realizing his sprinkle of cheese, on his breakfast and dinner, were now a thing of the past. After a few more instructions our friends left for their vacation.

As soon as the door closed Winston started whining. Alex sat on the floor and began petting him. “It’s alright little man. You always have fun here.”

I grabbed his leash. “Do you want to go for a walk?” I said in a sing-song voice.

Winston just stared at me.

“Well, that’s not a good sign.” I put the leash down. “Usually he’s barking yes and heading for the door.”

“He’s a little old man now.” Alex reminded me. He picked him up and put him on the couch where he quickly got settled in the blanket and closed his eyes.

After a few days Winston still hadn’t perked up. He’d go to his bowl look at the dry food I’d put in for him and walk away.

“I don’t know what to do.” I said to Steven as the second day had gone by without him eating. “I’m going to text Erika.”

“Don’t bother her.” Steven said. “She’s on vacation.” He looked at Winston who climbed back up his stairs and was laying on the couch.

“He’s not eating, Steven! I’m not taking the chance that he’s getting sick on my watch!” I grabbed my phone and began texting. “Alright, I just let her know he hasn’t eaten in two days.” I placed the phone on the table feeling better already that I’d reached out.

Several minutes later Erika replied. “She says I can sprinkle some shredded cheese on his food.” I called out to everyone.

With that I heard the jangling of his tags on his collar as he hopped down his steps and came into the kitchen.

“Oh, so you heard the word cheese did you?” I laughed as I went in the refrigerator and got out the bag of cheese.

He began dancing around his bowl as I placed a few pinches of cheese on his food. He quickly began eating.

“You little stinker.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Working on upping the cheese tax are you? Not only do you get some with your pill but now the meal cheese is back!”

Alex started to laugh. “He’s old, not dumb.” He reminded me.

SPECIAL DELIVERY

My phone chimed that someone was at our side door.

“Are you expecting someone?” I called to my son Alex as I picked up my phone to see who was captured on our Ring doorbell.

“No.” He called back.

When I looked at the camera no one was on the side porch. “That’s weird.” I said thinking that they’d moved to the front of the house. I was ready to switch cameras when something caught my eye.

“Never mind. It’s a Mylar balloon!” I said with a laugh as I watched it float over our fence into our backyard.

Alex came out of his room. “Really?” He went to the back door.

When I got out to the deck, Alex was already going down the stairs. “It’s over by the air conditioner.” He called to me.

I looked over the railing and watched as it slowly came towards me.

“Catch it!” Alex said as he turned around to come back up the stairs.

The star shaped balloon floated over the railing, the ribbon attached to it going right by my face.

“Got it!” I cried as I held the ribbon and looked at the silver balloon with Happy Birthday printed on it.

I held it out to Alex. “This is so sweet. How did the universe know?” I laughed again.

It was going to be my birthday in just a few days.

We went back in the house when my husband Steven came into the room. “Was someone at the side door?” He asked.

I held out the balloon. “This was.”

Steven looked confused. “Did someone delivery that?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m going to chalk it up to serendipity!” I walked over to my chair at the dining room table and tied the balloon to the back of it. Stepping back to admire it I clapped my hands together and looked at Steven. “It’s perfect! My birthday week is starting off great!”

“Birthday week?” Steven laughed.

“Hey, it could have been any kind of balloon.” I looked over at Alex raising my eyebrows. “But it was this!” I pointed to the balloon that was swaying back and forth from the air blowing on it from the vents. “You’ve got to admit this is pretty awesome.”

“Okay.” Steven nodded. “But you do realize it’s some kids birthday balloon that got away from them? Right?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “It’s a birthday present to me from the universe!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “You’ve got to admit it is pretty weird that it showed up in our yard just days before her birthday.”

I smiled at at Alex. “Thank you!” I looked back at Steven and nodded my head. “See? He understands serendipity!”

“Okay. You win!” Steven laughed as he came over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “It’s your first birthday present.”

“Exactly!”

As Steven headed out of the room he called over his shoulder. “It also makes it one less thing I’ll need to get you for your birthday!”

FINDER OF LOST THINGS

“Do you know where the silver cooler bag is?” My son Alex called to me from the kitchen.

I grabbed the remote and muted the show I was watching. “Pantry cabinet, bottom shelf, under my Mom’s blue Dutch oven pot.” I called back from the living room.

I kept the show muted until I heard him say, “Got it!”

