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“There are limits to how many hours a day you can use the tablet. It turns off right before bedtime too, so don’t think about staying up late sneaking it into bed with you.”
Maggie had warned me that this might be a problem since her grandkids do that a lot.
“Are you hungry? Stella bought us a bunch of snacks. Kid ones too. You like goldfish and superhero fruit snacks?”
“Yeah!” He jumps off the bed and races toward the kitchen.
My pantry is stocked with little juice boxes, macaroni and cheese, and a variety pack of chips. I grab out the ones I promised and get Hayden settled at the table with them. “If you’re still hungry, I can make you a corn dog, but dinner will be soon, so I don’t want to spoil your appetite too much.”
“You won’t spoil my appetite, I promise.” Hayden rips open his goldfish package and starts eating. “I can eat a lot.”
Sausage waddles into the room and wags his tail at Hayden. The two of them got acquainted the first day Hayden came to visit my house right after he arrived. Sausage plants his rear right next to Hayden’s chair and pants.
“Gross, Sausage. Your breath is horrible.”
“Come on, boy. Leave Hayden alone.” I shoo him away and head to the microwave when it beeps with Hayden’s cooked corn dog.
When I bring the plate over to Hayden, Sausage is right by his side again. “Whatever. I give up. You win, pooch.” I swear I’m the biggest pushover when it comes to this dog.
I go grab myself a bag of corn chips from the pantry. Who knew having a kid around would mean my house would be stocked up with the good snacks? Maggie insisted on it. She said it was important for him to feel welcome, and that food was a good way for him to feel at home. I guess the saying “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” works on little men too. Hayden is happily chowing down.
“I never eat chips like this.” Usually, I’m eating something healthy like dried mangos specially ordered or organic nuts with dried berries. This is a nice change of pace. I guess Maggie figured Hayden wouldn’t be into the dried fruit and nuts I usually eat. But now that I’m eating these chips, I realize I’m not so into it anymore either.
I glance over to see Hayden reaching down to hand a chunk of corn dog to Sausage, but instead of taking the chunk offered, Sausage takes the entire thing, stick and all, and races away with it to his favorite eating corner. I don’t know why, but he has to eat all his food secretly and in the same spot behind my recliner.
He finishes off the corn dog and starts chewing up the stick.
“Hey, enough of that, you crazy dog.” I come over to where he is, and he looks up at me with sheepish eyes. “You know you were being naughty. Now I’m going to have to get Hayden another corn dog.”
“It’s okay, Dad. You don’t have to get me another one.”
“Hayden?” I sit next to him. “Why did you decided to call me Dad when you first met me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? You’re my dad.”
“But I haven’t been around.”
“I know. But I always knew you would be the greatest. And I was right.”
This kid is melting my heart. How will I ever be able to discipline him? I’m going to be too busy spoiling him rotten.
“I think you’re pretty great too.”
“I just wish I could have met you sooner. I would have liked to have a dad before.”
“Me too.” My heart is heavy, thinking about the years we’d lost. Hayden’s had to grow up pretty quickly in the past few weeks. He seems much older than a kid his age.
A horrible smell permeates the air.
“Ew, Dad, did you pass gas?”
I laugh. “It wasn’t me. I swear.”
He looks down, and sure enough Sausage is sitting there, wagging his tail like he’s proud of himself. “Gross. I bet it was Sausage.”
“He’s just one of the guys,” I say. “No shame. He just lets it rip.”
“I bet you don’t do that around Jenni,” Hayden says with a big, silly smile.