SobersRajakumar
01-10-2014, 05:32 PM
The footsteps from the second floor woke Marianne out of her lucid morning slumber. Ricky must be up walking around she thought. Rolling over to her right she looked at the clock radio which showed that it will be six o'clock in about ten minutes. The bed felt so comfortable she didn't want to get up. But chores are waiting for her and will be reminded with the sun up in the window. The empty side of her bed belongs to her husband Ken who had left for Phoenix early in the morning. She got up and turned on the bedside lamp and saw the note by Ken. It said he'll be back with his dad by nine o'clock in the morning. His dad's flight will be flyingin at about seven. She pulled her peignoir over her nightgown and unwillingly got out of the bed. This is not going to be a laid back Saturday.
Slowly she walked towards the computer and turned on the touch screen. The screen came to life in seconds and she sat herself in front of the monitor. The email app was alerting for her attention and so was the Facebook icon. She turned on the web player and activated her favorite soft music radio channel. The subwoofers on sides of the computer started to hum pleasant piano music. She stood up and walked to the bathroom and refreshed herself. Then she changed into comfortable clothes thinking the busy day ahead of herself.
The hallway out of the bedroom was dark and she turned on the light. Shaking her head she picked up the basketball from the floor and threw it inside the closet at the end of the hallway. When she turned into the living room the two video game chairs and the console in front of the entertainment center made her upset. She intended to be prepared for Ken's dad coming but it is going to be harder than she thought. She calmed herself listening to the music and walked into the kitchen room past the dining table. Ken was nice enough to pull the steak out of the freezer and leave it in the kitchen sink. The ice has thawed quite a bit.
Looking outside the window, the rising sun made her feel a sense of comfort. Life's simple pleasures are good, she thought and poured her coffee out of the coffee pot into the cup. That reminded her that her father-in-law is a tea person. There ought to be a pot of tea for him. She searched the cupboard and found that Ken had bought a box of tea bags he could find at the local store. Pancakes should be an easy fix for breakfast and the boys don't complain usually. She suddenly heard running footsteps from the ceiling and understood that either Frank or Ricky is getting ready to come down. She grabbed her coffee mug and walked into the living room waiting for one of the two to come down. Sure enough Ricky, the eight year old young one came running down the steps with his new set of roller skates. He stalled, looked surprised and gave a sheepish smile when he saw her.
" Good morning mommy"
"No Ricky, you are not skating this early in the morning"
"But daddy says that exercising in the morning is good"
"Ricky you are still new using skates. You have enough bruises from skating for a week already. You can do it with Frankie"
"Ow shucks mommy"
Marianne knew that Frank is a late sleeper and Ricky might help in waking him up.
"Frankie!!! wake up!" Ricky yelled up from the steps
"Alright young man, your skating should wait anyway. Clean up your gaming consoles and game chairs out of the living room. You know grandpa is coming home today. No games or tv until you help me clean up the house"
"It wasn't me mommy. Frankie played late last night. It was him"
"All the same. Daddy is getting a new tv for your room next week then you don't have to play down at the living room. It depends on how nice you two are going to behave"
"Aiii Yeah!!! OK mommy"
Ricky hopped on the idea of the new tv and ran to the living room.
Then out of the quiet morning the dog started to bark out from the front yard. Tootsie, the Rottweiler was loud as if it was going to kill someone. Ricky ran to the front door and looked out the window. Marianne followed and looked out as well. There was Rudy and Mosher, two neighborhood boys from the high school football team, making faces and laughing at the dog from across the fence. They have been bothering the dog very often lately when they do their morning run. The ten foot fence was a steel wired and the dog was crashing over it as if it could jump but it couldn't. The dog was mad.
"Mommy its Rudy and Moses. They are making tootsie mad"
Marianne was upset and placed her coffee mug on the living room couch table and rushed out the front door.
"Boys!! your parents are going to hear about this".
She yelled as loud as she could and watched the boys laugh and run as soon as they saw her come out the door.
"Tootsie! Tootsie!!"
Yet the dog wouldn't stop barking. It looked like it was possessed. The dog slowly stopped barking and turned to her.
"Tootsie! ... tootsie, back, now"
She pointed towards its kennel. The dog slowly turned and and ran fast to its doghouse. She could see the two month old puppy of tootsie standing and wondering what was happening. The dog ran into the doghouse and the puppy followed. Tootsie is very protective of her pup, Marianne thought. She felt compassionate for the mother who is a fierce protector. It was hard for Tootsie to let the other two pups go when Ken gave them away to friends last week. Marianne still wants to give the last pup away. John Isley the owner of pup's father might find someone soon he said last week. The house can care for one dog only and Tootsie has to survive another heartbreak, Marianne brushed the thoughts away and looked at Ricky standing in the doorway.
"Back to work Ricky, Get Frankie up and clean up the living room".
Ricky turned and started running inside yelling "Frankie, Frankie....."
Marianne walked into the house and grabbed her coffee mug from the living room and heard Ricky begging Frankie in the kitchen room to help him skate. Frankie sounded disinterested. She sat herself in the couch to finish her coffee.
"Boys, before you know it will be nine o clock and grandpa will be home. Clean up the living room. I am not going to buy you games next month if you don't obey".
"Yes Mom" Frankie's reply was loud and annoyed.
She could hear Frankie sigh in anger. Frankie walked into the room and Ricky followed. It was entertaining to see Ricky doing his best to help the half-hearted Frankie. In no time the boys fixed their gaming consoles into their boxes and took them back to the room.
"Frankie bring your dirty clothes when you come down". Marianne reminded him.
It was time for breakfast and Ricky was sulking over not skating outdoors and was trying it indoors. He was trying that on the living room which was the spacious of all rooms. She heard him catapulting himself with the door frames and crashing into the couch.
"Ricky keep off the wooden floor"
Marianne was worried that he would come into the kitchen room and make skate marks on the floor.
"Breakfast is ready boys come on".
Ricky was the first at the table. He was enjoying the smell of pancakes and brought the maple syrup, honey and whipped cream out of the fridge.
"Bring the orange juice and milk too honey"
Ricky obeyed like a good boy.
Frankie was silent and Ricky was complaining about his classmates who hated eating green vegetables. He went on to say how Jennifer, his classmate throws away her vegetables and eats only fruits from her lunch. Marianne observed Frankie who has grown silent lately. She could imagine all sorts of things from his mind but she wouldn't know how to even remotely address them to a teenage boy of thirteen.
"Is anything wrong Frankie?"
Frankie shook his head and said "No..."
He kept digging the pancakes and was eating half-heartedly.
"why are you silent honey?" Marianne tried some compassion.
"Nothing mom" Frankie cut her off.
"I don't like your tone Frankie. I just wanted to help, and you are not wise enough to raise your voice to me"
"Sorry Mom" he sounded wounded
"You will have to have a talk with your dad soon. Your silence is not healthy"
Frankie looked up as if he swallowed a bitter pill. Marianne made eye contact with him and he looked down to his pancakes.
"Hurry up boys and Frankie do the laundry. I have to cook lunch and dad will be home with grandpa soon. It will be nine in no time"
"I wonder what grandpa's going to get for me" Ricky was anticipating a present.
She could hear her phone ring. It came from the bedroom. It must be Ken. She got off the table and ran to the bedroom. She turned the piano music from the computer down and answered her cell phone.
"Honey"
"Hey, I picked up dad. He is with me. We are having breakfast at 'Tawnies'. He says hi."
