Tag: mother

Paternity Suitable

Glad you could join us for the next congratulatory episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

Elliot 206
Image credit: pets4homes.co.uk / S.T. Ranscht

“You wanted to see me, your Greatness?” Elliot panted, out of breath from racing to answer the King’s urgent summons. I’ll have to remember this whenever I send for anyone, he thought as he willed his heart not to explode.

Smiling from shoulder to shoulder, King Arnie announced, “I wanted you to be the first to know. I’m going to be a grandfather!”

“Congratulations! That’s amazing! How did—“ Noticing his father-in-law’s arched eyebrow, Elliot blinked. “Wait a minute. Does that mean… Are you saying… Am I going to be… a dad?”

“That’s right, son!” The King slapped him on the shell. “I just got the news from the Runner. Congratulations to you.”

Elliot turned to leave. “I should be with Cassandra.”

“Of course that’s up to you,” King Arnie said, “but she did send a message. She said to tell you she’s fine and she knows how important your job here is. And she’s hoping you’ll find some time to set up a house with a nursery — she said that would make you the greatest hero ever.”

“Then that’s what I’ll do,” Prince Elliot the Faithful father-to-be declared. “I can’t believe it. I’m going to be a dad!”

With visions of fatherhood fuzzing up his brain, Elliot zipped out the door to share the news with his friends, trailing an exuberant, “Wooooo-hooooooooo!” behind him.

To be continued. . .

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .

Trapped

Glad you could join us for the next terrifying episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

Elliot T
Photo credit: Hendy Mp

“Please allow me to introduce you to a few Members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Mansion. They are here to collect your Donation.”

Scritchy-scratchy tiptoes scraped from every crack and crevice as tiny green versions of the large orange stranger closed in on Elliot in a creeping, tightening circle. He swiveled his eye stalks wildly searching for Cassandra. He didn’t find her. She must have escaped, he thought. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to her! But he kept looking. He needed to be sure.

The stranger stepped up onto a rocky outcrop against the far granite wall beneath a sheltering overhang, and observed the scene with a look of beneficence.

“Little Brothers!” he called, “The Great Spirit Man’Tis, Granter of Prayers, is well pleased with the Work you have done so far. Now, in answer to our Prayers, he brings us yet another Gift — a fine, if smallish, Donation of Construction Materials! This Child of the World, heavy with the World’s Burdens, has come here of his own Free Will. It is your Job to relieve him of the Weight he bears and transfer it to our Hallowed Hill of Shells.”

“Wait!” Elliot yelled. “I’m not giving you my home!”

Continue reading “Trapped”

Comfortable Chaos

I know a thing or two about chaos.

I was a Licensed Child Care Provider. For more than 22 years, as a single parent, I spent-12-hours-a-day-5-days-a-week-raising-6-to-9-children-who-had-other-parents,-while-home-schooling-my-son-and-costuming-3-musicals-a-year-with-65-to-73-kids-in-each-show-for-a-nationwide-children’s-theater-company,-after-the-other-kids-went-home-and-on-weekends,-living-too-many-days-with-never-enough-hours-in-any-of-them-so-I-could-sleep-only-5-and-1/2-hours-a-night-for-117-years.

I lived in a circus — a three-ring, never ending circus.

Deep breath.

Deep, cleansing breath.

Sometimes I’d stop the minivan at the signal half a mile from home, close my eyes, and think, “Please let the light stay red so I can take a nap.”

Ten seconds later, the light always turned green.

Yeah, I know a thing or two about chaos.

Continue reading “Comfortable Chaos”