Our Life, Our Family

Chapter 16

week later, on Tony's day off, he took AJ out for a father/son day. AJ had wanted to go to the park, but it was still too cold. So, Tony found a large indoor playground that they could go to.

"Where we goin' Daddy?" AJ asked.

"It's a big playground, but it's all inside." Tony answered as he pulled the car into a parking space.

"Cool." AJ said.

Tony got out and then got AJ out of his carseat. AJ held onto his father's hand as they walked into the large building. When they stepped inside, both their eyes became wide. There were huge slides everywhere, jungle jims, forts, swings, merry-go-rounds, and ball courts everywhere.

"Wow." AJ said.

"So, what do you want to do first, buddy?" Tony asked.

AJ looked around and then he spotted a very large, twisty, curvy slide. "Wanna ride dat one, Daddy." AJ said.

Tony looked up at the slide. It worried him slightly as to how high it was. He saw broken bones and bruises written all over that slide. He also saw his wife killing him if anything happened to AJ. "I don't know, buddy. That's an aweful big slide."

"But I wanna pway on it, Daddy." AJ protested.

Tony thought for a few moments longer. Then he looked down at his son. AJ had his big blue eyes wide and was pouty. "Oh, alright. Just be careful."

"I will, Daddy." AJ said. Then he released his father's hand and ran up the ladder leading to the top of the slide. Once he reached the top and waited his turn he sat down and rode down to the bottom. "Weeee!" He giggled excitedly as he went down the slide.

He reached the bottom and looked up at his dad. "Fun Daddy! I go 'gin." He said and then ran back to the ladder.

Tony watched AJ as he went up and down the slide four more times. Then AJ decided that he wanted to go on the swings. "Push me, Daddy." AJ said.

Tony was all too happy to go and push his son on the swings. He pulled the swing back and held it there for a few minutes. "You ready?"

"Yeah."

"Holding on tight?"

"Yes, Daddy. Now push me." AJ said, impatiently.

Tony then let go of the swing and began to push AJ whenever he would come back. AJ giggled and laughed. He was having so much fun. Tony couldn't help but smile and laugh a few times. He enjoyed being a father and spending time with his son.

After AJ played on a few more things, his tummy growled and looked at his dad. "I hungwy, Daddy."

Tony's own stomache let out a growl. "Me, too, buddy."

AJ held Tony's hand and they walked back out to the car. Tony put AJ in his carseat and then climbed into the driver's seat. He drove to a kid-friendly diner. They walked inside and sat down at a booth.

The waitress came over and took their order. "What can I get for you, sweetie?" She asked AJ.

"Chicken fingers!" AJ answered excitedly. "And fwies!"

The waitress smiled at AJ's enthusiasm. "And what about you, Sugar?" She asked Tony.

"A burger and fries." Tony answered.

"Alright, I'll be right back with that." She said and walked back to the kitchen.

Soon she returned with their food. "Can I get you anything else?" She asked.

"Not right now." Tony answered. "Maybe some dessert when we're done."

"Alright, I'll be back then." She said.

Tony and AJ ate their meal and AJ talked to him about anything and everything. "I pway wif my cars and I crash 'em. I crash 'em like dis. Pwsh, pow." AJ told Tony, moving his hands together as if he had cars in his hands and crashed them. Then he pulled his hands apart and made motions like pieces of car were flying everywhere.

Tony smiled and laughed at his son. "When we get home, we'll play with your cars."

"Yay!" AJ exclaimed.

When they finished their meal, the waitress returned. "So, you boys have room for dessert?" She asked.

Tony turned to AJ. "What do you say, buddy? You have room for some ice cream?"

"Ice cweam!" AJ exclaimed.

"That would be a yes." Tony told the waitress. "We'll take an ice cream sundea."

"Alright, I'll be right back with that." she said. She quickly returned with the sundea.

Tony and AJ both dug into the sundea. Tony knew that it would be best for he and AJ to split the ice cream, rather than each having their own. "This yummy." AJ said.

"Yes it is, buddy." Tony replied.

"I wan cherry on top." AJ said.

"I don't know buddy." Tony said playfully. "I love cherries."

AJ slipped his spoon under the cherry and quickly popped it in his mouth. A mischeivous grin spread across his little face. Once he had finished eating the cherry he told Tony, "My cherry."

Tony couldn't help but smile at his son. "Alright, but next time I get the cherry. Deal?"

"Deal." AJ replied.

"Tony?" came a familiar voice from behind.