I’d been sitting on my back deck trying to enjoy a beautiful summer morning when I couldn’t take it anymore. “Okay, you two! It’s time to knock it off!” I cried.

Steven looked over at me. “Who are you talking to?”

I pointed to the catbird sitting on our grill top, screeching at the top of it’s lungs at the open window that our son’s cat, Kiki was sitting in. “They’ve been at it for the last twenty minutes!”

Steven looked over. “Huh, I hadn’t noticed.” He went back to reading the newspaper.

“You hadn’t noticed?” I got up to shoo the bird away. “How can you not hear that!” The catbird’s wailing was deafening.

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, I guess I just learned to block out things I don’t want to hear.”

I turned back to look at him. “Well, there’s a conversation we might need to have.”

He looked up from his paper and smiled. “What? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

“Yeah, right.” I laughed and turned to shoo the catbird again. But as I got closer to the grill I could see Kiki wasn’t yelling at the bird at the same time. They were taking turns. I stopped and looked over at Steven. “They’re having a conversation!”

“What?” Steven looked over at me.

I pointed to the window. “I swear, I think they’re having a conversation!” I watched as the catbird cried several times then stopped. Then it was Kiki’s turn to meow a few times then stop and wait for the catbirds response.

“Oh, great.” Steven shook his head. “Now you’re going to tell me what you think they’re saying to each other, aren’t you?”

“Well, I could.” I began waving my arms until the catbird saw me and flew away to the nearest tree branch. “But that would mean I’d have had to listen to that screeching for a few more minutes and I can’t do it.” I went back to sit in my chair and listen to the pretty sounds of birds chirping by the feeders. “Ah…isn’t that better?”

“Sure.” Steven handed me a section of the paper.

It had only been a few minutes before the catbird was back on the grill yelling at Kiki. “Oh come on!” I cried.

“The bird’s probably got a nest nearby.” he looked at me and shrugged his shoulders. “It’s just doing what come naturally to it.”

We continued to listen to the screeching a few minutes more. “Oh, I can’t take this!” I got up and went to railing of the deck to scream at the bird. “The cat is locked in the house! There’s no way she’s coming out! Give it up, she’s not a threat!” Both the catbird and Kiki looked over at me, then the bird flew away again.

When I turned around Steven was looking at me. “So you decided to be a part of their conversation?”

“Hey, it worked didn’t it!” I smiled as I sat back down.

Moments later the catbird landed on the grill again and started back up. Steven looked over at me.

I held up my hand, “Don’t say anything.” I warned him.

Steven just shook his head. “What would I say? I don’t hear anything.”

Alex and I were driving into our development when we both spotted the lemonade stand set up down the street. Two little girls, both holding signs, were waving and calling out to us.

“Should we stop?” I asked Alex.

“Sure, an open pitcher sitting out in the hot sun for who know how long sounds like a great plan.” Alex turned his head to me. I was pretty sure he was trying to avoid making eye contact with the girls as we drove past.

I took a quick glance at the pitcher and noticed that it was uncovered and that there was no ice floating in it. “Wow! You’ve got good eyes spotting that so far away.”

Alex shrugged.

“I just feel bad for them.” I said as I looked in the review mirror and saw their sad faces looking at our car driving away. “Remember how excited you were when you had your lemonade stand?”

Alex laughed. “When did I have a lemonade stand?”

“Are you kidding me?” I couldn’t believe he’d forgotten. “It was in January and you set it up in our living room!”

Now Alex was really laughing. “January? Why did you let me do that in January?

Now it was my turn to be surprised. “Let you? Are you forgetting how determined you get when you get an idea?”

Alex nodded and shrugged his shoulders. “How old was I?”

I thought about it for a moment. “I’m going to say around three.”

Alex shook his head. “I must have needed some money for something.” He looked over at me again. “Did I get any customers?”

Now it was time for me to laugh. “You had plenty because while you were dragging your Little Tikes picnic table into the living room I was on the phone calling all our friends and neighbors to come over so you wouldn’t be disappointed!” I looked over at him and smiled. “You looked so cute sitting at your table patiently waiting for your customers.”

“Thanks for making that happen, Mom.” He patted me on the shoulder. “I guess when you’re three you don’t think about a marketing plan, huh?”

I smiled as I pulled into our driveway and put the car in park. “Hey, that’s what Mom’s do.”

