AMOAD - VI: The Final Chapter

Expecting my in-laws, I opened the front door and got quite a surprise: a blue boy.


Crowbar had been playing with chalk on the driveway when he apparently got the idea to turn himself blue.

Yeah, blue.

His face, arms, hair -- all blue with a thick coat of chalk. He flashed a broad smile, clearly proud of his new hue, but honestly all I could think of was our new white couch and the house guests who would be arriving soon.

I commended him for managing to get every square inch of his body -- even behind his ears -- and then led him upstairs to strip him down and toss him in the tub.

You should've seen the ring.

When I finished getting him cleaned up, my in-laws had already arrived and were in the kitchen cooing and playing with Sweet Pea. We had a delicious dinner, a fun visit and in all, the day ended well.

I didn't get my nap, or my flautas or showered with love and affection to the degree for which I'd hoped, but I got a good story out of it.

Oh, and 10 minutes before bed, The Deuce handed me my last gift of the day. It was a hand-made coupon for an hour-long massage (from The Deuce).

I thanked her and asked if I could break the hour up into six, 10-minute intervals and she said no.

Then I asked if I could redeem it later because it was, after all time for bed.

"No," she responded. "It's only good for today, Mother's Day."

I turned it over in my hands and, sure enough, in bright orange letters:

EXPIRES TODAY.

A fitting end to a less than perfect, yet entirely memorable day.