I couldn’t help but smile as I turned the volume back up. I loved my super power! Living in a house filled with guys, who couldn’t remember where they put anything, certainly helped hone my skill.

My husband Steven came into the room. “Do you know where the white twine is? I need it to tie up the tomato plants in the garden.”

I muted the television again. “In the kitchen, to the right of the stove, middle drawer.”

Steven was headed to the kitchen.

“Look under the cookie sheets, next to the pot holders.” I called out to him.

Once again I waited for him to call out that he’d found it but several seconds had passed by and I didn’t hear anything.

“Did you find it?” I called out.

“It’s not here.” Steven called back. I could hear him moving the metal cookies sheets.

“Are you sure?” I was beginning to doubt my super power. I paused the show and went into the kitchen.

Steven stepped aside to show me that it wasn’t in the drawer. I lifted the cookies sheets and took out the pot holder pointing to the ball of twine.

“It wasn’t there a second ago!” Steven said as he took the twine out of the drawer and headed for the back door.

“It’s another one of my super powers.” I said as I dropped the pot holders back in the drawer and closed it. “I can make things appear when they weren’t there a second ago.”

“Thanks!” Steven said as he went out the back door.

Alex looked over at me, the freezer bag on the counter top next to him. He was laughing as he shook his head. “You can make things appear when they weren’t there a second ago?”

“I can for your Dad.” I laughed. “No matter how detailed I am explaining where something is he can’t seem to find it. He likes it better when I go get it for him.”

“He really doesn’t see it?” Alex looked confused.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I have no idea. I just know that’s how it works with him.”

“So why don’t you just get up and get it for him in the first place?”

I walked past him and patted him on the shoulder as I headed back to the living room. “Because that’s not how a marriage works.”

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Alex looked confused as he followed me to the living room holding the freezer bag.

“Let me give you an example.” I said as I sat down on the couch and picked up the remote. “Your Dad is always trying to get me to balance my checkbook each month.” I leaned back and put my feet on the coffee table. “We both know that’s never going to happen.” I looked over at Alex and smiled. “But he’s never going to stop trying.” I held the remote out ready to resume my show. “Just like I’m never going to stop trying to get him to find things for himself.” I couldn’t help but laugh as I shook my head and hit the button. “That’s never going to happen either but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying!”

Alex shook his head as he headed toward his room.

“Some day you’ll see!” I called after him.

YOU’VE GOT MAIL

I had just finished addressing an envelope to my sister. The stamp was already attached and as I stood up from my chair, licking the envelope closed, I began walking towards the front door.

My son Alex caught up with me when I was halfway out the door.

“Where are you going?” He asked as he held the door open.

I showed him the envelope. “I’m putting this in the mailbox before the mailman comes.”

“Who’s it to?” He asked as I walked down the front steps.

“Aunt Lizzy.” I stopped and turned around. “I was reading an article in the newspaper about a church in Antwerp that I think we visited on our trip to the Netherlands. I cut it out and I’m sending it to her.” I began to walk down the driveway.

“Why not take a picture of it and send it to her email?” Alex called after me.

I held the envelope over my head. “Because we’re old and we like getting things in the mail that aren’t bills.” I called back to him.

I opened the mailbox at the end of our driveway, leaned the envelope against the side, closed the door, and put the red flag up.

I headed back up the driveway and saw Alex was still at the front door waiting for me. As I walked in the front door and passed by him he closed the door. “You know, Aunt Lizzy would have that article right now if you sent it to her email.”

“But what’s the fun in that?” I asked as I went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass and filled it with water. “Now, in a few days, she’ll call me up and we’ll talk about our trip!” I leaned against the counter and took a sip.

“But you could have that conversation ten minutes from now if you sent it to her email.” Alex argued.

I shook my head. “The term ‘you’ve got mail’ means something different for you and I.” I held on to my glass as I headed to the living room. Setting it on the coffee table I reached for the book I’d been reading. “I don’t know many people who write letters anymore.” I sighed as I sat down on the couch and opened my book to the page that held my bookmark. “I’m afraid it’s definitely turning into a lost art.” I leaned back against the cushions and got comfortable.

“How long do you think it will take for Aunt Lizzy to get your letter?”

I leaned the open book against my chest as I scrunched up my nose in thought. “Well, it could take weeks because in her development she has to drive to her mailbox so she doesn’t do it everyday.”

“Weeks!” Alex sounded surprised.

