june 27, 2002.

This morning I was woken by a phone call from my immediate boss-to-be (we'll call him C. Thomas Flood). He wanted to welcome me to the staff and confirm that I wouldn't need to come into the school on any particular days in August. Yay! For awhile I had entertained the grim suspicion that between moving and the demands of this job my proposed summer o' fun was utterly pooched. I'm happy to declare that there WILL be a Chicago sojourn to see my siblings after all. Yeep!

One last thing of note: C. Thomas mentioned in passing that I was not only the first person they'd ever hired over the phone, but I was also the only new person this year to be hired to a full position. Wow. I think I may need a red wagon to cart around all of these high expectations.

SCENE

Sitting in Mustang Scotty, the Boy & I are eating enormous ice-cream cones (Chocolate fudge mint chip and Blueberry cheesecake) in the parking lot of a local farmer's market & petting zoo.

Me: So, I have to watch you with the baby goats.

Boy: Yeah.

Me: Because without me watching, it would all be empty.

Boy: Yeah.

Me: What happens if I die?

Boy: Since everything else would be empty, I'd come see the baby goats.

Pause.

Boy: If I die, will you come see the baby goats?

Me: No.

Boy: You dishonour my memory.

Me: I'll feed you to the baby goats.

Boy: I want you to come see the baby goats. You'll wear a black dress & a long black veil. You'll feed the goats as you cry. (Sobbing sounds to demonstrate) And then you'll be free to remarry.

Me: Uh huh.

I have to admit, he had a really good time petting the goats. Even with the build up he seems to enjoy himself. I watched him feed the goats and hug them, smiling as he tried to name them all Plumpy.

And although I'd rather not remember this, I should note that when we got to Bunny Town, we saw a tiny little rabbit thrashing around in the straw. It's eyes were still shut and it was obviously too young to be away from its mother. I think it was kicked out of the warren. I had to leave after a few minutes...it was just too much for me to watch.