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!”

BLUEBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

I’d been fighting a tickle in my throat for days when I came out to the kitchen to see my son Alex standing at the stove making scrambled eggs. I started to cough in the crook of my arm.

“The pollen is still bothering you?” He asked as he opened the drawer next to the stove to get a wooden spoon.

“It’s driving me crazy.” I said as I went to the back door and saw my husband Steven working out in the garden. “Is your Dad planting the sweet potatoes?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s what he said he was doing when he went out.” He stirred the eggs.

“You know what I’d like…” I didn’t get a chance to finish my sentence before I found myself in a coughing fit.

“A glass of water?” Alex guessed as I continued to cough. “Maybe some cough drops?”

I shook my head no as I continued to cough.

“Allergy medicine?” He guessed again as he turned the stove off and went to get a plate.

I’d finally gotten my coughing under control. “No.” I answered. “A blueberry bush.”

Alex looked surprised. “That was not even on my top one hundred guess list.”

I had to laugh as I went over to the sink to wash my hands. “Your Uncle Donny gave me a few of them at our last house, but they never seemed to take.” I turned the water off and grabbed a towel. “I was thinking that I wanted to try again.” I leaned against the counter and began humming.

“What’s that song?” Alex asked as he brought his plate of eggs to the table.

“Blueberry Fields Forever.” I said as I followed him. “It’s a Beatles song.”

“I know the song.” Alex laughed. “But I’m pretty sure it’s Strawberry Fields Forever.”

I shook my head no. “We tried strawberries in the garden last year and it was a total bust! So I’ve decided to change the name of the song to fit my planting preferences.”

“I’m sure the Beatles will be thrilled.” He laughed.

I shrugged my shoulders. “They’ll never know.”

Steven came in the back door. “Who’ll never know?”

“Mom’s decided to rename a Beatles song.” He took a bit of his eggs. “She’s calling it Blueberry Fields Forever.”

Steven looked confused. “Why?”

“Because I want to get a blueberry bush for the garden. That’s going to be it’s theme song.”

Steven grabbed a paper towel and began wiping the sweat from his forehead. He walked over to the back door and looked out. “I’m not sure we have room for a blueberry bush.”

“Oh, I’ll find room. Don’t worry.” I reassured him. “Just because you took over putting the garden together this year doesn’t mean I can’t put some things in there, too.”

He waved me over to the door. I went and stood next to him as he pointed out the back door. “You’ve already got all your herbs, a rose bush, and pots of marigolds.”

“And soon a blueberry bush will be joining them.” I looked back over at Alex. “You eat blueberries every day. Don’t you want one, too?”

Alex looked from me to Steven as he put his dish in the sink and started to laugh. “I’m not getting in this one.” He said as he headed to his room. “Let me know who wins.”

“It’ll be me!” Steven and I said in unison.

“Good luck with that!” Alex called over his shoulder.

EMBRACE THE POSITIVE

I was sitting on the couch scrolling through my phone. I’d just finished watching a video on how to make crock-pot shrimp scampi. “That’s a keeper!” I said to myself as I tapped the arrow to save the recipe to my messenger.

“What’s a keeper?” My son Alex asked as he walked into the room.

“I just saved a recipe for shrimp scampi.”

“That sounds good. When are you planning on making it?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Probably never.” I sighed. “My messenger is filled with recipes I’ll probably never make along with exercise videos I’ll probably never do.”

Alex laughed. “Well, if you never make the recipes maybe you won’t have to do the exercises.”

“See!” I looked over at him and smiled. “That’s exactly what I was thinking!”

My husband Steven walked in the room and sat next to me on the couch. “What were you thinking?”

“That if I don’t make the recipes on the videos I’ve been saving I won’t have to do the exercise videos that I’m also storing away!” I put my phone down next to me. “Hey, did I tell you that a woman at the craft show I went to the other day told me I was thin?”

Alex looked confused as he sat down in the chair across from us. “She just said it out of the blue?”

“Well, no.” I shook my head. “I was trying on a bracelet that she’d made, and she said I have thin wrists.” I pulled my sweatshirt sleeve up to my elbow to prove my point. “I think I’m going to wear three quarter sleeve shirts from now on.” I turned my wrist back and forth as I looked over at Steven. “You know you should always embrace the positives when someone gives them to you.”

Steven reached over and took my wrist in his hand. “You do have small wrists.” He said as he pulled my hand up to his lips and kissed the inside of my wrist.

I looked over at Alex and raised my eyebrows. “He’s looking for something.”

“That would be my guess, too.” Alex laughed.

“Well, I was actually coming in the room to see when you were planning on starting dinner.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s more like it.” I said as I stood up headed to the kitchen.

