WIL WHEATON dot NET: Where is my mind?: Sax0phone and Chalk Piano

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May 03, 2003

Sax0phone and Chalk Piano

The tea kettle's whistle pierced the air. The dogs, who were slumbering beneath my feet, jumped up to seek the source of the sharp, shrill sound.

I pushed my chair back, and walked out of my office into my kitchen. A tiny house finch, who is building a nest in our breezeway, warbled at me through the open window.

Ryan was standing at the refrigerator, wearing his WWdN T-shirt. I love it when he wears that shirt, because he asked for it himself a couple of weeks ago.

"Wil, do you have any extra shirts?" he asked when I brought them home from todiefor.

"No, I don't," I told him, "I'm selling them as fast as I can print invoices."

"Oh," he said, and looked away. "That sucks."

He started out of the room, and stopped when he reached the doorway.

"When you get some more, can I have one?"

"You want one for yourself?" I said. Though my heart swelled, I kept my best poker face -- the one I wear when I look at pocket rockets on the button.

"Yeah. I think they're really cool. I want to wear it to school."

My 13 year-old step son, who has struggled through father-inspired loyalty conflicts as long as I've known him, wanted to wear one of my shirts. A shirt with my face on it.

"I had no idea you wanted one for yourself." I walked to the box of shirts, and pulled out a small. "Here, I'd love for you to have it."

"Really?!" His face lit up.

"Yeah. Take it." I tossed it to him.

"Thanks, Wil!"

This memory flashed through my mind, and I felt the same surge of pride and joy that I felt when he first asked; the same happiness I felt when I walked out to the breakfast table to take him to school two weeks ago and saw him wearing it.

"Can I have a cup of tea with you?" he said.

"You bet! I'd like that." I said. I turned the fire down, and went to the pantry for a tea bag.

"Cool! What are you having?"

"Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." I said, and put a tea bag into my Tux mug from thinkgeek.

I am such a nerd.

"I'll have the same," he said, wonderfully oblivious to the reference.

We sat at the table, sipped tea, and talked about girls, school, and poker.

Posted by wil at May 3, 2003 10:21 PM

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