“I know! For some reason it drives me crazy when she tells me that!” I held up my finger. “But,” I continued. “She’s got an app on her phone that shows her a picture of every piece of mail she gets.” I looked over at him and smiled. “I’m pretty sure her curiosity will get the best of her when she sees a letter from me.” I gave Alex a wink. “Especially if I don’t say anything to her about it when I’m talking to her on the phone.”

“That’s a sneaky way to get her in the car and have her drive to her mailbox.” Alex laughed.

“See?” I picked up my book and placed the bookmark on the coffee table. “There’s always a method to my madness.”

BEETASTIC

I’d just gotten up and was headed to the kitchen when my husband Steven stopped me in the hallway holding out a tray with vegetables on it.

“Oh good. You’re up!” He said as he held out the tray for me to see. “I was just coming to show you what Alex and I got out of the garden this morning!”

I looked at the lettuce, carrots, and onions that he’d been picking for the last few weeks but now there were a few new things on his tray. “These green beans look amazing!” I said as I picked up a few from the pile.” Putting them down I picked up another vegetable. It had a reddish color and was the size of a golf ball. “What’s this?”

“It’s the first of our beets!” He said proudly.

I put the beet back on the tray and took my phone out of my bathrobe pocket. “I guess it’s time to figure out how I’m suppose to cook them.” I sighed as we both walked toward the kitchen together.

I was still scrolling through my phone when Steven put the tray down on the counter top and patted me on the shoulder. “Good luck with that.” He said as he headed for his office.

I stopped long enough to fill the kettle with water and turn it on before picking up my phone again.

My son Alex came in the room. “Did you see all the things we got out of the garden today?”

“I saw.” I said as I looked over at the tray then held up my phone. “I’m trying to decide the best way to cook the beets as we speak.”

I went over to the drawer and got out a pair of disposable gloves and put them on.

“Have you decided how you want to cook them?” He asked as he picked one up off the tray, tossed it in the air before catching it again.

I took it out of his hand. “I’m going to roast them.” I pulled out the vegetable peeler from the drawer and held it up with my gloved hand. “But first I have to peel them and I’m not in the mood to have my hands covered in beet juice first thing in the morning.”

Alex leaned against the counter top. “Have you ever eaten them roasted before?”

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. “I have no idea. I’ve never cooked them before.” I began peeling the outer skin off as little splatters of red juice began covering the paper towel I’d laid them on. “When I was little I saw them boiled before.” I used my forearm to wipe off a flick of juice that had landed on my cheek. “Can you turn the oven on to 400 degrees and then get me the olive oil and some tin foil, please?”

“Sure.” When Alex got everything he placed it on the counter.

I’d just finished peeling them and held one out to him. “Can you drizzle some olive oil on this and rip me off a piece of foil so I can wrap it up?”

“Okay.”

We repeated this with each beet until the half dozen I had were done. Peeling off my gloves I tossed them in the trash before placing the beets on a baking sheet and put them in the oven.

Closing the oven door I looked over at Alex. “Well, when I got up this morning I had no idea this would be how I’d spend the first twenty minutes of my day.” I laughed as I went over to get my tea cup from the cabinet.

“See!” Alex laughed as he held out his arms for a hug. “Your summer break is going to be filled with surprises!”

CLOVER CONFETTI

I was standing in the front yard with my husband Steven looking at our lawn. “You know I really love the look of clover sprinkled through the lawn.” I said. “It’s like a clover confetti party right in our own front yard!”

Steven looked over at me with a confused look on his face. “Really?”

“I do.” I insisted. “Do you know I was walking in the neighborhood the other day and I overheard a little girl asking her Mom what the pretty white flowers were called.” I shook my head in annoyance. “Do you know what the Mom said?”

Steven shook his head. “What?”

“She said it was a weed!” I bent down and picked one of the clover flowers. “Can you believe that?” I held it up to my nose to see if they had a scent, but didn’t smell anything. “I really wanted to turn around and say ‘It’s called clover, honey. The bees and bunnies love them!’”

“But you didn’t, right?” Steven looked concerned.

“No.” I sighed looking at the flower. “But how can you call this a weed?”

Steven laughed. “A lot of people do.”

“Some people do.” I corrected him. “But it’s also good for the pollinators.” I looked over at Steven. “Now that you’ve got a pretty big garden going aren’t you glad we’re attracting pollinators?”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “Well, it wasn’t my intention, but I guess so.” He pointed to several dandelions popping up in the lawn. “Are you thinking they’re weeds?”