“No!” Steven protested. “She was right. You do have thin wrists.”

“Thanks!” I called from the kitchen as I opened the refrigerator.

Alex came into the kitchen. “So what are you planning for dinner tonight?”

I started pulling out several storage containers filled with leftovers. “I was thinking a clean-out-the-fridge night.”

Alex went over to the containers that I’d put on the counter-top. “Meatloaf, chicken cutlets, pasta, and mashed potatoes.”

“And a big green salad.” I said as I pulled the bowl out of the refrigerator.

“That looks good.” He said as he began opening the containers.

“Once again, I’m embracing the positive!” I called as I put the salad on the dining room table. “I’m not going to have to cook anything tonight and I’ve cleaned out the refrigerator!” I came back into the kitchen. “Can you set the table while I microwave these?”

“Sure.” Alex went over to the cabinet and began getting the dinner dishes down. “Just be careful not to lift anything too heavy.” He looked over at me and smiled. “You don’t want hurt your tiny wrists.”

“Thin wrists!” I reminded him with a laugh. “She said thin wrists.”

AMISH CROWS

My son Alex and I were on the back deck when I heard a loud snapping sound. Looking up in the trees I expected to see a small branch coming down but instead I saw a crow with a rather large twig in it’s beak.

Holding my hand across my forehead, to block the glare of the sun, I watched the crow fly to the top of our neighbors pine tree.

“A little nest building going on.” I stated ready, to turn my attention back to the conversation I was having with Alex, when I noticed several crows were at the top of the tree. They were cawing their approval or disapproval of the contribution that was being given.

“Why are their so many crows up there?” I looked over at Alex. “I thought it was the couple that made the nests.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe they’re arguing over whose nest it is?”

I took my phone from my back pocket and held it up for him to see. “Here’s one way to find out.”

I began tapping away and I soon had my answer. “Crows build their nests collaboratively.” I looked back up to the tree where the crows were still squawking at one another. “They don’t seem to be working very collaboratively.” I laughed. “They seem to have some strong opinions on what the nest should look like.”

“So who’s building it?” Alex asked. “Just some random crows getting together?”

I went back to the article I’d been reading. “Well, it seems Mom and Dad, along with some of their non-breeding kids from the previous year like to help.” I looked over at Alex. “It’s like watching the Amish with a barn raising!” I laughed. “Only for crows!”

“I’m glad they picked the neighbor’s tree.” Alex said as we watched another crow come over to our woods and begin working on snapping another twig off our tree. “It’ll be fun to watch them.”

I was still reading the article. “Well, let’s hope so.” I said as I slipped my phone back in my pocket. “Because they like to build multiple nests and then choose which one is the best.” I looked back at the tree. “You’re doing a fantastic job!” I called to them.

Alex and I were still staring up at the neighbor’s tree when my husband Steven came out on the deck. “What are you two looking at?” He asked.

“We’re getting new neighbors.” I said as I proudly pointed to the neighbor’s pine tree. “The crows are building a nest!”

Steven had a worried looked on his face. “You know crows can be very territorial.” He warned. “Especially when they have chicks to protect.”

I looked over at him confused. “What’s that suppose to mean?”

Steven pointed to my seed feeders in the yard and then pointed to the hummingbird feeders on my porch. “They sometimes prey on smaller birds.”

“What!” I looked back over at the neighbor’s tree as another crow landed with a new twig. “Why can’t they just eat the bird seed like everyone else?”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “They’re opportunistic eaters.”

I shook my head and sighed. “That’s a terrible spot for a nest!” I called over to the neighbor’s tree.

Alex patted me on the shoulders and laughed. “That was quite a roller-coaster of emotions you just had there.”

I sighed again. “Tell me about it.”

LILAC APOLOGY

I was getting home from work and as I got out of my car I could instantly smell them. The lilac bush in the front of our house was in full bloom. Every inch covered with clusters of lavender flowers. Their scent followed me all the way to the front door.

My husband Steven opened the door for me. “How was your day?”

“It’s better now that I’m home.” I said as I gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked past him to drop my things on the chair. “Did you see the lilac bush out front?”

“It looks great doesn’t it?”

I went over to him, took his hand, and walked him over to the couch. “I have an apology to make.” I said as I sat down.

“You do?” Steven sat down next to me.

“You remember when you pruned the lilac bush last summer and I blew a fit?”

Steven shook his head and laughed. “Yeah. I remember.”

“Well, I’m sorry.” I pointed out the front window. “Clearly you were right. Our lilac bush looks better than any in our neighborhood.”

“I told you it needed a drastic trim or it was going to keep getting leggy with less blooms each year.”