Alex was quiet for a moment. “Well, now I feel bad about not stopping at their stand.”

“I can fix that too!” I smiled as I put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway.

Alex laughed, then looked a bit concerned. “We don’t have to really drink it do we?”

“Of course not.” I shook my head. “You just smile and say you’re going to drink it in the car then we’ll get rid of it when we come back home.”

Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a few bills. “In that case it’s on me!”

I was sitting on the back steps of my deck watching two bunnies nibbling away on some clover flowers when Steven came out and sat down next to me.

“Aren’t they adorable?” I sighed as I pointed to the bunnies. “I just love watching their little faces scrunch up when they chew.”

Steven didn’t answer so I looked over at him. He wasn’t looking happy.

“Are you okay?”

“This was suppose to be a lawn!” He made a sweeping gesture with his arm. “Not a field of clover!”

“But I love the clover!” I argued. “It’s beautiful!”

“Do you know how much money I’ve spent in the last year putting down sod and seed?” He was shaking his head in disgust.

“But look at the bunnies!” I cried. “They’re so happy!”

“Yeah…the bunnies are happy.” he said in a monotone voice.

Just then a couple of chipmunks darted by. “See? They like running through the clover too!” I smiled over at him.

“They’ve also dug fifty holes in the lawn that I just spent a ton of money fixing!” he complained.

I decided to stop with the mammals and looked at the bees landing on the clover flowers. “See we’re also helping the honeybees!” I looked over at him. “You can’t deny that the honeybees could use all the help they can get right now.”

“They’re not helping if I want to walk barefoot out in my yard.” he complained.

“Man, you’re a tough sell.” I shook my head and watched everything else that was loving our clover but him. “Well, I think it’s pretty.” I leaned back and watched a butterfly land next to the bunnies.
“They’re still weeds in my expensive lawn.” he grumbled.

“Weeds or not I’m going to check and see if I can find any four-leafed ones.” I stood up, brushed the seat of my pants off and headed for the first patch of clover.

“Didn’t my brother Donnie already explain to you that a four-leafed clover is nothing but a genetic defect in the roots of the plant?”

“Yup, and I explained to him that a genetic defect like that is nothing but good luck for me when I find one!” I bent down and began gently brushing my fingers through the clover. It wasn’t long before I found one. “Yeah!” I gently pulled it out and held it up for Steven to see. “I just had a feeling there was one in this patch!”

Steven came down from the deck. “Wow, that was pretty fast.”

“Told you it was lucky!” I looked around our yard, a sea of white clover flowers. “I think our lawn is beautiful.”

Steven shook his head. “Well, I guess if you’re happy with it I can try and start to like it too.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!” I handed him the four-leafed clover and bent down to find another one.

“But I still can’t believe how much money I spent…”

“Nope.” I interrupted him as I scanned the patch of clover for another one. “You’re negativity is messing with my luck meter right now.”

Steven laughed as he headed back to the deck. “Luck meter.” he mumbled.

That’s why I’m sure he was surprised when I called out, “I found another one!”

I was having a busy errand day, and one of my stops was an oil change for my car. The sign in front of the garage promised it would take only twenty minutes, and I was counting on them to keep that promise as I handed my keys to the mechanic.

I went into the tiny waiting room and noticed another woman sitting next to the magazine table. We did the customary smile-and-nod to one another before I found a magazine I wanted and sat down to catch up on which movie star was breaking up with whom.

I’d only been there for a few minutes when the waiting room door opened and a gentleman walked in, sat down and asked, “Do either of your ladies watch Dr. Phil?”

I peeked over my magazine to see which of us he was talking to. Luckily it was the other woman, so I brought my magazine back up to cover my face.

“I watch him every once in a while.” she admitted.

“Well, he’s the reason my girlfriend broke up with me.” he complained as he moved a chair closer to his new confidant.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” she answered.

Now I have to admit their conversation was more entertaining then the three month old magazine I was holding, so I continued to eavesdrop, my eyes peeked over the top of my magazine.

“Why do you think Dr. Phil had anything to do with it?” she asked.

“Because she watches that show every day and whatever he says, she does.” he shook his head sadly. “He must have been talking about the kind of relationship we had because she broke up with me that very night.”

“Maybe it wasn’t about Dr. Phil.” she sounded as if she wanted to help him.