I sighed. “Well, that’s a different story.” I went over and picked a few of the little yellow flowers. “I like them when they’re like this.” I held it out to him. “But when they turn into puff balls? I’m not a fan.”

I made a small bouquet with my clover and dandelions. “This reminds me of when the boys were little.” I couldn’t help but smile at the memory. “I’d get bouquets like this all the time.”

Steven nodded. “I remember. You had a little vase that you kept on the kitchen windowsill for them.”

“That’s exactly where these are going.” I said as I headed back into the house with Steven following me.

As I headed for the kitchen my son Alex passed me. I held up my little bouquet. “This brings back so many memories.” I said as I kissed him on the cheek.

I went into the kitchen and got the small vase I’d always used and was filling it up with water when Alex was at my side holding out some more clover flowers and another dandelion.

“Here you go.” He said as he handed them to me.

“Aw…” I took them and added them to my bouquet. “You always know how to win my heart.”

Alex looked over at Steven and smiled. “It doesn’t take much, does it?”

“Nope.” Steven shook his head and laughed. “You guys could give her a rock and she’d gush over it.”

“Hey!” I said as I put the vase on the windowsill. “I’ve filled a jar with all the rocks you’ve given me over the years.” I leaned against the counter, crossed my arms and looked over at Alex. “As a matter of fact I’m still collecting the shells you’ve given me every year when we go to the beach.”

Alex looked out the window. “It’s a beautiful day. Do you want to go to the beach after dinner?”

“Definitely!” I said as I went to the refrigerator. “I’ll start cooking right now.”

ODE TO THE DAY LILY

O fleeting flame of summer.

At the end of spring you burst open-

One bold flare in a sea of green,

Your orange petals whisper heat

As the school doors sigh and close.

My son Alex came out on the back deck where I was sitting in a rocking chair, my laptop open and resting on my lap.

“What are you doing?” He asked as he placed his glass of water on the table next to his chair and sat down.

“I’m trying to write an ode to our day lilies” I said as I pointed to container on the deck filled with day lilies and creeping jenny. I sat back and adjusted the laptop before I read out loud what I’d just written.

When I was done I looked over at him. “What do you think?”

He nodded his head. “So that’s an ode?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I think so. It’s the first one I’ve ever written.” I looked back at the screen. “I guess it’s kind of like a poem.”

“What made you want to write that?” He asked as he reached over and picked up his glass of water.

I shrugged my shoulders again. “I just felt like they deserved one. Every year when I see that first bloom I know school is coming to an end.”

“And summer is right around the corner!” Alex laughed as he took a sip from his glass.

“Exactly!” I began to laugh, too. I looked over at the one blooming day lily with several others ready to burst open at any moment. “My favorite time of the year is almost here!”

Alex put his glass back on the table. “So, what are you planning on doing this summer?”

I put the laptop on the table and leaned back in my rocking chair. “I’m not sure yet.” I watched as a hummingbird swooped over to the feeder and began taking a quick drink. “Maybe I’ll start by sitting out here for my morning tea and just relaxing.”

Alex looked over at me. “Really?”

“No.” I sighed again. “I’ve already got all my doctor’s appointments scheduled, a list of everything I want to get done in the house, and sewing projects I’ve been putting off until I had more time.”

“Well, it sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” Alex sounded doubtful.

“I should probably put some fun things to do on my list, too.”

“Maybe you can write another ode about something else.” Alex suggested.

“Nope.” I said as I picked up the laptop and looked back at the screen. “I think this is going to be my one and only ode I’ll be writing.”

“Why?”

I shrugged my shoulders again as I closed the screen on my laptop. “I’m just not a big fan of the ode.”

KNOCK KNOCK

“Oh, no you don’t!” I cried as I saw the back door wide open and a chipmunk standing at the threshold. “You’re not welcome in here!”

Seeing me he scurried away and dropped down into his burrow that was at the corner of our patio.

“Who left this door open?” I called into the house.

My husband Steven came around the corner of the house carrying a case of water. “I did.” He said as he passed me and headed down to the basement to put the water in the pantry.

I closed the door and followed him downstairs. “A chipmunk almost came in the house.” I said as I watched him stack the water on top of the other cases.

He turned around and headed back up the stairs. “Well, I’m unloading the truck from my Costco run so, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to open and close the door with my arms filled with groceries.”

