Page 45 of Sean
“Mom, that’s the new toy we saw on TV last week.Watch what it does.”
Sean focused on a youngster a little further up the aisle.He didn’t know ifMomwas watching, but the demonstration definitely had his attention.The child picked up a colorful plastic object and opened it like a book.Sean tried to look casual as he strolled a little closer.
“See?”The boy pressed a picture of a monkey, and the word monkey issued from the toy’s tiny speaker.He turned the page and touched a picture of an orange.
“Orange,” the book said.
“This would be perfect for Noah!It says over a hundred words, plays music, and it also says the words in Spanish.”
Sean sidled a little closer.“Excuse me.I don’t mean to interrupt your shopping, but that’s a really great toy.Would that make a good gift for a one-year-old?”
The kid handed the box to Sean and pointed to the lettering on the front.“It says one to two years.”
Sean took the box.Who knew that kids’ toys came with age recommendations?Suddenly, rocket science was making a little more sense.He looked at his little helper.“Thanks.You just simplified my life.”
He held the toy out.“Here you go.”
“Keep it.There are more on the shelf.”
“Thanks again.”It wasn’t long before a driving toy that made traffic noises and a bulldozer that Jace could push while it gobbled up colorful balls joined the book in the basket.He figured three gifts was a good start and would certainly please his mother.He turned a corner and came to a halt.
The toy that caught his attention was a low-slung police motorcycle on four wide tires.Sean stooped to push the button on the handlebars and jumped back when a loud siren blasted through the store.
“I gotta have this.”He looked around, embarrassed at his reaction.Jace...Jace had to have this for his birthday.He’d love it, and it would drive Sean’s mother absolutely insane.She’d have no one to blame but herself.
Sean loaded his purchases into the trunk.He was getting into the car when he noticed two scruffy boys headed toward the store, lagging behind their parents.
“Hurry up,” one said.
“You hurry,” the other said.“It’s your stupid birthday.”
One shoved the other, and the fight was on.The scuffle was short-lived as the man in the group, hopefully the father, stepped between the combatants and placed a hand on their shoulders.“Boys.”
The boys looked at each other behind their father’s back and exchanged a final insult.
“Neanderthal.”
“Jerk.”
The word sent Sean ducking into his car.
Would he never get that word out of his head?And why was it bothering him?He’d intended to put some space between himself and Monica.That was exactly what the episode in the nursery had done.
Sean closed his eyes and remembered her stricken expression at his outburst.Given the opportunity, he would have picked a way that didn’t hurt her feelings, but what was done was done, and the end result was best for both of them.
“Then why do I feel so lousy?”He sat there for a couple of minutes waiting for an answer to come out of the ether.When the car remained silent except for the growling of his stomach, he put the car in gear and headed toward home.
***
“THE TWENTIETH OF DECEMBERfrom one to four.”Monica made a note on her spreadsheet.That gave her twelve fifteen-minute slots at seventy-five dollars a pop with the best photographer in Garfield.A limited number, so people would be excited to get the opportunity but not so much work that it would overload Monica’s already packed schedule.Better yet, the proceeds would more than finish her fundraising.
“Nine to twelve,” Ginny Marlin said, “not one to four.I have a wedding shoot that afternoon.”
“Oh, yes, of course, I’m sorry.Nine to twelve.”She gave a little squeal of excitement.“I’m so excited that we were able to make this work.”
“Christmas pictures are always a popular item.What made you think of it?”
“I went to Oakleigh’s with some friends the other night.”The reminder had Monica thinking of the picture still lying face down on her bedside table.She’d stolen a peek at it every day this week, reliving the heavenly kiss and the painful confrontation that followed it the next day.Part of her still wanted to rip that picture up into tiny little pieces.The other part wanted to put it under her pillow at night to keep that moment close.
