Dancing Barefoot

Chapter 2. Ready Or Not, Here I Come!

I stand in the kitchen making dinner, and listen through the open window to my stepkids playing whiffle ball in our front yard. They’re actually playing nicely together, not being overly competitive. It’s a rarity these days, and I enjoy hearing them have fun together. It takes me back to simpler, happier times.

Nolan stands over a patch of dirt which represents home plate, while Ryan hurls the ball toward him.

Ryan always tries to throw the ball too hard (and usually has trouble finding the strike zone,) so Nolan just sits there, letting the ball bounce off the house behind him.

Nolan comes in for a drink of water and I tell him, “It sounds like you guys are having a great time out there. Tell you what: you keep up this good attitude and I’ll come out and play with you.”

Nolan does a little hop and says, “COOL!” before he runs back outside. I hear him tell Ryan, “Wil says he’ll come play with us!”

They’re both excited to play with me . . . that’s cool. I’ve been really busy these past few weeks, finishing up my first book, Just A Geek, so I haven’t been able to spend very much time with my family, at all. The kids are getting to that age where they want to hang out one minute, and the next minute I’m so incredibly uncool they can’t even stand to be in the same room as me. Hearing the genuine excitement in their voices makes my heart swell.

Dinner is ...