In my immediate family, there are 15 of us now 鈥 three sons, three daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren (5 girls, 3 boys), and me. I am discovering that it becomes increasingly harder to try and fill the shoes of a kind and loving mother and grandmother.
The following story is true. The names have been changed or omitted to protect the innocent 鈥 or the guilty.
Last week one of my sons, acting as agent for his son, contacted me to see if a grandson could 鈥渟pend the night鈥 at my house. The wheels were already turning as the plan was to invite the other two boy cousins. Calls were made, permissions granted, the fix was in. I didn鈥檛 have a chance. Just after dark three energetic 9-year-olds, give or take a few months, stormed my castle. They are good boys, but they are boys. Every square inch of the house became their kingdom.
They ran, they played, they wrestled, they argued, they surfed the internet, and they built a fort with quilts and blankets in the living room. It was all good. As bedtime approached, I called them in for negotiations.
鈥淐an we go to Early Bird (a local restaurant.) for breakfast?鈥 one asked.
That was not in my initial plan, but I complied.
鈥淪ure!鈥 I said, 鈥淲hat time are you guys going to bed?鈥
鈥淣ow, Daddy Jack, I drive a hard bargain!鈥 one replied, sternly.
鈥淗ow about nine-thirty?鈥 He said, with a smile.
鈥淵ou got it!鈥 I said. 鈥淚n the bed by nine-thirty, and we go to the Early Bird.鈥
鈥淐an we take a bath first?鈥 they asked.
I went straight to the bedroom and 性视界APPed. It was 9 p.m.
At 10:30 p.m. I was awakened from a deep sleep by three boys standing beside my bed.
鈥淐an we sleep with you?鈥 One asked.
The snuggler in the bunch crawled right up against me and curled his arm around my neck. He would soon turn and sleep with his knees in my back. I woke up an hour later with a foot in my face. At 2 a.m. I gave it up and moved to the den and the comfort of my Lazy Boy.
In the wee hours of the morning, I was awakened by loud conversation two rooms away. They were wide awake. I groped for the light switch on the lamp to see what time it was. The clock read 鈥4:00.鈥 I hoped they would go back to sleep. I turned out the light and waited. In a moment I heard them coming.
鈥淒addy Jack, we鈥檝e awoken and can鈥檛 go back to sleep!鈥 one offered.
鈥淲e will go play in the living room where you can鈥檛 hear us,鈥 another chimed in.
鈥淪ounds good!鈥 I managed to say.
I headed back to my bedroom.
At 4:35 a.m. they were standing beside my bed again.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 get waked up, Daddy Jack,鈥 one whispered. 鈥淐an we take another bath?鈥
鈥淵ou bet! Go for it!鈥 I said.
For the next 30 minutes I heard water running and boys talking and laughing until I collapsed into oblivion.
At 5:55 a.m. they were back again.
鈥淎re you ready to go to the Early Bird, Daddy Jack? The leader asked.
Through a foggy brain, I heard myself say, 鈥淚鈥檓 ready!鈥
We did the Early Bird up right. Two of them drank coffee; the third had a big Dr. Pepper and a refill.
I later found three boys can go through 13 bath towels while taking two baths.
I heard one of the boys, when arriving home, went to bed at 5:30 in the afternoon and slept until the next morning.
The following day all three went back to school.
Copyright 2025 by Jack McCall
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