I sent my little guy, Jack, out to the bus stop the other day, bundled up to brace the arctic chill. Time was not on his side; the bus would soon be here. I watched from the living room window as he made his way. According to Jack, it is just plain silly to use the shoveled sidewalks, driveway, and street. Why use those, when one can hurl himself over snowbanks taller than he is, and march through deep snow?
Houston, we had a problem.
About every ten feet, Jack would fall down in the deep snow. As if it isn't hard enough to get up in deep snow as it is, add a backpack to the list of factors. By the time Jack was in the middle of our yard, his backpack had fallen to his elbows, hence, pinning his arms back. But that didn't stop the little arctic explorer, no! He forged on.
Much to my amazement, Jack made it to the stop before the bus arrived. Whew! But wait... Let's not wait on the street, Jack decided, let's jump up and over the snowbank, and wander in the neighbor's yard on the corner. After all, Mom did say not to wait in the street. (Note to self... Next year, tell him that only applies to spring, summer, and fall!)
The bus came, followed by a poor soul in a car, who had had to stop every half of a block. You know it's going to be a rough day, when your day starts behind a school bus! By this time, I was jumping up and down in my living room yelling, "Go, Jack!! Go!," as if he could hear me!
Jack headed for the snowbank, and fell down, on his back, arms pinned behind him, due to his falling backpack. He couldn't get up. The bus driver was watching, the poor man late for work was watching, and Jack was like a tortoise on his shell, rocking back, and forth, trying to get up.
Jack finally made it onto the bus that morning, and I believe we all, the bus driver, the man in the car behind the bus, and I, had no other option but to laugh. It was quite a sight!
Some things are worth making us late for work. My little turtle, Jack, is one of them.