Marianne frowned. She could imagine her grumpy father-in-law saying hi. Of course Ken is lying.
"Is he in a good mood?" Marianne whispered.
"Yeah, yeah, its getting hotter by the minute" Said Ken
Oh uh not a good sign thought Marianne.
"Ok honey. Drive safe. Come home. Give my love to dad. Boys are up. They can't wait to see grandpa." Marianne knew it was true only for Ricky.
"Ok, bye now" Ken hung up.
She walked to the computer and turned the music up again. Then proceeded towards the kitchen where Frankie was commanding Ricky to shut up. She just remembered the could be reason for Frankie's anger. The room which was supposed to be Frankie's own after this summer is going to Ken's dad and that is what Frankie is not happy about. When she walked into the room Frankie was done with the breakfast and Ricky was going for his thirds. Marianne chow'ed down her pancake and gulped her orange juice. Then she waited to give Ricky company.
"Thanks Mom" Frankie said it ceremonially and took his dish to the sink and walked away.
Marianne enjoyed watching Ricky drenching his pancake with maple syrup and piling his whipped cream on it. She chopped some strawberries in a small bowl next to his plate. He then smothered it with whipped cream and ate it like a dessert. She shook her head and smiled. Ricky was filled up of whipped cream, strawberries, syrup and some pancakes in the next five minutes. He looked full and tired.
"You know you ate more whipped cream than pancakes" Marianne smiled
Ricky gave a you got me smile and stretched himself. He then gulped some milk and felt that he couldn't move. Marianne took his empty plates to the sink.
"Go and rest yourself down some time before you play Ricky. Don't play in full stomach"
Ricky dragged himself out of the kitchen room. Marianne had to hurry and make do of the time remaining. Soon it will be almost nine o clock and Ken will be home with his dad after the long drive. She could hear Frankie and Ricky arguing over whose clothes go into the laundry first on their way to the basement.
Marianne made up some lamb cobbler, coleslaw and prepared the steak to go into oven. Then she remembered to clean up the tea pot for her father-in-law. All through her cooking her mind wandered through the life of her father-in-law Mr. Edward Granger. He is eighty eight and still strong enough to walk with a cane. He surprisingly can climb up and down the stairs with a cane. Although he might not need to go upstairs, he can if he wants to. Mr. Edward Granger, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, after two years of lonely existence in Hampton, New Hampshire, he is moving in to his son's house. Marianne remembered last time seeing him at the funeral of her mother in law two years ago. He looked bitter and silent. Mom, Patricia the sweetheart, an antithesis of Mr. Edward Granger lived up until eighty two and succumbed to a weaker heart. Ken couldn't leave him to live alone with a help of a caregiver up in the cold weather of New Hampshire. Not after he fell in the bathroom one early morning only to be found later by the caregiver. He didn't break any bone but he severely sprained his back when he slided down the bathtub. No one asked him why was he up in the bathtub that early in the morning which was about five am in the morning. He would'nt answer anyway. Stubborn old man. When friends suggested to send Dad to a retirement home or community, Ken did think about it. But the thought of an aloof elderly person living among strangers made him offer dad to stay with him. It took some coaxing and begging first. Later dad gave in to live with family, even though he wasn't obviously happy about it. Ken has told Marianne many stories about how stubborn he could get. Being an army man he has tremendous tenacity. Ken understands his father's thick skin. Supposedly he has seen too much combat in World War II and Vietnam.
She was worried how Ken's dad is going to like it here in Hopper, Arizona. From the weather to the atmosphere everything is a total opposite of he is used to. He lived in Hampton, New Hampshire which is comparatively bigger than Hopper. Hopper is a town which belongs to the Sonoran desert like Phoenix. He would have to learn to like the hot weather. Ken loves this weather and works in Phoenix as a Project Engineer for a software firm. Obviously he is a son unlike his father.
Ken loves his dad but they don't have a very harmonious relationship. Ken calls it the generation gap between him and his dad is too much for them to connect. Ken's dad married late when he was forty four. He had been an Army man all his life and never bothered getting married until he met his wife Patricia, an Army nurse while he got injured in Vietnam.
She heard a scuffle in the basement which disturbed her thoughts and then an argument between the boys. Marianne left the steak in the oven and timed it for slow cooking and ran downstairs to the basement. On the way she heard Ricky and Frankie yell at each other. Suddenly there were some miffed cries. Marianne went down the stairs of the basement and saw Ricky holding his head, teary eyed pointing to Frankie saying that he was going to tell mom. Frankie was holding the laundry basket which obviously he used to bonk Ricky's head. Frankie looked mad and afraid.
"Frankie!!" Marianne was furious.
"Mom, Ricky would'nt let me wash my clothes".
Ricky started crying louder when he saw Marianne.
"Frankie thats enough. Are you crazy. You are grounded, go to your room and dad will decide how to punish you. No games today, no going out, no computer. Bring your cell phone down and leave it in my room."
She didn't know how to handle a teen boy who is growing stubborn by the day.
Frankie dropped the basket and ran past her.
She went over to Ricky and saw the bruise in his forehead. He fell into her arms and she hugged him. It must have hurt a little but it will heal soon. It didn't tear a skin or anything.
"What happened honey?'
"Mommy, I wanted to wash my baseball jacket and hat with his clothes and he kept throwing it out. I threw it in to the washer when he turned away and he hit me in the head.
"Aww, He won't do it again. It isn't your laundry anyway. I do your laundry and you will start doing yours next school year remember?."
Ricky nodded wiping his teary eyes. Marianne loved cute Ricky when he looked adorable and helpless. She gave him a hug.
"Come on help me in the kitchen. Dad will be home anytime".
Ricky turned away from her and they both came up to the kitchen.
Suddenly she felt like she wanted to see her phone. She went to the bedroom and got her phone. Sure enough there was a text from Ken saying that they were entering the town and were ten minutes away. She appreciated the warning but sure wanted to warn him not to text when driving. She went to the kitchen and saw Ricky dipping his hands into the dishes trying to taste them. She then arranged them in in their pots and got the plates out for breakfast and lunch. She got the tea bags out and dropped four of them into the tea pot full of boiling water. She got made sure the cream and sugar were accessible. She suddenly heard the wagon pull into the front and Ricky shot off to the door. She was satisfied that she were ready for the day.
The clock said it was eight forty five on the way to the door. Ken got out of the car and opened the gate. Ricky was bouncing and calling "Grandpa, grandpa, grandpa!!!".
"Granddad's tired Ricky don't bother him"
Ken got back into the car and pulled in to the driveway pavement. Grandpa waved at Ricky. Marianne thought that was a good sign. Ricky went back to close the gate. Marianne went to the passenger door and opened it. Mr. Edward Granger got out of the car with a cane and was wearing sunglasses. He said a dry terse
"Hi" with a smile
"Hello Dad" Marianne sounded as affable as she could be.
. It was hard for Marianne to understand his emotions with his sun glasses on. She wondered whether he was in a receptive mood. Still she still gave him hug and a kiss in his cheek to which he responded.
Suddenly Ken announced a "Hello!"
Then there she was "Grrrrrr woof, bark bark!!!!"
Out of her lungs was a roaring Tootsie barking at dad. Ken came in between dad and the dog.
"Bad dog, no no go back now back"
Ken pointed the doghouse and Tootsie wouldn't listen.
