We recently acquired a
ridiculously snug pre-loved couch. It has been broken-in and worn-soft by
friends who, sadly, could no longer accommodate it. The possibility of
said-couch ending its days waiting dejectedly by the gutter for the hard-rubbish
collection was too horrendous to contemplate, so we lugged it and its two
comfy-chair buddies down to The Rock where they seem to be enjoying a whole new
batch of bums on seats.
Yesterday, Manchild
was lying full-stretch on the new old couch while I sat ensconced in Comfy-Chair B with
my knitting. The footy was on the tv. Manchild and I support the same team, and
although this has been a disastrous season, we remain blindly hopeful that one
day soon they will rack up a win. With yesterday’s opponents being almost as
hapless as our lot of late, we both harboured a tiny optimistic flicker that
this just might be the day.
Manchild had been out
late Saturday night. He’d stayed at a mate’s house after a big social event and
the lure of the couch was far stronger than the pull of his desk. Even with final
exams less than ten weeks away, that damn desk remains a pathetic weakling in
any tug-of-war… food, sleep, music, computer games, sport on tv… they all win
without even trying. Anyway, he
must have been extra-tired because not only was he lying down, but he
was snuggled under a blanket. He looked particularly calm and just a teensy bit
vulnerable. I could see the little boy he used to be hovering just under the
surface. He was warm and settled and focussed on the football. So I did what
all good mothers of almost-grown-up sons do.
I seized the opportunity to start a particularly annoying conversation,
confident that he couldn’t be arsed getting up and walking away:
You looked so handsome last night. Did people tell you how great you
looked?
Yep.
Lots and lots of people?
Yep
Male and female people?
Yep.
What about one special person? Is there one special person that makes
your heart go pitter pat?
(Crickets)
IS there? Is there someone special?
(Crickets)
A special girl? … or is it a special boy? Have you even decided that
yet?
(Crickets… with the slightest suggestion of upturned corners of
the mouth)
Aha… I saw that! You are listening…So IS there?
Stop talking Mum.
As far as
conversations go between Manchild and me, that was a pretty good one.
No mention of food on his behalf or dirty washing on mine.
No mention of food on his behalf or dirty washing on mine.
And our footy team did win.
Score!
Yesterday was a good
day.
Ha Ha! How subtle was that?!! He obviously did not want to play your game! Glad your ream won the footy!
ReplyDeleteI tried, Judy... I thought I might just be able to crack the shell in his moment of weakness, but alas... Not to be ...
Deletethis is excellent - good talk - good game - good couch - and KNITTING to boot!
ReplyDeleteExactly... What's not to like?
DeletePerfect. I love. I do. I couldn't smile any harder without my face falling off. xxx
ReplyDeleteYour day will come!
ReplyDeleteSometimes you definitely have to pick your moments to have certain discussions with your kids! Sounds like a good day.
ReplyDelete...you said it! I really thought this time I might get a bit of nitty gritty, but not so.
ReplyDelete