NC2-Quality Time (standard:other, 980 words)
Author: Kittykat	Added: Jun 07 2005	Views/Reads: 3185/2134	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
“Mom! She hit me!” Brian, my nine year old, yells. “He hit me first!” six year old, Samantha retaliates. I am in the middle of a turning point in the new story I’m writing and am trying to concentrate. I only need a few more moments to get my t

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“Good job, get started back here so we can get the tent up.” 

As the engine of the mower quiets, Brian asks, “What did you say?” 

“Never mind, go see what Dad is doing.”  I take deep breath and listen
as Brian starts to yank on the mower's pull rope again. 

Brian drags the lawn mower backward by the push bar while the motor
rumbles, to the front yard and disappears. 

Samantha tries several times to put the nozzle of the pump into the
mattress, “Mom, this isn't working!  I need help.”  She drops the air 
pump and puts her little hands on her hips. 

I help get the mattress started while waiting for the boys to finish the
yard.  I grab the piece of McDonald's bag from the ground and some of 
the other scattered debris that had been thrown from passing vehicles 
or maybe from the neighbors' many parties. 

Looking up at the cotton ball clouds in the sky I ask, “Sam, do you
think it's going to rain tonight?  Should we get out the rain cover for 
the tent or leave it?” 

“Leave it, I want to see God's stars,” looking at the sky.  “He did a
good job,” she says matter-of-factly with a nod of her head.  She walks 
over the top of the slow inflating mattress towards me. 

“Yes He did, do you think He made one for you?” 

“Well, ya!  Brian said he has three of them.”  Her little attitude seems
to get bigger and bigger everyday but it's so cute to watch. 

Brian heaves his weary body to the back yard and flops on the ground. 

“Are you done?” I ask. 

“No, I'm way tired.  Dad's doing it, it's a lot of work.”  Seeing me
pull the stakes from the bag he asks, “Are we going to put up the tent? 


Brian jumps up and runs over to the tent bag, so much for being tired. 
Dad is mowing the far side of the yard.  The flat spot where the tent 
goes is already done and Brian has the tent out of the bag. 

“You grab a corner Sam.  Brian, grab that one and we can get this thing
straight.  Where's the door at?”  I look and find it is facing the 
house.  “Turn it this way so we can see the swing set.”  It's amazing 
how well they work together when they want to. 

Dad lets the mower's engine stop and wipes the sweat from his brow.  He
crosses the yard, “Brian, I thought you were tired?” 

“I am, of mowing but I have lots of tent-putting-up-energy.  Wanna
help?” 

Dad rolls his eyes, “All right, but I get the T.V. for wrestling later.”



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