Boy's Night Out

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My wife and I will be in Atlanta tomorrow on business (hers). This of course required us to coordinate the who, what, when, where for our kids.

My son had his own plans that he decided to share with me yesterday when I picked him up from school.

"Dad, so I'm gonna pack tonight and after you drop me to school tomorrow you can take my bag to Grandpa's so I can just go there after school."

"Okay...wait, what? Why?"

"Because it doesn't make any sense for me to go home if I'm going to Grandpa's."

"You're grandfather won't be home until 11 o'clock tomorrow night. He's going to pick you up after his flight comes in." (He's currently away on business).

"Oh, he told me nine."

"Yeah, that's when he lands. But that's still late. What are you tryin' to do, just hang out here until he gets home?"

"Yeah, I can just do my homework until he gets home since afterschool (his tutoring program) isn't happening."

"So, you want to just hang out by yourself the whole night?"

"Yeah, why not? I'm just going to do my homework and watch TV."

"What are you going to eat?"

"I'll just make something or walk to the pizza shop."

(blank stare - mine) "I applaud your desire to have a night to yourself, maybe at 16, but not now."

"Why not?"

"Because you're 13."

"But, Dad ---"

"Ask your mother when she gets home and see what she says."

3 hours later, he asked my wife the same question.

"Uh, that'd be a negative," she said without even considering the line of questioning I pursued.

"Why not? I can take care of myself for the night," he pleaded.

"Because that's not your job and I want to see you before I leave tomorrow and your grandfather won't be in until almost midnight."

"But I see you people everyday!"

(Loud adult laughter)

"And you will until you go to college," I chimed in. "You'll miss these times when you're about 30."

"No, I won't," he said, half-laughing himself.

"We'll see," I said unfazed by his comment. I went back to watching the Lakers and Nuggets while my daughter began her descent into cranky, insanity that is our signal that it's time for her to go to bed.


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