MaineCourse

Sixteen

Matthew, Robby and Nicola, another classmate of Matt’s, were standing in the kitchen, waiting for Nicola’s mom to arrive when Diane turned to Robby and asked, ”Did you know that tomorrow is Matt’s birthday?”
Robby replied, “Yes,” then glanced my way. I had asked him the same question an hour earlier.

Diane followed with, “Are you going to bake him a cake?”
Robby, master of the straight line, said, “Yes, I am.”
I was a few feet away, behind the island and when he said yes, I thought, and that’s not all. I said, “Robby” but almost too softly to be heard.
“You are?” Diane asked with a tone that carried, I wasn’t serious, are you kidding me and isn’t that sweet, in the same short phrase.

I thought I had an opening so I repeated, “Robby.” This time, loud enough to be heard. I was building up to something and soon Matt would tune in, as he always does, before anyone else.
But Robby continued, “Yeah, when he comes to my house I cook for Matt. I’ve made hors d'oeuvres, and other things. I’m going to make him a cake” I knew Robby was telling the truth because once he made me Sushi.

Sensing another pause, I again said, “Robby.”
Matt’s eyes began to dart as if in search of a foxhole.
Robby turned to me and said, ‘Yes?”
“There is one more thing you need to do.” I didn’t finish. I let it linger to see if he could guess what I was about to say. He should have, because it was precisely the advice he gave Matt, in the back seat of Diane’s car when we were returning from our Minuteman trip. Right after Matt called Joe clueless and we wanted Matt to apologize to Joe.

Robby looked puzzled and asked, “What else?”
Matt said, “Run.”
“Robby, are you going to give Matt a hug and tell him you love him?”
Matt blushed when Robby said, “Yes.”
He blushed again when Diane asked Nicola if she were going to give Matt a hug and an I love you and she replied, "First, I want to see Robby do it."

Matt never blushes.

Updated Parts List for the BMW
Inner and outer tie rods (left)
Inner tie rod (right)
Center Linkage
Clutch Plate
Air intake hose
Distributor cap, rotor and ignition wires.
Clutch reservoir cup

I always feel I've voyeured into something when Mike writes one of these intimate portrait moments in time. Solid friends are priceless, arguably even moreso when the friendship can actually be expressed.

Only one or two other humans in my personal experience would have also correctly used "were" in this instance. Damn, you're good.

Posted by wallfly.

Happy Birthday to all of you. It is my understanding that the adolescent is usually the tormentor, however in the Canning/Miller household it would appear to be the other way around. As the mother of one adolescent and 2 budding ones (and a spouse whose borderline) I'm thinking of emulating your ways. Between the flashlight in the middle of the night and the "are you going to give him a hug and an I Love You" remark causing your poor son to blush...I love it. You must let us know if Robby comes by with a cake.

My Matthew is 7 today. July 16 is indeed a great day.

Posted by chris.

Well, it might have been a great day had all the July 16 mothers remembered the birthday card to be opened before the birthday present.

Posted by eavesdropper.

Or remembered to have the dad sign it.

Posted by Forgotten.

Posted by Michael at July 16, 2003 07:17 AM