“So you think it was something I said?” He sounded confused. “Because I’m not a real big talker, so how could I say anything that would have upset her?”

I was still peeking over my magazine and could see him shaking his head disgust. “Man, I hate that Dr. Phil guy.”

He looked my way and noticed I was peeking over at him. “Would you let some guy on the television tell you what to do?” he asked me.

I looked over at the other woman hoping for some help, but she was looking at the mechanic who had come into the waiting room holding her keys.

“Your car is ready.” he said, handing her the bill.

She gave a sigh of relief as she grabbed the bill out of his hand and ran to pay the cashier, leaving me alone with In-Need-Of-Therapy-Man.

“So would you?” he asked again.

“I’m sorry,” I looked back at him. “Would I what?”

“Would you let some guy on the T.V tell you what to do?”

“Well, no.” I put my magazine down. “I’d make up my own mind. But I really don’t know what your girlfriend would do.”

“EX!” he said a bit too loudly.

“I’m sorry. I meant to say your ex.”

“I thought all you girls listened to Dr. Phil.” he shook his head again. “Or do you watch some other stupid talk show instead?”

I was beginning to see why his girlfriend broke up with him as I longingly looked at the waiting room door, wishing the mechanic would come in and save me too.

“It’s happening!” I cried. “This is the second time today that I forgot where I put my car keys!”

I was searching the counter tops moving canisters and the toaster, but not finding them.

“Aren’t they in the basket?” Steven asked as he came into the kitchen to help me.

I held out the empty basket where the keys were usually kept. “Nope.”

“Where did you have them last?” he asked.

I thought about it for a minute. “Well, I had to have them when I came in from grocery shopping.” I reasoned.

Steven looked out the front window. “Maybe you left them in the car?”

I shook my head. “No, because I had to unlock the front door to bring the groceries in.” I kept searching the counter top.

Steven had gone to the front door. “Found them!” he called.

“Oh great!” I went to the front hall, thinking that I’d dropped them on the table in the entry hall.

Steven was standing with the front door open, pointing to my keys hanging from the lock.

“Oh, come on!” I reached over and pulled them out of the lock. “Who does that?”

“You.” Steven laughed as he closed the door.

“I’m serious, Steven. I’m having way too many senior moments.” I tossed the keys in the basket on the counter.

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe you need to exercise your brain?”

“What?” I laughed. “Constant worry isn’t exercising it enough?”

Steven laughed as he opened the refrigerator, took the container of pineapple out, grabbed a fork from the drawer and stabbed a chunk from the container. “That’s why I do crossword puzzles.” He popped a piece in his mouth.

“I hate crossword puzzles.” I grumbled. “I can never seem to finish one.”

“They aren’t the only brain games.” he reminded me.

“I know, I tried Sudoku but that was a giant fail!”

“What about search-a-word?” he stabbed another piece.

“I thought those were for kids?” I leaned against the counter and took the fork from him, stabbing my own piece of pineapple and popping it in my mouth before handing him back the fork.

“They make them for adults.”

I shook my head, I wasn’t feeling the search-a-word angle.

“You could learn a new language?” he suggested.

“I barley passed Spanish in high school.” I complained.

“Learn an instrument?”

“Started the ukulele.” Shook my head. “Lost interest.” I said sadly.

Steven tossed the fork in the sink and went to put the pineapple back in the refrigerator. “I don’t know what to tell you?” he leaned back against the counter. “Oh, by the way, do you know where my blue suit is?”

“It’s in the downstairs closet, left hand side, still in the dry cleaners bag.” I was a little confused. “Why do you need your suit?”

“I don’t need it.” He said with a laugh as he walked pass me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “But now you know you still have a great memory.”  

I was sitting on my back deck, bouncing back and forth between feeling annoyed and resigned, while I watched a squirrel hanging upside down on my bird feeder. “How long can he do that?” I asked Steven, who was sitting next to me.

“What?” Steven looked up from his newspaper.

I pointed to the upside down squirrel. “He’s been hanging like that for almost twenty minutes.”

Steven shrugged his shoulders.

“You’d think he’d feel like his head was about to explode!”

“It doesn’t seem to be bothering him.” Steven went back to reading his paper.

