Snow Covered Gifts

I wake to a hungry stomach, instead of a nauseous one, for the first time in days. I look at the clock, 7:20. Olive turned off the alarm again.

While grinding coffee, I check the district website: All ASD School Canceled. What???  I read on and learn the Superintendent made a late decision to cancel school after the first folks reporting to work had trouble getting there.  Snow Day!!!!

I stop mid-grind and return to the bedroom.  "There's no school today!" I tell Nick, and Elias who joined us in bed around 5:00 am.

I'm not sure why I imagine us all going back to sleep, as if Elias can settle once he's roused.  

Oh the questions...Why is school cancelled? Why are the roads dangerous? Why did it snow?

Nick rises to finish the coffee-making process and soon returns with two hot mugs in hand. The three of us sit, shoulders touching, and talk about the snow day, and the time on the alarm clock, and Christmas and the time od the alarm clock, and home renovation, and the time on the alrm clock, and iphones...

"When can I look at your phone?" Elias reaches his arm across me for Nick's phone.  And though Elias has played with our phones on countless occasions we put him off this morning.

"Maybe when I'm your age I can have it." Elias moves his hand to my arm and rubs. He looks back towards the alarm clock.

"That sounds like a good plan." I sip my coffee.

"How old are you Dad?"

"He's thirty-three," I answer for Nick.

"How old are you Mom?"

"Do you remember how old I am?"

"Thirty-eight." How did I get to be thirty-eight?

"So who is older me or your Dad?"

"You...but," Elias pauses, "But your heads are the same shape?"

**********

After dinner, as I work on the dishes, Elias asks, "Can I have some time on my ipad?"

I turn from the sink. "Why don't you play with your train or your blocks in your room." 

He stares at me unconvinced. 

"You can close the door and have some time away from Olive."

Elias turns and runs like a drunk to his bedroom. I finish putting the dishes in the dishwasher and wipe the counter.

About twenty minutes later, I hear his door close and then his staggering steps across the wood floor.

"Uh oh, this could be trouble," I say to Nick, as I glance at Olive, who stands in Elias's chair playing on his ipad.

Elias careens right past her, without noticing his sister.  A big smile on his face. "Look, this is a Nerf gun!"

He holds up Lego-like blocks in a configuration that somewhat resembles a gun. In an abstract kind of way.

Elias owns no toy guns, has never asked for one. He doesn't watch cartoons or movies. His only exposure to guns is other children who play with them. It strikes me that he made a "nerf gun" and not a "real gun" and I wonder if he even knows the difference.

Before I can comment, Elias says, "So when babies come to my door I can shoot them back into the kitchen."

**********

I sit at the kitchen table with Elias as we both do homework. I ask him to write a letter to Santa. "I think you should start off by telling Santa something good you've done."

No response.

"Think about it Elias. How have you been kind or helpful?"

"I don't know." He rubs his eyes.

"Think."

"Sharing," he mumbles.

"What did you say?"

He looks up toward me. "I've shared with my sister, most of the time."

Most of the time may not be accurate but I gotta give him credit for not trying to act as if sharing happens all the time.

"What do you hope Santa brings you?"

He tells me, as he has every time I've asked, "A new car."

And he doesn't mean a real one, but another small matchbox car to add to his collection. Even though he hasn't really played with his cars for months.

Nick and I already bought him a little yellow Lamborghini because he has twice checked out a book from the library called, "Lamborghini".

"Is there anything else you want?" I ask.

"No." He signs his name to his letter.

"You sure?"

No response.

"OK. Well, you'll leave Santa lots of room in his sleigh for other kids."

I think about my ambitious lists for Santa as a kid. Why can't Santa bring me a pony? But I need one! He can stay in the school soccer fields, we have plenty of room! But its not fair!!

And once again, I'm humbled by my son.

"Do you want any particular car? A certain kind or color?" I ask.

Elias draws boxes around our words. He stops and tilts his head. Without looking at me he says, "Yellow."

 

Comments

[Kate]

God I love this kid. That is all.

[Niksmom]

This made my eyes leak today. Beautiful.

[danielle in zurich]

We had as much rain in Zurich as you did snow in AK. Spent a happy half hour teaching my kids the chicken dance. Recommend. Have fun. Love your writing and want to have an autographed copy of the book when you publish it.
XOXOX

[Christy]

I'll send you one if I ever set the time aside to write it. I have pages upon pages of material, just need days to sort and organize. Thanks for your confidence in me Danielle.

And Kate and Niksmom, you both made me smile.