Tootsie wouldn't stop barking and dad was obviously irritated by the dog. So he tapped his cane on the pavement. That aggravated the dog and she barked loudly. Marianne understood the reason. She went to Tootsie and held her coller and dragged her off the driveway. Tootsie still wouldn't stop barking. She pulled her to the doghouse where little puppy 'Chewy', who Ricky named was wagging its tail and didn't know why. She pulled out the leash which was tied to the kennel and locked it on to Tootsie's collar. Tootsie understood that she is being leashed and kept moaning wuffs again. Can't blame her for being restless. The past week twice strangers came in to the yard only to take away her pups has made her anxious. She might have assumed that her last pup was going to be taken away.
Ken and Ricky were dragging dad's luggage out of the wagon and into the house. Dad seem to have made his way into the house. Marianne found a duffel bag and another briefcase in the wagon and took them inside the house. She also noticed that it was getting hotter by the minute. She turned and looked at the bright sky which will scorch pretty soon. That reminded her to fill up the birdbath in the backyard where couple of Gila woodpeckers come to cool off the hot weather. Marianne loved her home and the garden she had. She shared her love with the birds who show up sometimes to cool off the hot weather.
Inside Ken was trying to lighten up dad by showing his room and entertaining him with the privileges he has got for dad. He got dad his own TV in his room, a desktop computer, a new ham radio knowing that dad was an avid ham radio user and a small space for a library. Dad must have been taken by surprise with these things because he was telling Ken that he would barely use the computer and didn't need a separate computer. He sounded nice for the reputation he had. Marianne liked seeing Ken doing this for his dad. That showed his deep down love and admiration for the man who raised him. Marianne went into dad's room with the luggage.
"Dad I'll get you a cup of tea and Ken will show the house around for you. You have an attached bathroom for your private use. Ken honey, let dad freshen up and rest. did you guys have a good breakfast or do you need more. I have pancakes in the kitchen."
"Oh we had sausages and eggs at 'Tawnies', I had my fill. Dad didn't eat much though" Ken looked at Dad
"I am not hungry. I'll take the tea after my bath Marianne. Its hot. Does it get hot like this every day here?"
Marianne shook her head and showed a sour expression in her face indicating the heat will go up.
"But don't worry dad we have AC in your room and for the house as well. We activate the house AC after we close down all the windows in the night. You can put yours on whenever you want to. Just close the windows and door."
"Where is Frankie?" Ken asked out of the blue.
"He is in his room" Marianne replied.
"What in his room. He hasn't come down to say hi to dad. Thats disrespectful. Let me go see him"
Dad seem to ignore the conversation now.
Marianne smiled at him and dad was opening his luggage to freshen up. Marianne patted Ken and waved at him telling him to talk outside the room. After bringing Ken out of the room
"Ken, Frankie has been upset lately I think because of the room which was supposed to be his. Now this morning he hit Ricky on the head with the laundry basket. No he didn't hit hard but they had a fight. He is grounded and not allowed out today. I want you to talk to him and see what you can do to make him talk"
Ken was looking with a curious eyebrow and looked surprised.
"Really? he did'nt say a word when we said dad was going to be in the room"
"Precisely Ken because he wasn't crazy about the idea"
"Hm, well we were going to make that extra storage room behind the old office upstairs into the weight room for me. Maybe we can bring the wall down and make the office into Frankie's bedroom."
Ken the computer engineer was making mental plans already.
"Ken we can talk about the plans later. Go talk to Frankie first".
Ken walked away like a man on mission. Marianne thoughtfully walked to the kitchen. There she caught Ricky scooping icecreams from the box into a saucer.
"Ricky you've had too much sugar already. You don't want to be sugarholic. You have to grow big and strong like dad. You have to cut down on your sugar intake."
"Mommy its hot. I need icecream".
"Drink cold water'.
She took the icecream box from him and put it back in the refrigerator. Ricky moaned but stopped short of complaining.
"Now help me put the food in the refrigerator."
Ricky did as she ordered.
She could hear Ken walking Frankie to dad's room and focussed on making the tea tray for dad. She made sure the tea pot was still hot and transferred it to the tray. She placed an empty cup and saucer alongside the sugar and cream. She then carefully handled the tray to dad's room and saw Ken and Frankie arranging dad's closet and opening his luggage. Dad seems to be in the restroom freshening up and Marianne was surprised.
"Ken you should have waited till dad came out of the bathroom. You shouldn't open his personal belongings."
"We are just helping" Ken replied
Frankie was placing dad's tweed jackets into the closet and didn't look happy. Marianne placed the tea tray on the table and signaled Ken. Ken just waved her off like everything is OK. She then walked out of the room and Ken followed her.
Ken caught up with her and pulled her back
"Hey" Marianne rebeled to his handling.
"Wait a minute busy-bunny. I have something to tell you. Frankie will get over the sulky mood when he gets his own room. I've decided to do it this summer."
"But Ken we havent planned on it and we don't know how much it will cost to do the work. You promised to remodel the kitchen first."
"Honey I've made up my mind. I'll do that the same time. Lets just not squabble over it. It has to be done and why not do it now than later".
Marianne looked at him questioningly. If Ken puts his mind to anything he decides on the spur, nothing can change it from happening. Then they heard dad interacting with Frankie and Marianne decided to eavesdrop and shushed Ken.
Seemed like dad was talking to a surprised Frankie and he sounded like he didn't mind Frankie in his room. Frankie came out of the room and looked at his dad and mom and stopped
"Grandpa wants milk in his tea, not cream" and he walked towards the kithen.
Marianne smiled at Ken and proceeded towards the hallway. She went outside of the backdoor and stopped over the barbeque stove. She had to absorb the shock of bright sun by closing her eyes.
Her backyard was a spacious yard of couple of acres full of flower plants and trees, and she loved every one of them. Amidst the flower plants and grass she was smart enough to plant couple of Southern Live oaks. She grew up in Northern California in a house full of trees and she wanted to turn this desert piece into a green garden. She has almost succeeded. She also planted a Eladrica Pine in the front yard which has grown big. Her favorite was the desert willow which flowers with beautiful violet hue. The tree she hated the most was the Arizona ash which stands with a wide afro like branch structure in the front yard. She didn't hate the tree for how it looks but for the leaves it shed over a large area.
Ken always complains about the amount of water the garden takes in. But he was also kind enough to help her by drilling a motor-well for her. He had to jump through hoops to get permits from the town and get it done. The fact that there is a water spring about ten miles away from their house helped a bit. The weather in the outskirts of the town is compared to the Grand Canyon weather. Still with the help of Ken she was able to make an oasis in the midst of desert. She walked to the bird bath under the tree turned on the tap on the birdbath. Warm water filled the birdbath and Marianne turned off the tap when she decided the water was enough. She also made sure the bird feed container was working fine. She walked to the side of the house and made sure the side gate to the front yard is open. She walked to the front yard and noticed 'Chewy' stood up and wagged its tail as soon as she saw her. Ricky was playing catch alone by throwing the ball up and catching it in his mitt. Tootsie was lying with half of its body inside the doghouse.
"Mommy look a buzzard" Ricky exclaimed
Marianne looked above where Ricky pointed and had to shade her eyes with her palm to avoid the glare of the sun.
"Honey its correctly called as turkey vulture"
"wooo its big" Ricky wondered when he saw it spread its six foot wings to fly.
