Fatherhood

Our House

When I arrived home, I immediately crashed on the couch. I didn't bother changing into something more comfortable, I just needed sleep. Unlike my initial plan of getting an hour and a half worth of sleep, I got ten minutes. I was woken up to the sound of the sheep escaping the pen.

Maori was working on the farm and had invited her boyfriend, Abby over to help. Her boyfriend, although good with animals, was still a little clumsy and forgetful. It was likely he had left the gate open and the sheep had decided to go on a small wander.

I sat up on the couch as I listened to the racket going on outside. I slowly got off of the couch and went outside to see the two of them trying to round up the sheep.

"Need help?" I asked smugly.

"No, I got it," Maori sighed as she released the sheepdogs off their leash. I walked over to Abby, who was watching my sister.

"Hey, you like what you see?" I asked cheekily.

"I- uh. Yes, she is so beautiful when she works," Abby stuttered at my sudden question.

"Look after her, she tends to overwork herself," I joked, patting him on the back.

Maori shut the gate. She looked over at me and rolled her eyes as she walked over to Abby and me.

"He hasn't been annoying you, has he?" Maori asked Abby as she put her hands on her hips.

"Me? Annoy your boyfriend? Never," I laughed.

"You seem quite happy, why don't you get the dogs," She sighed. She took Abby's hand and went back inside.

I sighed and walked over to the gate to see the two dogs joyfully running around the paddock, playing with the sheep.

"Jade, Paua!" I called followed by a quick whistle to get their attention. I watched as the two of them leapt and bounded over to the gate. Jade and Paua ran over to greet me. I knelt down to pet them. They got their muddy paws all over my work shirt. Good thing I wasn't going back to work today.

I grabbed a stick off of the ground and waved it above my head. Jade and Paua ran around me playfully, eyeing the stick. I threw it as far as I could, and my dogs excitedly ran after it. Paua grabbed the stick while Jade attempted to fight her for it. They played tug-of-war for a while before returning the stick to me. I threw it again and during this time of freedom, I walked back inside.

I looked down at my good work shirt. It was covered in their muddy paw prints. I sighed as I walked towards the laundry room. I took off my shirt and put it in the washing machine. I'm sure I had another shirt I could wear tomorrow.

I wandered to the kitchen to see what Maori and her boyfriend were doing in the kitchen. I was getting hungry.

"Hey, love birds, what's for lunch?" I asked smugly as I saw the two of them making brownies.

"Put a shirt on!" Maori shouted at me.

"This is my house, I can do what I want," I shrugged as I looked over their shoulders at the bowl of brownie batter.

"This is our house and we have a guest," She complained.

"Aw, don't be a communist. And besides, Abs is pretty much part of the family, he doesn't mind," I said as I nudged Abby slightly.

"Do you want brownies or not," She sighed.

"Fine, you win, I'll put a shirt on," I said, putting my hands up as if to surrender. I backed away and headed up to my room.

I looked through my draws for a spare t-shirt. Mainly looking for something that could embarrass my sons. I found a shirt that read #1 Dad. Perfect.

I pulled it over my head and looked in the mirror. I noticed it had a small sauce stain near the bottom of my shirt. I really did look like the best dad out there. Well, almost. I changed out of my suit pants for something more... breathable.

"I'm back! Are the brownies done?" I said, sliding back into the kitchen.

"They are in the oven and... what are you wearing?" Maori sighed.

"My favourite shirt!" I said proudly.

"No, I don't care about your shirt, I thought I threw those stubbies out," She commented with disgust plastered on her face.

"I know, I fished them out of the rubbish bin," I rolled my eyes.

"They looked terrible," She sighed.

"Just because you are a girl, you think you can rock short shorts, well guess what. So can I!" I shouted as I headed to the lounge to watch TV.

"This is why Samoa is embarrassed by you," I heard Maori call.

I laughed a little as I turned on the TV. The news was on, I never liked watching the news. France ruined it for me as a kid. She taught me all about politics and crap when I was like, 13. I switched to the sports channel. That was more interesting.

I felt like grabbing a beer to really set the mood, but I hadn't bought any recently and I drank the last of my beer last Friday. I should have bought another case on the way home from the hospital.

I ended up watching the pre-recorded rugby league game until I heard the oven timer go off. I was only waiting for Maori and Abby to get the brownies out of the oven so I could eat them. The brownies, that is, not my sister and her boyfriend.