Play Date (with my grand kids)

Play Date

The rain had abated enough for us to resume play on the driveway.  It was somewhat of a stretch to peel Ryan and Aurora away from their TV programming to which they hold a strong attachment.  Once outside they enjoy reality play enough to forget their  various monitor attachment issues.

I promised to push Aurora on the swing and play the new racket game Ryan had received as a end of school pre summer gift.  

“Point your toes to the clouds.”  I pulled the swing toward me, with Aurora onboard, and gave a mighty release sending her soaring.  I pushed her several times before I was quickly dismissed. 

“See, grandpa I can pump now.”

How long had grandma and I tried to teach her the pumping action with her legs and now that she had so expertly mastered it I sadly discovered I had rendered myself obsolete on yet another level.  

At least we continued our banter.  We always had important issues to discuss, such as her friends, “Big Girl School”, wardrobe, including princess dresses, dolls and various toys, insects, play ground activities and snacking options.

“Did you enjoy the baseball game on Father’s day?”

“It was very loud.”

“But fun?”

“There must have been a 1000 people there.  I see a snake .”

She jumped from the swing, another acquired skill and chased after the snake next to the patio not the least bit afraid watching it as it wriggled into the neighbours yard and out of sight. Based on our I-witness accounts Ryan later identified it as a Korn snake very common to this region.

Shifting thoughts and attention in a nano second away from the snake.  “Let’s play in the front.”

Ryan was out front with his new rackets and rubberized ball with streamers on it.  We stood in a rough triangle.  They each with a racket.  I threw directly to Aurora’s.  She tipped the ball up in the air.  I caught it and passed it on to Ryan.  He hit it and we kept a loose rhythm  going.

“There’s a spiky caterpillar!”  Pointing to the edge of the driveway.

They ran over.  Ryan threw up his arms in a protective stance like a policeman at a crime scene.

“Don’t get too close.  He can shoot his spikes into your eyes and blind you.  They are very dangerous,” he cautioned.

Aurora and I stood behind Ryan’s protection as we watched the caterpillar labour diagonally across the driveway towards the distant grass.

“I want to squish it.”  Aurora said.

Ryan reasoned with his sister.  “What if you were the caterpillar.  You would want to live.”

I thought a small victory for nature and ecology.

We backed away and resumed play.

I hit the ball between Aurora’s extended arms as she reached out with the racket.

“Grandpa scored!”  She shouted excitedly.

“That’s not how the game is play.”  Ryan pointed out.

“Yes, but she seems to like her own rules.”

At that Aurora abruptly dropped her racket and ran to the end of the driveway where the caterpillar had just reached the freedom of the grass.  

She squished it with her pink princess shoes with great authority.

“Aurora, why did you step on it?”  I said too loudly, almost in shock.

“Grandpa it was getting away.”

“Can I have a ginger cookie now?”  

Clearly the sign of a clean conscience.