Later that evening, David sat with the boys and watched a Bears game that he happened to notice was on as he flipped through the channels. During commercial, Malachai turned to him. "Dad, you know I love you, right?"
David looked at his son. "Yes, I know. Why? You're not planning something stupid are you?"
Malachai laughed. "Umm, no. But I think you and Mom are being entirely too touchy over the stupid comment Uncle Mike said the other day."
"What do you mean?"
"Dad, I was in the room when Uncle Mikey said what he did. And, frankly, I thought it was rather tasteless. But, he DID apologize, and so did Aunt Tina for antagonizing with what she said to Mom. Don't you think that this not speaking to each other is rather ridiculous?"
"Malachai, you're too young..."
"Oh, don't try to feed me that 'You're too young' business, Dad. I'm not a little kid anymore. I see what's going on, and I know more than you give me credit for. I know what sex is, I know the mechanics of sex, and I know that sometimes, women get quite vocal during sex. Mom is one of those women. But, you've also got to consider how long you, Uncle Mike, Uncle Danny, and Uncle John have been a band."
"What do you mean by THAT?"
"Dad, you've known Uncle Mikey and Uncle Danny for how long?"
"Over twenty years."
"Exactly. And I know that not everything has been peachy keen between all of you for that long. I know that you guys fight. I've heard some of the fights you guys get into. And I've seen you and Uncle Danny get into some real slobber knockers over the time that we've all been in hiding. But, you guys have always been cool with each other afterward. Now, I know you're not perfect and that you've got a bit of a temper, especially when it comes to Mom. I remember the Uproar Festival where you got shot. Mom was pregnant with the twins. You wanted to cuss Uncle Mikey and Uncle Danny so bad when they were closing that gunshot wound, but you didn't. That's the point. You wanted to kill someone for the threat against Mom, but you didn't. You almost did, but you restrained yourself. So, how is this time, when Uncle Mikey said something ignorant, any different?"
David looked at his son, his mini me. "For the LOVE OF GOD, Malachai, when did you become so wise?"
"I just know how things work in this house. We're all family here. Family fights. I know you and Mom get into it and there are times when the two of you fight it out in the weight room. Just like Jordan, I watch people. THAT'S how I've become so wise."
Unconsciously, David reached up an rubbed his bald scalp and sighed. "Well, Malachai, you're right, though I'm loathe to admit it.”
"I'm glad you think so. And anyway, who would you have rather have had this conversation with, me or Jordan?"
--------------
That night as they lay in bed to go to sleep, Brie spoke, breaking the silence that had settled into the room. "You know what Jordan said to me today?"
"No, but I bet I have a good idea. Malachai probably said something along the same lines to me this evening."
"Malachai talked to you about the Mike and Tina thing?"
"He sure did. That boy is wiser than I like."
"So is our daughter, David."
He sighed. "Not surprised in the least. But, Malachai brought it up to me during the Bears game that was on earlier."
She laughed. "Shocker", she said sarcastically. "He knows that the best time to talk to you is during a sporting event on TV. Just like Jordan knows that talking to me while I'm distracted watching her and her younger siblings play is the best time to talk to me about when I'm being childish."
"Did she really say that to you?"
"No, but she sure implied it."
"Same with our son."
"Did Malachai flat out tell you that he wasn't going to allow us to move them away from their cousins?"
"No. Did Jordan?"
"Sure the fuck did. And she lead it off with 'Mom, we all love you. All eight of us. And we love Dad too."
"That's funny. Malachai started off similarly. 'Dad, you know I love you right?' And since when does Malachai know ANYTHING about sex?"
"Fuck if I know. I sure didn't tell him anything."
David chuckled. "Well, I guess him knowing what he does saves me the talk about the birds and the bees."
"Matt and I learned through porn."
"No way."
"Yep. And you know what... I was thinking about teaching our kids the same way, but thought better of it. Seeing as Malachai knows, there's not need now, right?"
He laughed. "Guess not.”
No comments:
Post a Comment