“I know but what you cut out was drastic!” I reminded him. “In my defense you remember we had a rainstorm the night that you did all that trimming and the entire bush was laying on the ground?”

“Oh yeah.” He nodded again. “I heard about it the rest of the day. Even though I told you the bush would toughen up and get stronger.”

I nodded. “So that’s why I owe you an apology.”

“No worries.” He leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “You’re apology is accepted.”

Our son Alex walked into the room. “Who’s apologizing to who?”

Steven turned to look at him. “Your Mom is apologizing for yelling at me last year for trimming the lilac bush.” He pointed out the front window. “Have you seen how full the blooms are this year?”

I looked over at Alex. “I know I get a little crazy when he trims the plants around here. Especially the lilac bush.” I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s one of my favorites on the property and I was afraid you’d gone too far and we were going to lose it.”

Alex looked out the front window. “It looks pretty good to me.”

I stood up to look at it. “It looks great!” I reached over, opened the window, and inhaled. “You can smell it from here!”

“Maybe after it blooms I’ll give it another little trim.”

“WHAT!” My head whipped around so fast to look at him I got a little dizzy. “Are you kidding me!” I cried.

“And she’s back.” Steven laughed as he pointed his thumb in my direction.

“But are you serious?” I asked again.

“Nope.” Steven reached over and patted me on the shoulder. “I was just kidding.”

911 – WHAT’S YOUR EMERGENCY

I was in the middle of a dream when my phones wake up alarm went off. I was still groggy as I fumbled to reach for it on the bedside table. I turned off the alarm and was trying to put it back on the table when I missed and it clattered to the floor, its protective case breaking away and sliding across the room.

“Oh, yeah. Good morning.” I sighed as I tossed the covers off of me and quickly grabbed the phone and the case, put them back together before taking my bathrobe from the end of the bed, putting it on and dropping my phone in its pocket.

I was still not fully awake as I went out to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. Filling the kettle at the sink a loud, high pitched sound was coming from my pocket. Putting the kettle on the counter-top I pulled the phone out of my pocket and saw that an emergency SOS 911 call had been made. “NO, NO, NO.” I cried as my heart began to race and without thinking I hung up.

Immediately the 911 dispatcher called back. “This is 911 we just received a call from your phone.”

“I’m so sorry.” I said in a shaky voice. “I have no idea how that happened. My phone was in my pocket and it just went off!”

“Okay. Ma’am. Can I have your name please?”

“Of course.” Once I’d given my name I apologized again before hanging up.

My husband Steven came into the kitchen. “What was that noise?” He asked as he rubbed his eye with the back of his hand.

“I accidentally called 911 and hung up.”

Steven stopped rubbing his eye and looked at me. “You hung up on 911? You’re never suppose to do that.”

“I know!” I cried. “I just panicked!”

“Well, I’m pretty sure you can expect the police to be here soon.” He said as he reached in the cabinet for his coffee mug.

“Really?” I went and looked out the front window. “The dispatcher didn’t say anything about that. She just took my name.” No cars were in sight so I went back into the kitchen to finish making my tea.

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think it makes a difference.”

While the water was heating up I went back to the living room waiting for the police to arrive.

Several minutes later no police had arrived and I was taking a sip from my cup when I missed my mouth and spilled hot tea down the front of my robe. “Okay, that’s it!” I put the cup on the counter-top and took off my robe. “I’m going back to bed and starting this day all over again!”

Steven looked confused. “Don’t you have work today?”

“Yes. But first I’m climbing back in bed, pretending to go back to sleep and ‘waking up’ all over again.” I had done air quotes with my fingers when I said waking up.

I stormed back to the bedroom and tossed my soggy robe on the floor before climbing back in bed and closing my eyes.

Steven had followed me and was leaning against the door frame taking a sip from his coffee mug. “When would you like me to wake you up?” He asked.

I halfway opened one eye. “Two minutes please. I can’t be late for work.” I pulled the covers up under my neck, closed my eyes, and waited.

PEEP PARTY

“I’m seeing another sign that summer is on it’s way!” I called out to my son Alex as I stood by the kitchen window looking out at the bird feeders.

“What’s that?” Alex asked as he came into the kitchen with an empty glass and headed for the sink to refill it.

“The goldfinches are back!” I pointed to the back yard. “There must be a dozen of them at the feeders!”

Alex came over and stood next to me. “Looks like a bunch of highlighter markers flying around.” He laughed.

“Hey. I never thought of that one.” I looked over at him. “They always remind me of flying marshmallow peeps.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe because they always come back around Easter.”

We watched as a chipmunk ran under the feeder to collect the seeds that had fallen from above.

