Concentric Circles

Dewey’s dad would always say, “I’m not grumpy,” when it was as big as life to everyone that he was, most surely, surly.

“Something in the kitchen stinks,” Stephanie complained as she breezed past the kitchen sink to grab toast out of the toaster.

“Don, did you take out the trash last night?” asked Dewey’s mom from the bathroom brushing her teeth.

“What?” he asked.

“Stalling,” replied Dewey’s mom. Dewey’s dad always said “what” when he didn’t have a good answer lined up.

“No, really, Karen, I didn’t hear you.”

“Mom wants to know if you took out the trash,” Stephanie chimed in.

“I heard her,” growled Dewey’s dad.

He went to the kitchen and took out the garbage.

“You know,” he directed his chin and words at Dewey, who sat at the table eating cereal when his dad came back in, “you could take out the trash sometimes.”

Oh boy, thought Dewey. I gotta get out of here.

Dewey’s mom came out of the bathroom and patted Dewey on the head. “It’s true. You could start taking out the trash sometimes. But it wasn’t your job last night,” she reassured him, pressing her hand on top of his. “Don, you’re obviously distressed about something. What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing,” pouted Dewey’s dad, and he sat down and slumped his face in his hands, so his whole family would know for sure it was something.

“Karen, rub my back, would you?” Dewey’s dad like his back rubbed in big concentric circles when he felt upset about something.

“There, there,” cooed Dewey’s mom. “Whatever it is will be okay. Were the big kids mean to you at school?” she asked, smiling.

“Kind of,” moped Dewey’s dad, but he smiled now.

“Really?” asked Dewey, intrigued.

“No, not really. They’re fine. I just have a lot of papers to grade and a lot of my own homework to do,” his dad grumbled. “I’ll live. I just can’t wait until winter break!”

“Ha! That makes two of us,” agreed Dewey.

“Me three,” agreed Stephanie.

“Me three too,” chimed in Pooh Bear, licking her fingers after sucking on a sausage.

“Okay, well, how about you three clear your places, please, so we’re not late for school.”

Leave for school already?! Shoot. Dewey had hoped to spend a few minutes on Mr. Snow’s background search. Ack! thought Dewey. Too many balls in the air! One was bound to drop.