Marianne knows a few about birds, having lived here for more than ten years. Turkey vultures usually hang around places where dead caracas of some wild animal or bird is laying somewhere. The hot weather brings out some wild ones from the desert brushes in search of water or food. They get killed by heat or some poisonous snakes sometimes and lay dead in the desert. The Turkey buzzard cleanup the dead meat. She sometimes worry about snakes like western diamondbacks or sidewinders. There is also the gophersnakes which are non-venomous but to Marianne snakes are all the same. But so long as her rotweiler Tootsie is around they cannot find a way into the yard. Snakes feel the presence of dogs and stay away. She looked at Tootsie and kneeled next to her. She felt a bit of compassion and rubbed its head.
She heard Frankie come out of the house and walked towards Marianne. Ricky pointed at him and looked to Marianne
"You are grounded"
Frankie ignored him and looked at Marianne
"Mom, Grandpa is going to sleep for a bit. In the evening he wants to go for a walk. I told him about the park nearby. He asked me to show the way. Will it be ok for me to go."
"Yes Frankie, that would be fine. Tell dad about this and no you are not meeting up with friends in the park while with grandpa."
Frankie gave a sour expression and shook his head
"I wasn't gonna anyway. Geez" and he walked back into the house.
Her mind worked mile a minute assuming what sneaky Frankie might do in a day off. She has been lately weary of his mischievous friend Jeremy.
She looked back at Tootsie and decided to let her loose. Dad is going to sleep anyway. She can enjoy the freedom for a bit while he is asleep. She asked Ricky to let Tootsie loose and enjoyed the view of the freedom run Tootsie did with her little 'Chewy'.
"Stay in the yard Ricky don't get out" She warned Ricky and went inside the house.
Inside She was about to walk past Ken's office which was before Dad's bedroom. There was Frankie complaining about her to him. Ken seemed to reply to him gently and caringly. Ken seem to connect well with Frankie than herself. She wondered why would that be. She went to the bedroom and noticed that Ken had turned down the computer music and she sat in front of the computer. She read some of the emails sent by some readers of her home-keeping blog which she enjoys doing. She skimmed over Facebook and liked her niece's picture of her little daughter. Skimming over the computer she looked up some restaurants she could take dad and the family in the night. She then stayed focussed on her blog planning on what to write.
Creativity sometimes makes one lose the sense of time and sure enough it was right for Marianne. She didn't know how long it was but she finished a rough draft of her blog when she heard Ricky digging the fridge for some popsicles. She looked at the monitor time and was surprised to see that she had spent almost two hours in the computer writing. She extended her arms and stretched the knotted joints of her shoulders and stood up. The clock said it was twelve thirty. She should be getting ready for lunch anyway. She walked to the kitchen and saw Ricky breaking couple of popsicles into a bowl. He calls it his version of making a ice juice. She didn't stop him. The weather is to blame. She wanted to talk to Ken. She walked towards his room and suddenly stopped in front of dad's room. She thought she heard something. She knocked on the door.
"Come in" Dad said
Marianne opened the door and a gush of cold air hit her face. Dad has the A/C on. She was shocked to see Frankie with his Xbox console sitting on one of dad's pillow in front of the TV and firing his machine gun joystick. She saw Dad smiling on the chair. This was a surprise.
"What do you know. Dad did you sleep?"
"Yes I did Marianne. I slept an hour and couldn't sleep more. Frankie helped me set the Air conditioner. Then we started talking. He likes the wars of the World War II. So we started talking. Now he is playing a World War II game. I was in Okinawa you know."
"Gotcha" Frankie kept exclaiming whenever he killed someone on screen.
Marianne smiled and looked at dad again.
"I hope he is not a bother to you dad."
"No, no he is not. In fact he knows a lot about WWII for his age. I haven't had anyone to talk to about that in a long time"
Marianne smiled with a smirk and turned around and left the room. She absentmindedly knocked Ken's office.
"Huh, come in. Since when did you start to knock on doors" Ken smiled
"I just.... forget it. I was repeating my action from dad's room" She smiled and sat on the table. Ken seemed like he was calculating expenses for the summer project on the house.
"Did you notice that Dad and Frankie hit it off"
"I did . Frankie just came in here half hour ago with dad's cane. He showed how dad's cane has a sword in it."
Marianne's eyes were wide open. She couldn't believe it. But she is seeing it. Frankie won't turn out to be a aloof bitter person after all. She suddenly noticed the picture in the table. It was a old photo of Ken's family. It had Dad, Mom, Ken and his little brother. The picture's color was fading. Dad was in the uniform. He wasn't smiling. He looked tough and older in his fifties. Mom had a very beautiful smile. Little Ken looked like he was about ten years old. The smaller brother Steven was carried by mom. The boys looked cute. Marianne took it to have a closer look. Ken who was leaning back on the chair grew silent. He looked at her intently. She looked back at him and waited.
"I was thinking about dad"
"You told me honey, Not to ever bring up your brother's name in front of dad".
"I know but I was thinking ..... Although he was a angry person and tough to deal with, he always did the best he could for me. Including giving his life savings when I was getting into college. I paid him back but that wouldn't have happened without his sacrifice. But I still can't shake off the thought that he loved my brother much more."
"Well honey your brother went to the Marines. Your dad obviously felt more connection to him than the you".
"It started way before that Marianne. He liked little Steven more than me. He was better than me in everything. Dad grew bitter over the years at war but Steven's death while in Afganistan shut him up for a whole decade. Mom couldn't bear his silence sometimes she went to her Sister in Providence, Rhode Island. To see him a little happy is all she wanted. But I see it now. Maybe he has changed a bit over the years being lonely."
Marianne silently watched him. She started to understand how much Ken loved his dad although it didn't show. She was proud of him. She went behind the chair and embraced his neck and kissed his right cheek. He pulled her arms forward and they both were lost for a brief moment.
"Its lunch time. I have some lamb cobbler and steak. Choose your pick"
"mmm Im hungry already" Ken revealed.
Marianne walked out of the room and saw the back door was open. She could see dad standing in his shorts and hawaiian shirt outside with Frankie. She walked out and saw them both standing in the scorching sun and dad was pointing at the trees. Frankie was exaggerating stories about snakes around the area. Ken had followed her and stood next to her. He whispered into her ear.
"I think dad is good for Frankie"
Marianne nodded in agreement. She went to dad and Frankie who were now standing next to the birdbath. She noticed the gila woodpecker on the tree. It is the male one with the redcap on its head. She also noticed that the water in the birdbath is not disturbed. She wanted to get dad and Frankie inside the house so that the woodpeckers can cool off.
"Dad lets go inside. Its lunch time"
"Do we have to mom?. We just got out side"Frankie was making things harder for Marianne.
" Yes Frankie. Dad we can get out when it cools down in the evening. Frankie will walk you to the park."
Dad smiled and said
"There is a nice breeze in the air"
Marianne turned to Ken. He looked surprised, maybe because he is seeing the side of dad he has never seen before. Ken walked over and came to Marianne.
"How about we have lunch in the yard"
Marianne helplessly looked at the tree and saw the Gila woodpecker still there. She knows if Ken makes up his mind she can't change it. Suddenly an idea whizzed through her.
"How about we have lunch in the front yard. It faces the valley and the breeze is better there"
"Hey good idea!" Ken patted her
"Frankie help me get the party tables and chairs to the front."
