Author: Andy Affleck

Jack and I had one of those unexpected fun days out. After Soccer practice early this morning (I’m a coach in the soccer clinic he attends Saturday mornings) I figured we were in for a lazy day at home while Ann went to work. Mid-morning, she came down and tossed the Lifebeat section of the ProJo down in front of me and pointed to the Seize Today section listing “Spontaneous things to do this weekend.”

That how we found ourselves, after dropping Ann off at the mall, at the Lincoln school for girls near Brown University. It was the Rhode Island Festival of Children’s Books and Authors and for a measly six dollars, we got to make our own bookmarks, Jack made a really cool looking book (I mean really cool) and he got his copy of The Polar Express and Jumanji, which we bought at the festival, signed by Chris Van Allsburg and his copy of The Stinky Cheese Man signed by Jon Scieszka (who signed “To the best funky guy” after Jack told him his favorite line in the book was “What is that funky smell?”)

After that, we had to pick up groceries so we stopped in at the Whole Foods near Brown (since it was on our way home) and found out it was Kid’s Day. It turns out that this means Jack gets his own club membership card (he collects that kind of thing), a chef’s hat and apron (and really nice ones too) and we got to try all kinds of great food around the store and collect recipes that we can make at home. Jack had the face painter paint a really cool looking snake on his hand.

When we got home, Jack had phone messages from a girl at soccer practice who’s crushing on him (Jack would be horrified to find that I posted online that they kissed this morning so you won’t hear it from me). He hasn’t called her back yet. He’s feeling shy, I think.

All in all, it was a very good day. Tomorrow, Ann gets to go do stuff with him and I’m going to sleep in and be incredibly lazy. I’ve started re-reading Lord of the Rings while re-watching the extended versions of the movies and all the documentaries included. Good geeky fun. Oh, and I have work tomorrow too… no, I won’t think about that today. I want to bask in the glow of this good day a while longer…

Tonight I finally read the final chapter in The House at Pooh Corner to Jack. I’ve been reading him a chapter here and there from both Pooh books for weeks but about two weeks ago after Chapter IX, I stopped and made excuses not to finish the book. I didn’t want to leave the Hundred Acre Woods and I think I instinctively knew what was coming. I’ve read many a Pooh story over the years but never any in the second book. I don’t know why. I’ve owned the books as long as I can remember. And even though I had a feeling what was coming, I was still not prepared.

For those of you who may not know, the last chapter starts with all of the animals knowing that Christopher Robin is going away. They don’t know where nor why but they do know that he is going. They gather together to sign a poem Eeyore had written and then go to deliver it to him. There’s an awkward moment where nobody really knows what to say and they all wander off leaving just Pooh behind. The two walk to an Enchanted Place in the forest and talk about random things. Then Christopher Robin tries to ask Pooh to always remember him, no matter what happens.

I finished the story and Jack looked at my eye and said, “Why is there a tear?” I tried to explain that the story was hinting that Christopher Robin was growing up and leaving his toys behind. How grownups put aside their toys. Jack looked at me solemnly and said, “I’ll never give up my toys.” I said, “Good. You shouldn’t ever.”

Then we were quiet for a moment. Then Jack looked at me, as I wiped another tear away, and said, “Do you want me to make you smile so the tear goes away?” I said, “Sure.” So he tickled me on the neck. I smiled and scooped him into a big hug and told him I loved him.

Then I sang him his goodnight song (“Michael Row the Boat”) and said good night and went downstairs.

He has been learning to read the last few weeks and he rode on just two wheels for the first time just the other day and he’s mastered every level and every hidden trick in Lego Star Wars I, and he does a perfect imitation of my Night Elf in World of Warcraft, and he believes in magic and is scared of monsters under his bed and is so proud when he stays on green on the behavior chart at school and loves taking trips to the new Providence Apple Store with me and snuggling on the couch to watch Jake Long: American Dragon or Kim Possible with me.

He won’t always be six. He will always be with me and he will always be a joy to me. But right now, in this moment in time, we are in an enchanted place which I never want to leave.