A Little Chaos Theory

I sit at the computer working on school assignments. This quarter I will be writing a full-length script, a short story (which will be substantially revised prior to the end of the quarter), and a paper on Rex Stout, as well as reading my classmates’ scripts and short stories and writing review/response letters. I’ll also be working on project pages for an editing and publishing class and reading substantial pieces of detective fiction. Scott is somewhere outside with the dogs. I hear chatter and giggles from the direction of the living room as the boys play together.

A blue-eyed blond appears in the doorway.

Jude: I found him I found him I found him
Me: What?
Jude: Socrates. He was under the dresser. He’s playing hide and seek too!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

An orange and white cat flies through the room and wedges himself firmly under my feet. This cat doesn’t like women and we suspect that someone female probably abused him before dumping him in the trash can that he was rescued from. For him to voluntarily be within 12 cat lengths of me when a mouse isn’t involved is amazing.

Two rumpled boys enter stage left.

Jude: Mommy, have you seen Socrates?
Me: Leave the cat alone.
Breydon: Socrates like playing.
Me: No, he doesn’t. He is telling you that he wants you to leave him alone right now.

Independence realizes that one of the tomcats is next to her and hisses. Socrates tears off for another room.

Jude: Come on Breydon catch him!
Breydon: Now he play tag.

Looks like Socrates needs an extra treat tonight.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

6:30 arrives. I tuck the two younger boys into bed with dire warnings about the consequences if they choose to leave them before the alarm sounds tomorrow morning. Scott’s mom calls and he goes outside where he can enjoy a cigar while he talks to her. Breydon curls up in a chair with his homework.

I sit back down at the computer to work on one my writing assignments. As I type the words “Fade in” a serious-faced boy appears at my elbow. He shoves a paper under my nose which says:

Which spelling word is this?

who
rthei
thaw
wlodu
rewe
yb

Breydon: What that word?
Me: What word do you think that is?
Breydon: who, their, what, would, were, by
Me: If you know the answer why are you asking?

The only answer I receive is the sight of his back trudging back to the blue chair.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The shortest member of our family stomps into the room.

Me: Roegen, you’re supposed to be in bed.
Roegen: No night night.
Me: Yes, night night. You didn’t take a nap today and you’re tired and cranky.
Roegen: Jude cranky.
Me: Yes, Jude is cranky too. That’s why he is also in bed.
Roegen: Breydon cranky.
Me: No, Breydon isn’t cranky. He’s doing his homework.
Roegen: Daddy cranky.
Me: Daddy isn’t cranky. He’s busy.
Roegen: Soc’tes cranky.

He probably is right about that one.

I deposit him in bed and return to the computer.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Roegen blasts himself into the room.

Roegen: No night night. Beeber no night night.

Breydon follows right behind him.

Breydon: I need new pencil.

From the next room I can hear Jude.

Jude: Mommy, Roegen is out of bed. (He is definitely a master of the obvious.)

I’m glad I have 10 days until this assignment is due. I think I’m going to need them.

Posted: Thursday, April 17th, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
Categories: Chaotic Dynamics.
Tags: bedtime, beeber, Breydon, Captain, cat, chaos, Dodo, dogs, eat, gack, Independence, Jojo, Jude, mom, mouse, moving, road trip, Roegen, school, Scott, Socrates, Toby.
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