Marianne walked dad to the front through the side gate and suddenly remembered that Tootsie was loose. Tootsie was digging something in the corner and stopped and looked up to them. Chewy wagged its tail and came running to Marianne. Dad stopped thinking the same thing Marianne was dreading about and looked at Tootsie. Tootsie didn't bark. Marianne always thought Tootsie was smart. Now she proves it. She recognized that Dad was part of the family. They slowly moved forward to the open grass under the Arizona ash tree next to the doghouse. Tootsie just ran back to its doghouse assuming a warning.
Slowly she walked towards the computer and turned on the touch screen. The screen came to life in seconds and she sat herself in front of the monitor. The email app was alerting for her attention and so was the Facebook icon. She turned on the web player and activated her favorite soft music radio channel. The subwoofers on sides of the computer started to hum pleasant piano music. She stood up and walked to the bathroom and refreshed herself. Then she changed into comfortable clothes thinking the busy day ahead of herself.
The hallway out of the bedroom was dark and she turned on the light. Shaking her head she picked up the basketball from the floor and threw it inside the closet at the end of the hallway. When she turned into the living room the two video game chairs and the console in front of the entertainment center made her upset. She intended to be prepared for Ken's dad coming but it is going to be harder than she thought. She calmed herself listening to the music and walked into the kitchen room past the dining table. Ken was nice enough to pull the steak out of the freezer and leave it in the kitchen sink. The ice has thawed quite a bit.
Looking outside the window, the rising sun made her feel a sense of comfort. Life's simple pleasures are good, she thought and poured her coffee out of the coffee pot into the cup. That reminded her that her father-in-law is a tea person. There ought to be a pot of tea for him. She searched the cupboard and found that Ken had bought a box of tea bags he could find at the local store. Pancakes should be an easy fix for breakfast and the boys don't complain usually. She suddenly heard running footsteps from the ceiling and understood that either Frank or Ricky is getting ready to come down. She grabbed her coffee mug and walked into the living room waiting for one of the two to come down. Sure enough Ricky, the eight year old young one came running down the steps with his new set of roller skates. He stalled, looked surprised and gave a sheepish smile when he saw her.
" Good morning mommy"
"No Ricky, you are not skating this early in the morning"
"But daddy says that exercising in the morning is good"
"Ricky you are still new using skates. You have enough bruises from skating for a week already. You can do it with Frankie"
"Ow shucks mommy"
Marianne knew that Frank is a late sleeper and Ricky might help in waking him up.
"Frankie!!! wake up!" Ricky yelled up from the steps
"Alright young man, your skating should wait anyway. Clean up your gaming consoles and game chairs out of the living room. You know grandpa is coming home today. No games or tv until you help me clean up the house"
"It wasn't me mommy. Frankie played late last night. It was him"
"All the same. Daddy is getting a new tv for your room next week then you don't have to play down at the living room. It depends on how nice you two are going to behave"
"Aiii Yeah!!! OK mommy"
Ricky hopped on the idea of the new tv and ran to the living room.
Then out of the quiet morning the dog started to bark out from the front yard. Tootsie, the Rottweiler was loud as if it was going to kill someone. Ricky ran to the front door and looked out the window. Marianne followed and looked out as well. There was Rudy and Mosher, two neighborhood boys from the high school football team, making faces and laughing at the dog from across the fence. They have been bothering the dog very often lately when they do their morning run. The ten foot fence was a steel wired and the dog was crashing over it as if it could jump but it couldn't. The dog was mad.
"Mommy its Rudy and Moses. They are making tootsie mad"
Marianne was upset and placed her coffee mug on the living room couch table and rushed out the front door.
"Boys!! your parents are going to hear about this".
She yelled as loud as she could and watched the boys laugh and run as soon as they saw her come out the door.
"Tootsie! Tootsie!!"
Yet the dog wouldn't stop barking. It looked like it was possessed. The dog slowly stopped barking and turned to her.
"Tootsie! ... tootsie, back, now"
She pointed towards its kennel. The dog slowly turned and and ran fast to its doghouse. She could see the two month old puppy of tootsie standing and wondering what was happening. The dog ran into the doghouse and the puppy followed. Tootsie is very protective of her pup, Marianne thought. She felt compassionate for the mother who is a fierce protector. It was hard for Tootsie to let the other two pups go when Ken gave them away to friends last week. Marianne still wants to give the last pup away. John Isley the owner of pup's father might find someone soon he said last week. The house can care for one dog only and Tootsie has to survive another heartbreak, Marianne brushed the thoughts away and looked at Ricky standing in the doorway.
"Back to work Ricky, Get Frankie up and clean up the living room".
Ricky turned and started running inside yelling "Frankie, Frankie....."
Marianne walked into the house and grabbed her coffee mug from the living room and heard Ricky begging Frankie in the kitchen room to help him skate. Frankie sounded disinterested. She sat herself in the couch to finish her coffee.
"Boys, before you know it will be nine o clock and grandpa will be home. Clean up the living room. I am not going to buy you games next month if you don't obey".
"Yes Mom" Frankie's reply was loud and annoyed.
She could hear Frankie sigh in anger. Frankie walked into the room and Ricky followed. It was entertaining to see Ricky doing his best to help the half-hearted Frankie. In no time the boys fixed their gaming consoles into their boxes and took them back to the room.
"Frankie bring your dirty clothes when you come down". Marianne reminded him.
It was time for breakfast and Ricky was sulking over not skating outdoors and was trying it indoors. He was trying that on the living room which was the spacious of all rooms. She heard him catapulting himself with the door frames and crashing into the couch.
"Ricky keep off the wooden floor"
Marianne was worried that he would come into the kitchen room and make skate marks on the floor.
"Breakfast is ready boys come on".
Ricky was the first at the table. He was enjoying the smell of pancakes and brought the maple syrup, honey and whipped cream out of the fridge.
"Bring the orange juice and milk too honey"
Ricky obeyed like a good boy.
Frankie was silent and Ricky was complaining about his classmates who hated eating green vegetables. He went on to say how Jennifer, his classmate throws away her vegetables and eats only fruits from her lunch. Marianne observed Frankie who has grown silent lately. She could imagine all sorts of things from his mind but she wouldn't know how to even remotely address them to a teenage boy of thirteen.
"Is anything wrong Frankie?"
Frankie shook his head and said "No..."
He kept digging the pancakes and was eating half-heartedly.
"why are you silent honey?" Marianne tried some compassion.
"Nothing mom" Frankie cut her off.
"I don't like your tone Frankie. I just wanted to help, and you are not wise enough to raise your voice to me"
"Sorry Mom" he sounded wounded
"You will have to have a talk with your dad soon. Your silence is not healthy"
Frankie looked up as if he swallowed a bitter pill. Marianne made eye contact with him and he looked down to his pancakes.
"Hurry up boys and Frankie do the laundry. I have to cook lunch and dad will be home with grandpa soon. It will be nine in no time"
"I wonder what grandpa's going to get for me" Ricky was anticipating a present.
She could hear her phone ring. It came from the bedroom. It must be Ken. She got off the table and ran to the bedroom. She turned the piano music from the computer down and answered her cell phone.
"Honey"
"Hey, I picked up dad. He is with me. We are having breakfast at 'Tawnies'. He says hi."
Marianne frowned. She could imagine her grumpy father-in-law saying hi. Of course Ken is lying.
"Is he in a good mood?" Marianne whispered.
"Yeah, yeah, its getting hotter by the minute" Said Ken
Oh uh not a good sign thought Marianne.