“It’s bothering me.” I grumbled. “He looks like he practicing to go on the Ninja Warrior obstacle course.” I was staring at the squirrel whose legs and arms were tightly wrapped around the cylinder bird feeder. He slowly turned his head and looked at me before going back to eating the seeds. “You know. Where the contestants wrap themselves around the giant log and it spins really fast, trying to knock them off.”

“Uh-hum.” Steven said, but when I looked over I could tell he wasn’t really listening.

“He’d win.” I grumbled.

“Uh-hum.”

“You’re not even listening to me.” I cried.

“I am.” Steven put his newspaper down. “You hate squirrels. I’ve got it.”

“I don’t hate squirrels.” I corrected. “I just don’t like when they eat out of the bird feeders.” I pointed to all the birds sitting on the tree branches waiting for the squirrel to leave. “I wouldn’t even mind if he just took turns. But he’ll hang upside down, eating until the feeder’s empty!” I looked over at Steven. “How’s that fair?”

“Oh, you want a fair squirrel?” Steven began looking at his phone. I assumed he’d gotten a business e-mail so I went back to staring at the squirrel, hoping he’d finally do the right thing and leave.

Just then my phone pinged. Picking it up I could see it was a text from Steven. I looked over at him. “Why are you texting me? I’m sitting right next to you!”

“Just open it.” he said, then smiled.

I opened the text and it was a picture of a tiny Adirondack chair hanging from the side of a tree with a squirrel sitting on it, eating a ear of corn. I held the phone up to Steven. “Are you kidding me? You want me to get a squirrel feeder?”

“No, but if you want him to stay away from the bird feeders it might be the only solution.” Steven looked over at the upside-down squirrel. “Do you really think he’s enjoying his meal?” He pointed over to my phone. “Of course he’d rather be lounging in a chair when he eats.”

I thought about it for a moment. “Nope. Not hanging a tiny chair on a tree.” I shook my head no.

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “Well, then I’d get used to Rocky over there eating all your bird seed.”

It was right at that moment the squirrel did a little back-flip, landed on the ground and scurried away.

Steven pointed to the now empty feeder. “It looks like you’ll need to refill that.”

I sighed then looked back at my phone. “The little chairs are kind of cute.” I admitted as I began scrolling through the site. “I wonder if they come in different colors?”

“What are you looking at?” Alex asked as he came into the room and saw me looking out the window and up into the sky.”

I pointed up to the top of the telephone pole that was next to our driveway. “Do you see the crow sitting on the top of the pole?”

Alex came over to the window. “Oh, yeah. I wonder what he’s doing?”

“He’s building a nest.” I had to look down for a minute because my neck was getting a kink in it. “I’ve been watching them come and go all morning.”

“On the top of the pole?”

“Nope. Keep watching.” We both looked back up as the crow began to caw.

Finally another crow landed on the pole and looked at the stick the first crow had delivered. After a moment the crow seemed to give some sort of approval because the first crow took off with the stick and flew across the street to the big pine tree in our neighbor’s yard. “I think that’s where they’re building their nest.” I squinted trying to see better. “See, this is where I wish you’d let me use my binoculars!”

“We’ve talked about that.” Alex reminded me. “You can’t be the creepy neighbor who looks out your window with binoculars.”

“Fine.” I was still trying to see where they were in the pine tree. “It could also be their decoy nest.”

Alex looked confused. “A decoy nest?”

“Isn’t that wild?” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Crows are that smart! They build the decoy so that after the babies hatch, if a hawk sees them flying with food they just go to the decoy nest and the hawk thinks the babies are gone!”

Alex nodded his head in agreement. “Sounds pretty smart.”

Just then another crow landed on top of the pole and began to caw. “It’s not just the couple who build the nest, but the babies from last year help, too. It’s like a barn raising! The whole community comes out to help!” We both looked up to see what this crow brought. It was a large white thing that he’d pick up, then put down and caw, then pick up again.

“He seems pretty excited about his find.” Alex said. We waited for the approval bird to show up.

When he did, he was only there for a moment before he sent the first bird away without his donation. The crow, left on the pole, watched him fly off, then quickly pushed the white thing off the top of the pole before flying away himself.

I turned to Alex and started to laugh “Rejected!” I looked back out the window. “I have to see what it is.”

“Really?”

“Of course!” When I got across the street and saw what it was, I couldn’t help but laugh as I came back into the house. “It was part of the bone from a T-bone steak!”

“Seriously?”

