A Sad Sparky

For the boy, today probably actually started yesterday.

I took him with my to my racquetball match. We played early so I figured it was a good opportunity to give him a different experience and still get him home at decent hour. I play at an Italian men’s club with two courts. They only play doubles and most of the guys have been playing there for years. Like 20 and more. I haven’t yet reached 10. But if I want to play some decent racquetball and have a good laugh with the guys, this is pretty much the only game in town.

He knew we had to leave shortly after he got home from school. He had a smile on his face when he got off the bus and his feet barely touched the ground as he ran down the driveway. He asked me all kinds of questions on the drive out. After we arrived and I introduced him, one of the guys brought him to the bar and bought him chips and soda. They all cracked jokes and had him bug me with setup “inside-joke” questions while I was playing.

I played well, but we lost a close match. We finally got home a little after his bedtime so he sat with Mom and unwound for awhile. He finally stopped smiling when he fell asleep.

He was OK for most of the morning today, but complained that he was tired. Since he was up at 6:30 this morning and considering his previous evening, I wasn’t surprised. But he was in good spirits when I put him on the bus.

He wasn’t in good spirits when he got home. He was tired and it showed. No spring in his step. No smile on his face. Just the drudgery of the walk from the end of the driveway to the house and the couch. His sister chirped excitedly at him but he wasn’t having any of it and snapped at her several times. We had to go to a doctor’s appointment and he improved a little on the way there. But then when we had our dinner at the restaurant he was very belligerent. Talking loudly, demanding attention, stealing his sister’s crayons when he broke his, generally making mountains out of every little mole hill.

The car ride home was torture as the two of them, led by the boy, got a major case of the sillies. And not one where you can’t help but laugh with them. This one was filled with potty talk and gross bodily noises. The Wife and I tried to get them to tone it down but neither was listening. We both resigned ourselves to a grim silence, anticipating the conclusion of our drive.

The final act started when, somehow, one of his shoes came off followed quickly by the sock. The Wife and I confiscated the items in the front with us and refused to give them back. The obnoxious behavior would not go without consequences.

Upon arriving home we got out and let ourselves in. The boy was very upset that we made him walk to the front door without his shoe and sock. We told both kids to head up and get ready for bed. I didn’t witness it and found out after I went up to help finish getting them ready for bed, but apparently he punched his sister in the mouth on the way up the stairs.

During the ride home I’d made up my mind that there wouldn’t be any candy for him to find the next morning. But after the punch, I felt that something more was required. After a little discussion with the Wife and Grandma, the Boy will be finding the following note tomorrow, instead of candy.

You made me
sad
because you were
bad.
      Sparky