"Ok honey. Drive safe. Come home. Give my love to dad. Boys are up. They can't wait to see grandpa." Marianne knew it was true only for Ricky.
"Ok, bye now" Ken hung up.
She walked to the computer and turned the music up again. Then proceeded towards the kitchen where Frankie was commanding Ricky to shut up. She just remembered the could be reason for Frankie's anger. The room which was supposed to be Frankie's own after this summer is going to Ken's dad and that is what Frankie is not happy about. When she walked into the room Frankie was done with the breakfast and Ricky was going for his thirds. Marianne chow'ed down her pancake and gulped her orange juice. Then she waited to give Ricky company.
"Thanks Mom" Frankie said it ceremonially and took his dish to the sink and walked away.
Marianne enjoyed watching Ricky drenching his pancake with maple syrup and piling his whipped cream on it. She chopped some strawberries in a small bowl next to his plate. He then smothered it with whipped cream and ate it like a dessert. She shook her head and smiled. Ricky was filled up of whipped cream, strawberries, syrup and some pancakes in the next five minutes. He looked full and tired.
"You know you ate more whipped cream than pancakes" Marianne smiled
Ricky gave a you got me smile and stretched himself. He then gulped some milk and felt that he couldn't move. Marianne took his empty plates to the sink.
"Go and rest yourself down some time before you play Ricky. Don't play in full stomach"
Ricky dragged himself out of the kitchen room. Marianne had to hurry and make do of the time remaining. Soon it will be almost nine o clock and Ken will be home with his dad after the long drive. She could hear Frankie and Ricky arguing over whose clothes go into the laundry first on their way to the basement.
Marianne made up some lamb cobbler, coleslaw and prepared the steak to go into oven. Then she remembered to clean up the tea pot for her father-in-law. All through her cooking her mind wandered through the life of her father-in-law Mr. Edward Granger. He is eighty eight and still strong enough to walk with a cane. He surprisingly can climb up and down the stairs with a cane. Although he might not need to go upstairs, he can if he wants to. Mr. Edward Granger, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, after two years of lonely existence in Hampton, New Hampshire, he is moving in to his son's house. Marianne remembered last time seeing him at the funeral of her mother in law two years ago. He looked bitter and silent. Mom, Patricia the sweetheart, an antithesis of Mr. Edward Granger lived up until eighty two and succumbed to a weaker heart. Ken couldn't leave him to live alone with a help of a caregiver up in the cold weather of New Hampshire. Not after he fell in the bathroom one early morning only to be found later by the caregiver. He didn't break any bone but he severely sprained his back when he slided down the bathtub. No one asked him why was he up in the bathtub that early in the morning which was about five am in the morning. He would'nt answer anyway. Stubborn old man. When friends suggested to send Dad to a retirement home or community, Ken did think about it. But the thought of an aloof elderly person living among strangers made him offer dad to stay with him. It took some coaxing and begging first. Later dad gave in to live with family, even though he wasn't obviously happy about it. Ken has told Marianne many stories about how stubborn he could get. Being an army man he has tremendous tenacity. Ken understands his father's thick skin. Supposedly he has seen too much combat in World War II and Vietnam.
She was worried how Ken's dad is going to like it here in Hopper, Arizona. From the weather to the atmosphere everything is a total opposite of he is used to. He lived in Hampton, New Hampshire which is comparatively bigger than Hopper. Hopper is a town which belongs to the Sonoran desert like Phoenix. He would have to learn to like the hot weather. Ken loves this weather and works in Phoenix as a Project Engineer for a software firm. Obviously he is a son unlike his father.
Ken loves his dad but they don't have a very harmonious relationship. Ken calls it the generation gap between him and his dad is too much for them to connect. Ken's dad married late when he was forty four. He had been an Army man all his life and never bothered getting married until he met his wife Patricia, an Army nurse while he got injured in Vietnam.
She heard a scuffle in the basement which disturbed her thoughts and then an argument between the boys. Marianne left the steak in the oven and timed it for slow cooking and ran downstairs to the basement. On the way she heard Ricky and Frankie yell at each other. Suddenly there were some miffed cries. Marianne went down the stairs of the basement and saw Ricky holding his head, teary eyed pointing to Frankie saying that he was going to tell mom. Frankie was holding the laundry basket which obviously he used to bonk Ricky's head. Frankie looked mad and afraid.
"Frankie!!" Marianne was furious.
"Mom, Ricky would'nt let me wash my clothes".
Ricky started crying louder when he saw Marianne.
"Frankie thats enough. Are you crazy. You are grounded, go to your room and dad will decide how to punish you. No games today, no going out, no computer. Bring your cell phone down and leave it in my room."
She didn't know how to handle a teen boy who is growing stubborn by the day.
Frankie dropped the basket and ran past her.
She went over to Ricky and saw the bruise in his forehead. He fell into her arms and she hugged him. It must have hurt a little but it will heal soon. It didn't tear a skin or anything.
"What happened honey?'
"Mommy, I wanted to wash my baseball jacket and hat with his clothes and he kept throwing it out. I threw it in to the washer when he turned away and he hit me in the head.
"Aww, He won't do it again. It isn't your laundry anyway. I do your laundry and you will start doing yours next school year remember?."
Ricky nodded wiping his teary eyes. Marianne loved cute Ricky when he looked adorable and helpless. She gave him a hug.
"Come on help me in the kitchen. Dad will be home anytime".
Ricky turned away from her and they both came up to the kitchen.
Suddenly she felt like she wanted to see her phone. She went to the bedroom and got her phone. Sure enough there was a text from Ken saying that they were entering the town and were ten minutes away. She appreciated the warning but sure wanted to warn him not to text when driving. She went to the kitchen and saw Ricky dipping his hands into the dishes trying to taste them. She then arranged them in in their pots and got the plates out for breakfast and lunch. She got the tea bags out and dropped four of them into the tea pot full of boiling water. She got made sure the cream and sugar were accessible. She suddenly heard the wagon pull into the front and Ricky shot off to the door. She was satisfied that she were ready for the day.
The clock said it was eight forty five on the way to the door. Ken got out of the car and opened the gate. Ricky was bouncing and calling "Grandpa, grandpa, grandpa!!!".
"Granddad's tired Ricky don't bother him"
Ken got back into the car and pulled in to the driveway pavement. Grandpa waved at Ricky. Marianne thought that was a good sign. Ricky went back to close the gate. Marianne went to the passenger door and opened it. Mr. Edward Granger got out of the car with a cane and was wearing sunglasses. He said a dry terse
"Hi" with a smile
"Hello Dad" Marianne sounded as affable as she could be.
. It was hard for Marianne to understand his emotions with his sun glasses on. She wondered whether he was in a receptive mood. Still she still gave him hug and a kiss in his cheek to which he responded.
Suddenly Ken announced a "Hello!"
Then there she was "Grrrrrr woof, bark bark!!!!"
Out of her lungs was a roaring Tootsie barking at dad. Ken came in between dad and the dog.
"Bad dog, no no go back now back"
Ken pointed the doghouse and Tootsie wouldn't listen.
Tootsie wouldn't stop barking and dad was obviously irritated by the dog. So he tapped his cane on the pavement. That aggravated the dog and she barked loudly. Marianne understood the reason. She went to Tootsie and held her coller and dragged her off the driveway. Tootsie still wouldn't stop barking. She pulled her to the doghouse where little puppy 'Chewy', who Ricky named was wagging its tail and didn't know why. She pulled out the leash which was tied to the kennel and locked it on to Tootsie's collar. Tootsie understood that she is being leashed and kept moaning wuffs again. Can't blame her for being restless. The past week twice strangers came in to the yard only to take away her pups has made her anxious. She might have assumed that her last pup was going to be taken away.
