What Happens After the Kid Goes Back to College

Dear Kid,

When I got home last night, Booker was waiting to great me as if I’d been gone for a month rather than a few hours.

Booker: You’re home!

Me: Of course I’m home.

Booker: Can I have dinner?

Me: I’m pretty sure you had dinner.

Booker: Can I have a snack?

Me: No, but we can cuddle if you’d like.

Booker: Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle!

I sat down on the floor and he climbed up into my lap.

Booker: Where is the Tall Kid?

Me: I took him back to school.

Booker: Silly Mommy. School comes in yellow buses. Can you scratch a little lower?

Me: How’s that?

Booker: mmmmmmmm

Me: I took him back to college—which is a kind of school. Would you like me to tell you about it?

Booker: Yes, please.

Me: We packed all the things that had been in the dining room for the last month, and

Booker: You sent him away because he left his things in the dining room?!!!!

Me: No, but it’s something to consider for the summer.

Booker: Keep scratching.

Me: Sorry. So we packed all his things up and drove him all the way from here (I scratch Booker’s shoulder) to there (I scratch his leg) and moved him into his new room.

Booker: Who locks his crate at night?

Me: Um, no one, but the door locks by itself. He has a key.

Booker: Can I have a key?

Me: No.

Me: They have bunk-beds in their new room.

Booker: What are bunk-beds?

Me: That’s where one bed is on top of the other.

Booker finds this a hilarious concept.

Booker: Do they each have a bin for their toys? Don’t stop scratching.

Me: Well, they each have a closet, two shelves, some drawers, and a desk.

Booker: That’s a lot of space; I only have a bin.

It’s amazing how one sentence can be absolutely correct and 100% wrong at the same time.

Me: And then I came home.

Booker: To me.

Me: To you. And Daddy and Pi.

Booker: Yes.

There is a pause. (Or possibly a paws.)

Booker: Mom?

Me: mmmm?

Booker: Where is the Tall Kid?

Enjoy your Day Before Classes Begin.

Love, Mom

Booker: Say “and Booker”

Love, Mom and Booker