We now had a set play where either Trent or Phil would catch the ball and immediately pitch it to the other because they were the best ball-handlers. From there, they might lateral it again if needed. The other play we were given was sort of a free-for-all. It was based on the last-minute desperation plays you see a couple of times a year as a highlight. We quickly discovered that if we moved our running backs to receiver for these plays, our success rate rose way up. They were used to catching pitches, and when you gave someone like Ty space to run, it was over.
This whole new concept fit my Captain Chaos persona to a T.
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Chapter 39 – Mr. In Charge Monday October 31
It seems to be an unwritten rule that little kids trick-or-treat earlier, and the older ones go later. If you’re not careful, you run out of candy before the older deviants appear. If that happens, prepare to be tricked. With that in mind, you could imagine the expressions on people’s faces when we all showed up—six kids, four moms, and two dads.
I smiled when our neighbor answered the door a little dismayed.
“I’m not sure we have enough candy for this horde.”
“Beware, winter is coming,” I warned.
“Funny,” she said and then looked at Kyle and Mac, the two little ones old enough to understand what was going on. “Don’t you two look cute.”
She held out a bowl of gum. She was just asking for trouble later.
“One each,” Greg reminded them as Mac came out with a handful.
We’d been at this for half an hour, and Mac and Kyle’s bags were almost full. Scarlet leaned in so only I could hear her.
“Don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.”
To be honest, I was with her. How much noise could two almost-three-year-olds make? They hadn’t even eaten any candy yet, and they were already bouncing off the walls. Nate had insisted his dad carry him, and mine were just enjoying the walk and being fussed over.
Angie had overheard Scarlet.
“I agree. I vote we let Greg take these two and keep going. That is until either they fill up two more bags of candy or he wears them out enough that they fall asleep as soon as they get home.”
Greg gave us all dirty looks when we agreed to Angie’s plan. My little glimpse into the future showed me what I’d really gotten myself into. I’d overheard my grandmother tease my mom about her choice to help me out. Grandma had explained that when Mom was young, she didn’t know any better and was able to keep up. Mom said that after the hell Greg and I had put her through, she should have learned her lesson.
I almost felt bad about running off to do movies and then go to college. I imagine that was why they’d capped at 22 the age at which I had to take Coby full time. He would be a couple of years older than Kyle and Mac were right now and probably a total wild man if his current antics were any indication.
Yesterday, daycare had called, worried that they’d killed him. He’d been in a playpen, and the lady that was supposed to watch him was busy with another child. Coby had somehow pulled himself up to get free. She’d watched in horror as he teetered on the rail and then landed on the floor. Mom had gone in to find that he hadn’t even cried. I swear that babies are made of rubber.
We’d had problems with him trying to escape his high chair. It amazed me that as young as he was, he had turned into our own little Houdini. One could only imagine what he would be like when he was five. He’d be scaling six-foot fences without a problem.
When we got back, the moms went into the kitchen and sorted out the candy. My mom put Duke and me in charge of greeting the trick-or-treaters.
Duke was better this year. Last Halloween had been a shock to his system when kids showed up in masks. He wasn’t sure what they were and got a little protective of his home. Being around all the little ones and working at the hospital had taught him more patience. Some days, I was amazed he didn’t bite someone for hanging on his ears or sitting on his head.
That didn’t mean that he put up with everything. I’d accidentally stepped on his tail, and it must have hurt because he decided to take me on. It all ended quickly when I snatched him up and planted him on his back on my bed. He changed from big and tough to ‘I think I made a mistake’ in the blink of an eye. It was a good reminder that even the best-tempered dogs had their limits. We made it a point to save him whenever we heard him give a little warning growl.
Greg came back with two more bags full of candy, so it was time to wrap it up. I noticed that one of Mac’s wings was missing.
“What happened to you?” I asked her.
“I falled down. It okay, though. Daddy kissed it and made it better,” she said, showing me her scraped-up hand.
Kyle handed me a pack of gum.
“Daddy said I had to share,” he explained.
He was smarter than he looked. I’d give up the gum over chocolate any day.
“Thank you,” I said.
They ran in to show their mom what they’d gotten. Greg looked worn to a frazzle.
“You okay?”
