"But Mooommm!” The blonde-haired, brown-eyed boy stomped his foot. “That’s the only thing I put on my list."
"Well then, I guess you won't have anything to open this afternoon." A well-manicured finger pointed towards the room’s bathroom.
Huffing, Romeo tightly crossed his arms against his chest and marched into the bathroom, with his mother following closely behind him.
“No fair!”
“Fair has nothing to do with it.” Picking up the hairbrush, Dorothea started combing his hair.
"Puppies are an enormous responsibility. Almost as much as children. They need lots of love and attention, not to mention being walked a few times a day. Someone has to feed them, bathe them, brush their fur.” She lightly tapped the top of his head with the brush before placing it back down on the vanity. “Oh, and let’s not forget training and cleaning up after them.”
Perplexed brown eyes stared back at her in the mirror. “I’ll do all of it. Pinky swear.” He turned and looked up at his mother. “I'll even teach him to do all kinds of tricks.”
Dorothea crouched down. So she was eye level with him. “Silly. I’m not talking about that type of training. Puppies are like babies, they need to be taught how to use a wee-wee pad first and then how to go outside. And all that needs to be cleaned up. Are you willing to do the pooper-scooping?”
"Pooper-scooping? Ewe!”
"See? Who do you think will do that?”
A slight tilt of his head, he shrugged his shoulders. “Gertie?”
"That’s not Gertie’s job. She has enough to do keeping up with the four of you."
Standing, Dorothea could see his wheels spinning as he pursed his lips tightly together, contemplating that one.
“Me.” he said matter-of-factly.
“Really?”
Sliding the palms of her hands along her pants as she stood, Dorothea retreated back into the bedroom. A minute later, he joined her and sat on the edge of the bed watching as she folded the last piece of clothing and placed it in his suitcase.
“Well… if I say yes, will I get a puppy for my birthday?"
"Nice try, but the answer is still no. You better get moving or you’ll be late for your own party."
"But..."
"No buts, the answer is still no. Better make sure you have everything, you will leave straight from the party.”
She could hear his frustrated hmph behind her as she left the room to round up the rest of her children. This was going to be a long day.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Jon pulled the headphones from his ears and tossed them, along with his phone, onto the unmade bed. “Whoa! What’s going on in there?” he called to her. When no answer came, just a bunch of garbled mumblings and agitated grunts, he set the shower to hot, and he headed down the short passageway towards the walk-in-closet. “Hey,” he propped his shoulder against the door frame. “Everything okay?”
“Just dandy.” Acknowledging him, she continued stuffing one foot into her boot, then the other. Checking herself in the floor-length mirror, she pulled her sweater over her head and replaced it with another one.
“Anything I could do?”
“Not unless you have a tarp lying around somewhere.”
“Are they back in style?” he teased.
Dark green eyes narrowed and glared at him as she tried to leave, but Jon stepped in front of the doorway, blocking her.
“Could you move, please?”
“Hey. Talk to me.”
"Did you handle our little problem?”
“If you are referring to that fucking reporter, then yes. I called Ken and he is handling it.”
“Good. Can Ken handle my clothing issues too?” It was a rhetorical question and why she held up her hand to prevent him from answering. “Forget it. I need to finish getting ready.”
“We have plenty of time. I was just about to take a shower. Why don’t you join me?”
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Why not? Could be fun.”
“It took me hours to blow out this chia-pet head. I’m not doing it again.”
Jon inched closer and brushed his fingers over the long, silky soft strands. The thick unruly curls were usually piled on top of her head with a clip, were now pin straight and hanging almost to her waist.
“Jon, stop, you're all wet.”
“Then we’re halfway there.”
“You're incorrigible, you know that?”
“That’s why you married me, isn’t it?”
“Well, it wasn’t for your brains, that’s for sure.”
“Now that wasn’t very nice.”
“Yeah, well, you're not using them very wisely these days.”
As they continued to banter back and forth, Ari placed both hands on Jon’s shoulders and turned him around. Nudging him to walk forward, she steered him all the way into the bathroom and then helped him peel his sticky shirt over his head. Before he even managed to wink at her and as he tried to snake his hands around her waist, she sidestepped him. Speaking through the doorway, she could practically feel his pouty eyes staring at her as she slipped through the bathroom door.
“I can feel that you know.”
“Come in here and I’ll give you something else to feel, Crash.”
“The answer is still no.” Laughing at his groaned sigh as she walked away, she headed towards the closet to continue her never-ending battle with her wardrobe.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Chelsea Piers was quite crowded for ten-thirty on a Sunday morning. No doubt Spring Break played a role in this. Luckily, the driver was able to pull up in front of the doors to Pier 60 and help Dorothea with the bags. Approaching the private bowling suite, they rented out for today, Dorothea was grateful that no one had arrived yet. Setting down the shopping bags full of goodie bags, she did a quick walkabout around the room, making sure everything was in order.
As requested, the room was decorated with Mario and Luigi, and various other Nintendo paraphernalia. The room’s lights were dimmed, and they turned the neon lights that adorned the eight bowling lanes on. Happy 6th Birthday Romeo in graffiti colored lettering filled each monitor.
Beside the bowling lanes, there were two video game stations, each with enormous television screens, a popcorn machine, and a cotton candy machine. A buffet table for the adult’s food and a long table set for twenty six-year old’s filled most of the left side of the room.
Most would think she was out of her mind hosting a party this early in the morning for that many children, but in essence, they would be the easiest part of today's events.
“Mrs. Bongiovi, I’m Howard. I’ll be your party host today. Once the guests arrive, there will be two other hosts with me if you need anything.”
“Nice to meet you, Howard. We were running a little late. Do you know if the cake has arrived yet?”
“Yes. It’s in the kitchen. Would you like to see it?”
“Yes, that would be great. Steph, could you keep an eye on things for me? I need to check on the cake?”
“Sure, Mom.”
Spending a Sunday afternoon with a bunch of annoying six-year-olds was not her idea of fun, but it was her brother’s birthday. The upside was after the party; they were heading to Philly with their dad. He had a couple of shows left then from there; it was off to California for Spring break. Seven long days of doing nothing but lying around on the beach reading. Yeah, she could give up a few hours for that.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Stepping out of the vehicle, Jon wrapped his arm around Ari’s waist and pressed his nose to hers.
“We got this.”
“If you say so.”
“The King has spoken.” He brushed his lips with hers. “Ready to get your butt whipped?”
“Oh, you’re funny.”
“I meant bowling.”
He locked their hands and guided her inside the bowling alley. Taking a glance around the main room, he quickly spotted the designated party room. From where they stood, they could see Romeo surrounded by all his friends as they laughed at the two young workers who stood before them. Smiling at the approaching worker, Jon pointed towards the room, and they continued walking. Halfway across the room, Jon felt Ariana’s grip tighten. Standing right in front of them and blocking their way, was a very annoyed looking Dorothea.
I have Feeling that Romeo going get
ReplyDeleteThat Dog!! Haha poor Ariana get her
Her clothes to fix. Ugh Dorothea with
Your annoying self. Dorothea Ariana
is JON’S wife. She going to be with
Jon on Family gathering with the kids.
Get Over and Move on.