One hand on my heart the other palm facing him, “I swear!”

“Wow! I thought you said they were really smart!”

I shrugged my shoulder. “I guess one of them in their group didn’t get the memo on approved nesting material!”

We watched as another one landed on the top of the pole with what looked like string.

“But I have to say, now that I saw that, I like crows even more!” I cried.

“Why?”

“Because he didn’t want to hurt his feelings so he waited until he flew away before he pushed it off the pole.” I looked over at Alex. “That’s so sweet!”

Alex looked at me for a moment. “How do you know he didn’t call him stupid before he told him to fly away?”

“Well now you’re just trying to ruin it for me.”  

This was the beginning of the week! We are now in a heat wave!!!

It was after dinner and Alex and I wanted to get in a walk before it got too dark.

“I have my keys.” I opened the front door. “Do you have your phone?”

“Got it.” he said walking out of his room zipping up his heavy hooded sweatshirt. He stepped outside and was ready to close the door.

“Do you really think it’s that cold out?” I said second guessing my light jacket.

“I think so.” He held the door open. “Do you want to go back in and get something heavier?”

“Naw.” I said heading down the front steps. “They say you burn more calories when you’re cold.”

“Who’s they?” Alex asked catching up to me.

“You know, experts.” I said rubbing my arms to keep warm.

“I think you might be wrong about that.” Alex put his hands in his pockets to keep them warm.

“No, I’m not.” I argued. “I can feel myself burning more calories as we speak!”

“Okay, you can believe what you want.” I could hear the doubt in his voice.

“I can prove it!” I stopped and held out my hand. “Give me your phone, we’ll Google it!”

“Are you sure you want to do this right now?” Alex asked handing me his phone.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I found the Google app and tapped on it.

“Because, right now you don’t mind being cold because you think you’re burning more calories but when you find out it’s not true then you’re just cold.”

“I’m not wrong.” I began tapping on the keys. “I’ll just type, ‘Do you burn more calories when it’s cold’.” I hit send, waiting for the right links to come up. It didn’t take long. “Oh, Damn!”

Alex started to laugh. “I told you not to look it up right now.”

“It says you may feel like your body is working harder to keep you warm but you don’t start burning extra calories until you start to shiver.” I clicked off his phone and handed it back to him. “That’s just great.” I sighed and began walking faster rubbing my arms, trying to get warm.

“Sorry.” Alex was walking next to me.

We were walking on the shady side of the street. “Maybe if we walk in the sun I’ll feel better.”

We crossed the street and walked a little further. “Nope, not any better.” I complained. Now I was sorry I’d put my hair up in a ponytail because my ears were starting to get cold. “Well, it did say if I start to shiver then the extra calories start to burn.”

Alex looked over at me. “It’s 52 degrees out, I’m pretty sure you’re not going to start to shiver anytime soon.”

I marched on, feeling cold.

A few moment later Alex began to unzip his heavy sweatshirt. “Wow, maybe I did over dress.” I looked over and could see the sweat on his shirt.

“You’re sweating!” I cried.

“Hey, this sweatshirt’s really heavy.” he complained.

“I hate Google.” I grumbled.

Alex started to laugh. “You love Google!”

“Fine.” I huffed. “I hate Google today!”

I didn’t feel like cooking dinner, and it was only going to be Alex and me eating. So I picked up a sub sandwich on my way home from work.

I came into the house and dropped the sub shop bag on the dining room table. Alex came over with two plates and some napkins.

“You’re the best.” I said as he put a plate in front of me.

Alex laughed. “I’m the best because I gave you a plate?”

I had to laugh. “I guess that’s was a little over the top.” I handed him his half of the sub. “So I’ll say thanks instead.”

We both sat down and began eating in happy silence, both unwinding from a long day. After a few bites I put my sub down. “Do you have any plans for this weekend?” I asked as I shook a few potato chips from the bag and passed it to him.

He looked confused for a moment. “Isn’t Mother’s Day this weekend?”

I smiled. “It is!”

I have to say, ever since I’ve had kids I’ve loved Mother’s Day. It’s the one day I don’t feel guilty not cooking, cleaning, doing laundry or running errands for everyone. I can sit on the couch reading a book or watching television and no one is going to say a word about it. Believe me, the only other time that happens, guilt free, is when I have the flu. Not a cold, mind you, because technically I can still function with a cold. It has to be the flu, where no one wants me around them so I can hide in my room and read my book or watch television. But sadly it’s the flu, so it’s not like I’m having fun.

