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.