The Walnut of Death Adventures continue. Daniel and I ran errands today. We stopped for Fish ‘n Chips To Go (okay, I had fish ‘n shrimp, whatever). After placing our order we took a pre-dinner constitutional around the block, as we are wont to do. We like to look at historic buildings and always try to find something new or interesting or unexpected, and then speculate wildly about it. But this time, the unexpected item we found was a person. Truthfully, he found us. If he were a seriously bad person (instead of just a dorky kid with teenaged Boy Brain suffering from the effects of a shallow parental gene pool) he would have peddled right on past, and we never would have known he was there. But he’s a genuinely good person, albeit handicapped by bad mothering/fathering, and a complete deficit of motivation. He rode right up to us, a large boy-child on a small undersized bicycle (the type “kids now adays” seem to find perfect for hopping curbs and jumping cement dividers).
“Elliott!” I exclaimed. Yes, my wayward nephew had appeared, seemingly out of the mists of time. He looked as he had the last time I saw him (too many months ago) only maybe a bit fuller in the face, and both his ears were pierced although I only remember it being one. Typical of him, he didn’t have a lot to say, except to scoff and snort at the mention of his father’s plan to live in a travel trailer (which I had heard about way back in October). He pointed out the building he’s been attending school in, enrolled in an alternative program that I was only peripherally aware of. I told him of my expectant wait for The Grand Opening of the downtown taco place we both enjoyed and he said that he would very much like to go with me, or possibly meet me there.
When we parted, he stood from his bike and hugged me warmly, allowing me to reach up and kiss his cheek, as he always has, repeating, as he always has, “I love you too” when I tell him the same. He’s a pill, but I miss him. This sighting made my day.
(Dinner was good too.)