“I could spend hours just watching all the action that goes on in our yard this time of year.” I sighed.

Alex went over to the sink and started to fill his glass.

“Wow! I wasn’t expecting that!” I cried as a red headed woodpecker crashed into the feeder making all the goldfinches fly to safety in the nearby pine trees. “I think you’re looking for the suet feeder my friend!” I pointed over to the other side of the yard. “It’s over there!”

Alex had finished filling his glass and set it on the counter. “Do you want me to open the window so he can hear you better?” He reached over to the window and started to laugh.

“He heard me.” I said as I pointed to the woodpecker who left the feeder and was now pecking at the suet.

Alex shook his head. “Total coincidence.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe.”

I headed for the back door.

“Where are you going?” He picked up his water and took a sip.

“I’ve got to get the bird bath ready for them.” I looked over at the hooks on the deck that held the hummingbird feeder during the summer. “I should probably get those ready, too.” I clapped my hands together. “They’ll be looking for some sugar water any day now!”

“It’s still only April.” He reminded me.

“It’s never too soon.” I scooped up the bird bath that had been stored on the deck and headed for the yard. “Hey, do you see that?” I called over my shoulder and tipped my head towards the birdhouse. “The chick-a-dee’s are already making their nest!”

Alex came out and stood next to me. “They sure are busy.” He said as we watched the couple take turns bringing small twigs into the house then quickly flying away to collect more.

I laughed as two squirrels chased each other around the base of an oak tree as fast as they could. “Even the squirrels are cute this time of year.”

“Wow. That’s saying a lot for you.” Alex raised his eyebrows. “You usually hate squirrels.”

“Maybe I should wait on the bird bath.” I put it back down and backed up. “I don’t want to break up the peep party at the feeder!” I whispered.

Almost a dozen goldfinches, one on each post, were busy eating the nyjer seed I’d filled it with.
“That’s their favorite.” I whispered again.

“Is that what they told you?” Alex whispered back, looking concerned.

“No.” I looked over at him with a confused look on my face. “That’s what it said on the bag of seed.”

PLEASE FLY AWAY

I was sitting on the couch, completely engrossed in my book, when there was a loud bang against the picture window just inches from my head.

“What the heck!” I dropped my book and got up on my knees to see what had hit the window.

When I didn’t see anything unusual I got up to investigate further.

Walking out the front door I passed one of the rocking chairs and saw a robin laying on its back, his little feet sticking up in the air as he panted for breath. “No, no, no, no.” I whispered as I tried to decide what to do. He turned his head and looked at me. “I’m so sorry little man. I don’t want to scare you.” I said as I slowly backed away.

Once I was back inside the house my son Alex came out of his room. “What was that noise?”

“A robin crashed into the picture window and now he’s laying on the porch.” I went over to the window again to see if he was doing any better. “Nope. He’s still on his back.” I looked over at Alex. “What should we do?”

Alex shook his head as he came over to see. “Maybe he’s in shock and just needs a few minutes to get his act together.” Alex backed away from the window. “He hit the window pretty hard if I could hear it in my room.”

Alex went into the kitchen as I stood vigil at the window. “He’s still panting pretty hard and he’s still on his back!” I called out.

“Just give him a few minutes!” Alex called back.

I sat back down on the couch and picked up my book but soon realized I was reading the same sentence over and over again. I stood back up to see how our bird friend was doing. “Oh! He’s standing up now!” I called.

“See? I told you to give him a few minutes.” Alex came back in the room taking a bite from an apple he was holding.

I watched as the bird wobbled around, his footing unsteady. “He’s not going anywhere anytime soon.” I said sadly. “I’m pretty sure he’s given himself a concussion.” I looked over at Alex. “Birds can get concussions, right?”

Alex shrugged his shoulders as he took another bite. “I don’t see why they couldn’t.” He looked out the window. “He’s pretty rocky on his feet but at least his panting has slowed down some.”

“Take your time little guy. We’re here if you need us.” I called out to him.

Alex looked over at me with a confused look on his face. “We are?”

“Well, I mean we’re here to cheer him on.” I looked back out the window. “You’ve got this!” I called as I pumped my arms in the air.

Alex laughed and shook his head. “Being someone who’s had concussions I can tell you that’s definitely not going to help.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “That’s all I’ve got.” I looked back out the window. “Hey! He’s gone!” I cried.

“I told you he just needed a few minutes.”

“Oh that’s just great.” I sighed as I left the window and headed for the kitchen.

“What’s wrong?” Alex asked as he followed me out to the kitchen.

I pulled some paper towels off the roll and ran them under the water. “I guess he was shook up enough that he left us a little gift before he took off.”