Ken and Ricky were dragging dad's luggage out of the wagon and into the house. Dad seem to have made his way into the house. Marianne found a duffel bag and another briefcase in the wagon and took them inside the house. She also noticed that it was getting hotter by the minute. She turned and looked at the bright sky which will scorch pretty soon. That reminded her to fill up the birdbath in the backyard where couple of Gila woodpeckers come to cool off the hot weather. Marianne loved her home and the garden she had. She shared her love with the birds who show up sometimes to cool off the hot weather.
Inside Ken was trying to lighten up dad by showing his room and entertaining him with the privileges he has got for dad. He got dad his own TV in his room, a desktop computer, a new ham radio knowing that dad was an avid ham radio user and a small space for a library. Dad must have been taken by surprise with these things because he was telling Ken that he would barely use the computer and didn't need a separate computer. He sounded nice for the reputation he had. Marianne liked seeing Ken doing this for his dad. That showed his deep down love and admiration for the man who raised him. Marianne went into dad's room with the luggage.
"Dad I'll get you a cup of tea and Ken will show the house around for you. You have an attached bathroom for your private use. Ken honey, let dad freshen up and rest. did you guys have a good breakfast or do you need more. I have pancakes in the kitchen."
"Oh we had sausages and eggs at 'Tawnies', I had my fill. Dad didn't eat much though" Ken looked at Dad
"I am not hungry. I'll take the tea after my bath Marianne. Its hot. Does it get hot like this every day here?"
Marianne shook her head and showed a sour expression in her face indicating the heat will go up.
"But don't worry dad we have AC in your room and for the house as well. We activate the house AC after we close down all the windows in the night. You can put yours on whenever you want to. Just close the windows and door."
"Where is Frankie?" Ken asked out of the blue.
"He is in his room" Marianne replied.
"What in his room. He hasn't come down to say hi to dad. Thats disrespectful. Let me go see him"
Dad seem to ignore the conversation now.
Marianne smiled at him and dad was opening his luggage to freshen up. Marianne patted Ken and waved at him telling him to talk outside the room. After bringing Ken out of the room
"Ken, Frankie has been upset lately I think because of the room which was supposed to be his. Now this morning he hit Ricky on the head with the laundry basket. No he didn't hit hard but they had a fight. He is grounded and not allowed out today. I want you to talk to him and see what you can do to make him talk"
Ken was looking with a curious eyebrow and looked surprised.
"Really? he did'nt say a word when we said dad was going to be in the room"
"Precisely Ken because he wasn't crazy about the idea"
"Hm, well we were going to make that extra storage room behind the old office upstairs into the weight room for me. Maybe we can bring the wall down and make the office into Frankie's bedroom."
Ken the computer engineer was making mental plans already.
"Ken we can talk about the plans later. Go talk to Frankie first".
Ken walked away like a man on mission. Marianne thoughtfully walked to the kitchen. There she caught Ricky scooping icecreams from the box into a saucer.
"Ricky you've had too much sugar already. You don't want to be sugarholic. You have to grow big and strong like dad. You have to cut down on your sugar intake."
"Mommy its hot. I need icecream".
"Drink cold water'.
She took the icecream box from him and put it back in the refrigerator. Ricky moaned but stopped short of complaining.
"Now help me put the food in the refrigerator."
Ricky did as she ordered.
She could hear Ken walking Frankie to dad's room and focussed on making the tea tray for dad. She made sure the tea pot was still hot and transferred it to the tray. She placed an empty cup and saucer alongside the sugar and cream. She then carefully handled the tray to dad's room and saw Ken and Frankie arranging dad's closet and opening his luggage. Dad seems to be in the restroom freshening up and Marianne was surprised.
"Ken you should have waited till dad came out of the bathroom. You shouldn't open his personal belongings."
"We are just helping" Ken replied
Frankie was placing dad's tweed jackets into the closet and didn't look happy. Marianne placed the tea tray on the table and signaled Ken. Ken just waved her off like everything is OK. She then walked out of the room and Ken followed her.
Ken caught up with her and pulled her back
"Hey" Marianne rebeled to his handling.
"Wait a minute busy-bunny. I have something to tell you. Frankie will get over the sulky mood when he gets his own room. I've decided to do it this summer."
"But Ken we havent planned on it and we don't know how much it will cost to do the work. You promised to remodel the kitchen first."
"Honey I've made up my mind. I'll do that the same time. Lets just not squabble over it. It has to be done and why not do it now than later".
Marianne looked at him questioningly. If Ken puts his mind to anything he decides on the spur, nothing can change it from happening. Then they heard dad interacting with Frankie and Marianne decided to eavesdrop and shushed Ken.
Seemed like dad was talking to a surprised Frankie and he sounded like he didn't mind Frankie in his room. Frankie came out of the room and looked at his dad and mom and stopped
"Grandpa wants milk in his tea, not cream" and he walked towards the kithen.
Marianne smiled at Ken and proceeded towards the hallway. She went outside of the backdoor and stopped over the barbeque stove. She had to absorb the shock of bright sun by closing her eyes.
Her backyard was a spacious yard of couple of acres full of flower plants and trees, and she loved every one of them. Amidst the flower plants and grass she was smart enough to plant couple of Southern Live oaks. She grew up in Northern California in a house full of trees and she wanted to turn this desert piece into a green garden. She has almost succeeded. She also planted a Eladrica Pine in the front yard which has grown big. Her favorite was the desert willow which flowers with beautiful violet hue. The tree she hated the most was the Arizona ash which stands with a wide afro like branch structure in the front yard. She didn't hate the tree for how it looks but for the leaves it shed over a large area.
Ken always complains about the amount of water the garden takes in. But he was also kind enough to help her by drilling a motor-well for her. He had to jump through hoops to get permits from the town and get it done. The fact that there is a water spring about ten miles away from their house helped a bit. The weather in the outskirts of the town is compared to the Grand Canyon weather. Still with the help of Ken she was able to make an oasis in the midst of desert. She walked to the bird bath under the tree turned on the tap on the birdbath. Warm water filled the birdbath and Marianne turned off the tap when she decided the water was enough. She also made sure the bird feed container was working fine. She walked to the side of the house and made sure the side gate to the front yard is open. She walked to the front yard and noticed 'Chewy' stood up and wagged its tail as soon as she saw her. Ricky was playing catch alone by throwing the ball up and catching it in his mitt. Tootsie was lying with half of its body inside the doghouse.
"Mommy look a buzzard" Ricky exclaimed
Marianne looked above where Ricky pointed and had to shade her eyes with her palm to avoid the glare of the sun.
"Honey its correctly called as turkey vulture"
"wooo its big" Ricky wondered when he saw it spread its six foot wings to fly.
Marianne knows a few about birds, having lived here for more than ten years. Turkey vultures usually hang around places where dead caracas of some wild animal or bird is laying somewhere. The hot weather brings out some wild ones from the desert brushes in search of water or food. They get killed by heat or some poisonous snakes sometimes and lay dead in the desert. The Turkey buzzard cleanup the dead meat. She sometimes worry about snakes like western diamondbacks or sidewinders. There is also the gophersnakes which are non-venomous but to Marianne snakes are all the same. But so long as her rotweiler Tootsie is around they cannot find a way into the yard. Snakes feel the presence of dogs and stay away. She looked at Tootsie and kneeled next to her. She felt a bit of compassion and rubbed its head.
