Story Time

After having dinner at our friends’ house we came back home to get the kids into bed and put a cap on what was a beautiful weekend. Matt did most of the heavy lifting as Di and I spoke about my plans for when my Mom gets here.

She and I will have two small chunks of time allowing for little more than a possible day trip but more likely, just hang out time in Cuenca. No problem though. The first three days she will be here will be Cuenca’s Independence Festival. It supposed to be a big party.

When she returns after her press trip. Which by the way is NOT fair. She will be here for 2 weeks and will be going to the Galapagos and I will have lived here for six months and will have not gone. I guess it’s a symbol of true immersion given that most people that live here cannot afford to go.

My conversation with Di was interrupted by Matt’s relaying Duncan’s wish for goodnight kisses. Hard to say no to that cute little kid. But I have been getting better! Uncle Teddy Bear has become Uncle Grizzly Bear. Or maybe Uncle Hard Ass. The hugs and kisses are a little fewer and farther between but they squeeze just as hard and still light up when I pick them up.

Tonight the kids got extra hugs and kisses. Duncan was down first but Piper had her little backpack on and was looking for Barbie Princess’s friend – Barbie Sideline Reporter or Barbie President, I don’t remember. There are too many to keep track of.

About twenty minutes after the kids were asleep I was deeply entrenched in a game of Words With Friends on Facebook. This game is insanely addicting. It’s basically online scrabble. You play friends one on one. As many games as you want. I’d like to say my vocabulary and creativity are inflicting heartbreak to my friends 3000 miles away but I’ve hit a little bit of a cold stretch. After a ten game win streak I am currently losing seven six (thank god for “RUMMY” on a triple word/letter) of my nine games.

In the middle of being stuck with U-less Q’s and six letter words with nowhere to put them, I hear a knock on the door. It was faint and was at first mistaken for the wind or the sounds of the apartment breathing and creaking as only heard at night. Again there was a faint knock and an even softer voice whispering my name. I got up and opened the door.

Duncan was standing in his red pajamas that are scattered with robots and rockets that protect him from the bedbugs. His face was as red as his pajamas and tears were running down his face. He seemed scared from a nightmare or the strong wind outside making curious sounds.

“Duncan, what’s wrong buddy?” I said, picking him up.

“I can’t go to sleep without a bedtime story,” he muttered wiping the tears away with one hand and hugging me tight with the other.

I brought him back to my bed and held the little guy until the tears dried up.

“Would you like me to tell you a story, bud?”

He nodded, looking into my eyes seeking the comfort he needed before he could fall asleep.

I really don’t like telling stories. I’m not good at it. I ramble (cut to all my friends/readers of this blog nodding…) I’m not very creative on the spot. I get nervous in front of the damn 5 year-old.

But Duncan needed a story more than I needed not to tell a story so I asked him what he wanted it to be about.

“Peter Pan,” he said.

If you have a story telling deficiency like I do, you can usually just ask them questions about what they want it to be about and they will mostly spell it out. But they figure you out after a while. You can only delay for so long.

As Duncan settled in, Peter Pan arrived in London to meet Wendy. It had been a while and Wendy missed Peter dearly. Wendy wanted Peter to see London and her life in the real world. Reluctantly, Peter put on Michael’s clothes and they went out. Peter was less than happy in London and desperately wanted to use that nifty pixie dust that makes him fly.

After walking around town they walked into a Halloween shop. Peter loved the idea of dressing up and saw a pirate costume. Peter thought dressing up like a pirate would be a great way to sneak onto Hook’s ship and fool him so he could steal his treasure.

After buying the costume, he and Wendy flew to Neverland and Pan dressed up and hopped on Hook’s ship, wanting to be part of the crew. As one crewmember had just walked the plank, there was an open spot. After surprising Hook in his quarters and tying him up, Pan snuck down to the treasure room and grabbed the biggest chest he could find.

He brought it up to the deck and ripped off his costume and said, “HA! I fooled you guys again and now I have your treasure!”

Duncan’s eyes looked like it was Christmas morning. I sadly had nothing else. Wendy and Peter Pan flew away with the treasure.

Duncan said he was ready for bed now and asked me to come snuggle with him. He loves his head scratches (who doesn’t?) and they always put him right to sleep.

He said, “I’m gonna close my eyes, because sometimes they sting.”

He grabbed my arm and scooted closer. Within a minute he was asleep.

I waited another minute or so and snuck out of his room feeling accomplished and gratified. It’s nice to know he knows he can come to me when he has a problem or wants a story. It’s nice to know I can give him what he needs to make him feel better. It nice to know he feels more comfortable sleeping if I am there.

Di always says how being around these kids is the best birth control I could ever have. She’s absolutely right.

The kids are chaos. God help the man who invented the play-size drum set, if I ever find him. Eating is never just eating, but a constant struggle to con them into swallowing something that’s not Mac’N Cheese. The alone time is counted in seconds and usually from the bathroom or the shower. But then again, they like to barge in there too.

But more often than not, this peaking into the future (the DISTANT future) is exciting. They are good kids and constantly put smiles on my face. Hearing the “I love you’s,” at bedtime is heart warming and being their jungle gym is fun every single time. I can’t stand when they push the buttons on my computer, but I can strangely flick really hard and so they don’t do that so much anymore.

It’s fun watching them learn and grow right in front of me. It’s fun having them become a part of my life – a part that won’t end in December. It’s fun knowing less Spanish than a blond 7-year-old. It’s fun having in depth talks about fairies. On Friday, we had a house warming party and I introduced them to another little boy. Duncan went up and hugged him. Piper smiled at him and said hello. About 11 seconds later they sprinted upstairs as if the last one to the top didn’t get any treats.

I’ve enjoyed having kids be a part of my life. And I will again. This glimpse has been exciting and scary at the same time. Someday Future Teddy Jr. will be here and I will get to do all these things again. It’s inevitable that someday Future Teddy Jr. is going to want a story too. I only hope that when he comes into my room tearful and story-hunting he pokes Future Mrs. Teddy.