Page 45 of Three Not-So-Little Words
“Okay, fine. I’ll leave it alone.”
"Good. Now, I’m pretty sure you promised me some pancakes.”
sixteen
Now, Who’s Full of Surprises?
Drew
“Alright, bud. Tell me all about your first day,” I say, watching Colton take a bite of his pizza.
I already knew he had a good day. Just like his mother, my son wears every one of his emotions written all over his face. And ever since I picked him up, he’s been all smiles.
He starts right in. He tells me about his teacher, his classroom, and what he had for lunch. I learned that he made a friend named Amy, and they played tag at recess.
He talks ninety miles a minute, only stopping long enough to take bites of pizza.
I hang on every word and ask questions along the way. Natalie was always the best listener. It made everyone around her feel comfortable enough to open up. I hope I can be that same person for Colton.
“See?” I tell him. “I knew you were going to love it. You had nothing to worry about.”
“How was work?” He asks.
Honestly, work was a little rough. Although I know the basic mechanics of cars, I’m not well versed. There’s going to be a hell of a lot of on-the-job training in order for me not to fuck up someone’s vehicle.
But I don’t say any of that to Colton. He’s a kid and doesn’t need to hear all that.
“It was great,” I tell him.
“What do you do?” He asks.
“I help to fix people’s cars when they’re broken.”
“Why do they break?”
“All kinds of reasons.”
He takes another bite. “So, you’re not fighting anymore?”
“No, I’m done fighting.”
“Do you miss fighting?”
I know he’s looking for a simple answer, but I’m not sure there is one.
I got into fighting merely by chance. But once I was in, I realized it was something I was really good at. It was hard as hell to walk away from that, but the lifestyle wasn’t conducive to raising a kid on my own.
I come back to reality and remember Colton is waiting on an answer. “Sometimes. But I think I’m going to like our new life a whole lot more.”
That answer seems to appease him because he changes the subject. “Can we get a puppy?”
I choke on the sip of water I just took. “What?”
He repeats the question.
“I don’t know that a dog is a good idea right now.”
“Why?”