She heard Frankie come out of the house and walked towards Marianne. Ricky pointed at him and looked to Marianne
"You are grounded"
Frankie ignored him and looked at Marianne
"Mom, Grandpa is going to sleep for a bit. In the evening he wants to go for a walk. I told him about the park nearby. He asked me to show the way. Will it be ok for me to go."
"Yes Frankie, that would be fine. Tell dad about this and no you are not meeting up with friends in the park while with grandpa."
Frankie gave a sour expression and shook his head
"I wasn't gonna anyway. Geez" and he walked back into the house.
Her mind worked mile a minute assuming what sneaky Frankie might do in a day off. She has been lately weary of his mischievous friend Jeremy.
She looked back at Tootsie and decided to let her loose. Dad is going to sleep anyway. She can enjoy the freedom for a bit while he is asleep. She asked Ricky to let Tootsie loose and enjoyed the view of the freedom run Tootsie did with her little 'Chewy'.
"Stay in the yard Ricky don't get out" She warned Ricky and went inside the house.
Inside She was about to walk past Ken's office which was before Dad's bedroom. There was Frankie complaining about her to him. Ken seemed to reply to him gently and caringly. Ken seem to connect well with Frankie than herself. She wondered why would that be. She went to the bedroom and noticed that Ken had turned down the computer music and she sat in front of the computer. She read some of the emails sent by some readers of her home-keeping blog which she enjoys doing. She skimmed over Facebook and liked her niece's picture of her little daughter. Skimming over the computer she looked up some restaurants she could take dad and the family in the night. She then stayed focussed on her blog planning on what to write.
Creativity sometimes makes one lose the sense of time and sure enough it was right for Marianne. She didn't know how long it was but she finished a rough draft of her blog when she heard Ricky digging the fridge for some popsicles. She looked at the monitor time and was surprised to see that she had spent almost two hours in the computer writing. She extended her arms and stretched the knotted joints of her shoulders and stood up. The clock said it was twelve thirty. She should be getting ready for lunch anyway. She walked to the kitchen and saw Ricky breaking couple of popsicles into a bowl. He calls it his version of making a ice juice. She didn't stop him. The weather is to blame. She wanted to talk to Ken. She walked towards his room and suddenly stopped in front of dad's room. She thought she heard something. She knocked on the door.
"Come in" Dad said
Marianne opened the door and a gush of cold air hit her face. Dad has the A/C on. She was shocked to see Frankie with his Xbox console sitting on one of dad's pillow in front of the TV and firing his machine gun joystick. She saw Dad smiling on the chair. This was a surprise.
"What do you know. Dad did you sleep?"
"Yes I did Marianne. I slept an hour and couldn't sleep more. Frankie helped me set the Air conditioner. Then we started talking. He likes the wars of the World War II. So we started talking. Now he is playing a World War II game. I was in Okinawa you know."
"Gotcha" Frankie kept exclaiming whenever he killed someone on screen.
Marianne smiled and looked at dad again.
"I hope he is not a bother to you dad."
"No, no he is not. In fact he knows a lot about WWII for his age. I haven't had anyone to talk to about that in a long time"
Marianne smiled with a smirk and turned around and left the room. She absentmindedly knocked Ken's office.
"Huh, come in. Since when did you start to knock on doors" Ken smiled
"I just.... forget it. I was repeating my action from dad's room" She smiled and sat on the table. Ken seemed like he was calculating expenses for the summer project on the house.
"Did you notice that Dad and Frankie hit it off"
"I did . Frankie just came in here half hour ago with dad's cane. He showed how dad's cane has a sword in it."
Marianne's eyes were wide open. She couldn't believe it. But she is seeing it. Frankie won't turn out to be a aloof bitter person after all. She suddenly noticed the picture in the table. It was a old photo of Ken's family. It had Dad, Mom, Ken and his little brother. The picture's color was fading. Dad was in the uniform. He wasn't smiling. He looked tough and older in his fifties. Mom had a very beautiful smile. Little Ken looked like he was about ten years old. The smaller brother Steven was carried by mom. The boys looked cute. Marianne took it to have a closer look. Ken who was leaning back on the chair grew silent. He looked at her intently. She looked back at him and waited.
"I was thinking about dad"
"You told me honey, Not to ever bring up your brother's name in front of dad".
"I know but I was thinking ..... Although he was a angry person and tough to deal with, he always did the best he could for me. Including giving his life savings when I was getting into college. I paid him back but that wouldn't have happened without his sacrifice. But I still can't shake off the thought that he loved my brother much more."
"Well honey your brother went to the Marines. Your dad obviously felt more connection to him than the you".
"It started way before that Marianne. He liked little Steven more than me. He was better than me in everything. Dad grew bitter over the years at war but Steven's death while in Afganistan shut him up for a whole decade. Mom couldn't bear his silence sometimes she went to her Sister in Providence, Rhode Island. To see him a little happy is all she wanted. But I see it now. Maybe he has changed a bit over the years being lonely."
Marianne silently watched him. She started to understand how much Ken loved his dad although it didn't show. She was proud of him. She went behind the chair and embraced his neck and kissed his right cheek. He pulled her arms forward and they both were lost for a brief moment.
"Its lunch time. I have some lamb cobbler and steak. Choose your pick"
"mmm Im hungry already" Ken revealed.
Marianne walked out of the room and saw the back door was open. She could see dad standing in his shorts and hawaiian shirt outside with Frankie. She walked out and saw them both standing in the scorching sun and dad was pointing at the trees. Frankie was exaggerating stories about snakes around the area. Ken had followed her and stood next to her. He whispered into her ear.
"I think dad is good for Frankie"
Marianne nodded in agreement. She went to dad and Frankie who were now standing next to the birdbath. She noticed the gila woodpecker on the tree. It is the male one with the redcap on its head. She also noticed that the water in the birdbath is not disturbed. She wanted to get dad and Frankie inside the house so that the woodpeckers can cool off.
"Dad lets go inside. Its lunch time"
"Do we have to mom?. We just got out side"Frankie was making things harder for Marianne.
" Yes Frankie. Dad we can get out when it cools down in the evening. Frankie will walk you to the park."
Dad smiled and said
"There is a nice breeze in the air"
Marianne turned to Ken. He looked surprised, maybe because he is seeing the side of dad he has never seen before. Ken walked over and came to Marianne.
"How about we have lunch in the yard"
Marianne helplessly looked at the tree and saw the Gila woodpecker still there. She knows if Ken makes up his mind she can't change it. Suddenly an idea whizzed through her.
"How about we have lunch in the front yard. It faces the valley and the breeze is better there"
"Hey good idea!" Ken patted her
"Frankie help me get the party tables and chairs to the front."
Marianne walked dad to the front through the side gate and suddenly remembered that Tootsie was loose. Tootsie was digging something in the corner and stopped and looked up to them. Chewy wagged its tail and came running to Marianne. Dad stopped thinking the same thing Marianne was dreading about and looked at Tootsie. Tootsie didn't bark. Marianne always thought Tootsie was smart. Now she proves it. She recognized that Dad was part of the family. They slowly moved forward to the open grass under the Arizona ash tree next to the doghouse. Tootsie just ran back to its doghouse assuming a warning.