“I’ll help you unload the truck.” We both walked out the back door and I made sure the door was closed this time.

As we came back I held a few of the light things so I could open the door. Coming around the corner of the house the chipmunk was now standing by the back door.

“Oh, no you don’t!” I cried again and turned around to face Steven. “He’d be in the house right now if I hadn’t closed the door!” I pointed at the chipmunk who had scampered up the steps of our deck.

“Well, he didn’t.” Steven reminded me as he nodded his head towards the door. “Can you open that please? These cases of soup are heavy.”

I opened the door and stood back so he could go in first. “I don’t even know how we’d get a chipmunk out of the house.” I said as I followed him down the stairs. “Didn’t your sister have a chipmunk get in her house a few years back? I think I remember her saying it took days to get him out.”

Steven walked into the pantry and pushed the cases of soup up on a shelf. “I don’t remember.” He shook his head. “But you know what would happen if one got in our house?”

I followed him back up the stairs. “No, what?”

Steven looked back at me and laughed. “Knowing you, you’d probably set up a feeding station in the kitchen for it and give it one of our pillows from the couch for its bed!”

“Maybe not one of our couch pillows.” I corrected him.

Steven opened up the back door. “I think there’s only one more thing to bring in.”

“Okay.” I stepped out of the house and closed the door behind me. “I’ll stay here and open the door for you.”

“Thanks. I’ll be right back.” He went around the side of the house headed for the driveway.

I looked around the back yard watching the birds at the feeders while I was waiting for him. The chipmunk popped his head out of his burrow and looked over at me.

“You are a cutie.” I said to him. “But I don’t care what Steven thinks, I like you better in our yard and not in our house.” I crouched down to get closer to him. “If you stay outside I promise I’ll toss a handful of peanuts out to you later.”

Steven came around the side of the house and heard me talking to the chipmunk. “Have you two come to an understanding?”

I stood up and opened the door for him, looking back at the chipmunk before going into the house. “I’m pretty sure we’ve come to an understanding.”

SPEEDING WITH A SPIDER

My son Alex and I were in the car driving to the park when I heard him say, “Well, hello little guy.”

I looked over to the passenger seat, where he was sitting, and saw his hand up by the top of his window.

“What are you doing?” I asked looking back at the road.

“There’s a spider in the car.”

“Oh.” I nodded my head. “That’s where he went.”

“What do you mean ‘that’s where he went’?” Alex sounded confused as he held the spider by the one strand of silk and began to open the window.

“Yesterday he dropped down from my rear view mirror while I was driving to the store.” I had to laugh. “I was so busy trying to get him out of the car that I didn’t realize I was going over the speed limit.” Still laughing I shook my head. “Can you image, if I’d gotten pulled over, what I’d sound like trying to explain that to a police officer?”

Alex’s window was halfway down when I heard him say, “Whoops!”

“What happened?” I looked over to see him still holding something in his hand but he was looking down at his seat.

“I lost him.”

I sighed. “You know this could have been over yesterday if it wasn’t for you!”

“What?” Alex brushed the web from his hand. “How’s this my fault?”

“That spider would have been squashed when I saw him dropping down from the rear view mirror.” I looked over at him shaking my head. “But then I heard your voice in my head saying ‘Don’t hurt him. He’s just a little spider.’”

Alex laughed. “It’s true. Your first instinct, when you see any bug, is to grab a paper towel and kill it.”

“Hey, if it’s not suppose to be in my house…”

Alex cut me off. “You scoop it up and take it outside.” He was looking down at the side of his seat.

“And that’s why you’re looking for a spider that’s loose in the car.” I reminded him.

“He’ll turn up.” Alex reassured me.

“Sure.” I laughed. “When I’m driving down the parkway going seventy and he crawls across my shirt!”

“Isn’t the speed limit on the parkway sixty-five?”

“Oh, come on!” I cried. “Nobody goes the speed limit around here!”

“I do.” Alex looked over at me and smiled.

I turned into the entrance of the park.

“Okay my little rule follower.” I sighed as I pulled into a parking spot. “Can you please find the spider for me before he causes me to get into an accident.”

“I can certainly try.” He laughed as he opened his door and leaned down to check under his seat. “Hey, little guy. You better come out or the next time she sees you it won’t be good for you.”

“I’d listen to him!” I called out. “He’s not lying!”