But Mother’s Day, yeah!

“So what do you want to do?” Alex asked.

“Well I’m hoping the weather’s good and we can do our usual picnic in the park.” I said.

Alex got up and went over to the cabinet. “You want a water while I’m up?” he asked.

“Oh, you’re the best!” I had to smile. “Yes, please!”

He just shook his head and laughed as he handed me a bottle. “Wow, I’m the best again.”

“Hey,” I shrugged my shoulders. “What can I say, I’m just excited about Sunday where I’m not going to have to do anything but relax.” I looked down at my plate and pointed to the rest of my sub. “I don’t think I can finish the other half of this.”

Alex looked at his. “Me either.” He got up and got two zip lock bags and handed me one. “Aren’t you going to say, ‘Who’s the best?’ or your other favorite ‘Who’s the man?” He laughed as he put his leftovers in his bag.

“You’re just lucky I’m so easy to please.” I said as I put the rest of my sub in my bag.

“Are you?” he took the bag from me and went to put them both in the refrigerator. “So if I just made you a macaroni card for Mother’s Day you’d be fine with that?”

“Oh my gosh, I would!” I cried. “It would remind me of all the little handmade things you made me when you were younger!” I began thinking of all the little trinkets I had in a box in the closet. “Remember the puzzle piece pin you made me and the clay heart necklace?” I had to smile just thinking about them.

I looked back at Alex who was leaning in front of the refrigerator, his arms crossed looking at me. “So you’re saying you’d really be okay if I just made you macaroni card?”

I thought about it for a second. “No, probably not.” I admitted as I got up to put our plates in the dishwasher.

“That’s what I thought.” he smiled as he headed back to his room.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m still not really easy to please!” I called after him.

I’m not sure but I think I heard a faint laugh coming from his room.

I was going down the hall to my bedroom when Alex walked out of his bathroom holding a towel around his waist and an armload of dirty laundry.

“Great,” I said as I passed him. “You’re out of the shower. I’m going in next.”

Alex stopped. “You’re taking a shower now?” he looked concerned.

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, I just got out.”

“So?”

“I might have used up all the hot water.” he admitted.

“Oh, come on! How long were you in there?”

Alex tossed his dirty clothes on the floor of his room and grabbed the towel tighter around his waist. “Well, if I’d known you wanted to take a shower I wouldn’t have stayed in as long as I did.”

I just shook my head as I headed to my room. “I have to go out soon, so I guess I’ll be speed showering again.” I complained.

“Sorry.” Alex called down the hall after me.

I was in and out of the shower in a flash feeling like I’d just participated in a rodeo event, only instead of rope tying a cow I was shutting off the water and holding up my hand to stop the clock, screaming “TIME!”

I was dressed and ready to go out when Alex came into the kitchen. “Sorry about the shower thing.” he said. “If you’d just let me know you wanted to take one I wouldn’t have been in there so long.”

“You know when I was growing up we only had two bathrooms with nine people and a very small hot water tank.” I reminded him. “My Dad used to bathe my two sisters and I together in one tub just to save water.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “I know, you’ve told me this story before.”

“Well, obviously it hasn’t made much of an impression.” I shot back. “The house your Dad was raised in had one bathroom and five people sharing it!”

“I know, I know.”

“Does your Dad need to take you on the Grateful Trip again?”

“No.” Alex started to laugh. “I’ve been on that trip twice!”

When the boys were younger he’d take them around his old neighborhoods showing them the small houses he was raised in and the route he had to walk to school when he was only in kindergarten.

“Well, try to remember that the next time you’re lollygagging in the shower. Our hot water isn’t endless.”

Alex started to laugh, “Lollygag? Is that even a word?”

That caught me off guard. “Yes, it’s a word.”

“Who says that…lollygagging?” he was still laughing.

“Obviously I do.” I leaned against the counter and tried to think about it for a moment. “Come to think of it.” I finally said. “I think I remember my Dad using that word when we were kids.”

“Well, it’s a good one.” Alex began walking back to his room shaking his head. “Lollygagging.” he repeated with a chuckle.

“Hey!” I called after him. “Nice job distracting me from being mad at you for hogging all the hot water!”

“Your welcome!”