Page 48 of His Middle

Daddy peeked his head into the den. “Hey, what’s going on in here? I don't like that kind of talk. Both of you apologize to each other right now.” Daddy crossed his arms and scowled. He meant business.

“We say that stuff to each other all the time,” said Noah. “It’s no big deal.”

Daddy’s expression didn’t change. “It is to me. It’s not nice.”

“But Daddy...” Noah whined.

“Are you arguing with me, young man?”

Oops. He might’ve gone too far. “No, sir. I'll ‘pologize.” Noah turned to his smirking buddy. “I’m sorry you’re a dummy.”

“Noah Xavier Epstein!” Sawyer barked. “Go to your room right now! You’re having a time out for ten minutes. Arlen can play the game by himself until you’re done and ready to give him a sincere apology.”

“That’s not fair! He called me a dummy too!”

“And he can tell you he's sorry when you come back down and do the same.” Sawyer arched his eyebrows. “Got it?”

Noah dropped his head. “Yeah. I got it.” As soon as Daddy nodded then turned to leave the room, Noah stuck his tongue out at Arlen. Arlen did the same thing back but added the obligatory thumbs in his ears and wiggling fingers gesture.

“Are you coming, or do you want another ten minutes added to your first time out?”

They both slurped their tongues back into their mouths before Daddy had whipped all the way back around.

“Yes, Daddy. Sorry.”

Noah scrambled to his feet then bounced and jumped after Daddy. He sang a nonsense song and caught out of the corner of his eye the bemused expression on Daddy's face. Okay. He wasn’ttoomad. Noah still hadn't had his soda that day and he also wanted Daddy to hold him later. Daddy always told him he didn’t have to worry, even if he misbehaved. Daddy had promised he’d never leave.

They reached the bottom of the stairs and Daddy pointed up. “Do I need to follow you? Make sure you do what you’re told?”

A stab of hurt pierced Noah’s gut. He said he’d go to his room. Did Daddy think he was a liar? Maybe a little fib once in a while, but not big bad lies.

“You don’t trust me?” His bottom lip began to tremble.

Daddy rushed to his side and wrapped his arms around him.

“No, buddy. That’s not it. I shouldn’t have asked you that.” He kissed the top of Noah’s head. “I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.”

“That's okay.” Noah held onto Daddy tighter. “Do you think I hurt Arlen’s feelings?”

“Maybe. When you're done with your time out, you can ask him. Okay?”

Daddy released him from the hug and held him by the shoulders at arm’s length. “You’re my good, sweet boy.” He smiled. “Now the faster you go upstairs, the faster you can come back down.” He let Noah go, then gave him a smack on the butt. “Go on.”

Noah bounded up the stairs, burst through his door then leaped onto the bed, landing face first on the mattress with a bounce. He then proceeded to spend the next ten minutes alternating between rolling around then jumping on the bed then landing with a bounce again.

The bed appeared as if it had been hit by a tornado that had managed to miss everything else in the room.

A knock sounded at the door then Daddy poked in his head. “Are you ready to come downstairs and tell Arlen you’re sorry like you mean it?”

Noah launched himself off the bed. “Yes, Daddy! Can we have pizza tonight?”

“Sorry, buddy.” He held out his hand and Noah grabbed on. “I’ve already got a chicken in the oven.”

“Aww, man.” Noah allowed himself to be led downstairs, swinging Daddy’s arm the entire way. He immediately switched gears. “Can we have mashed ‘tatoes with it? And can I have a drumstick?”

“Yes and yes. As long as you eat all your green beans.”

Noah poked out his tongue and made a gagging sound.

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