Changing Seasons

Twenty-Six

****

Rocco woke Krist up like he usually did with a cannonball on him before the alarm could go off. "Wake up, daaaaad!"

"Don't you ever want to sleep in?" He asked his son.

"Nah," Rocco grinned, "Can I have pancakes and eggs for breakfast? That's what grandma makes me," he told him.

"Sure thing," he sat in bed in good spirits. He was feeling appreciative of the things in his life. Rocco, stability, sobriety, and Atira. Krist made a mental note to remind himself of those things more often.

He asked Rocco to go to his bedroom to dress himself as he made their breakfast. Rocco frog hopped away. Krist pulled the ingredients out and propped his phone up on the counter to FaceTime Atira. It was not even seven, but she was up, her hair done and full makeup.

"Hey," he greeted her, "Looking good."

"Aw, thank you, baby," she grinned, "I missed you. It was hard to sleep without you here."

"Four more days to go, I'm counting down," Krist laughed.

"Are you making breakfast?"

"I am. Rocco wanted pancakes and eggs," he told her, "I been lazy with his breakfasts lately and just doing cereal."

"That's all I eat," she admitted with a laugh. Rocco skipped into the kitchen, grabbing Krist's phone before he could stop him, "Hey, Rocco!"

Rocco looked at his dad with a mischievous grin and then at the iPhone in his hand, "My dad says you're his girlfriend. I saw you kissing."

"Oh? You saw that?" Rocco nodded enthusiastically, "Well...I like your dad. I hope someday you and I can be friends?"

Rocco gave an exaggerated look of thought, "Hmm," he tapped his chin.

"Atira has a cat," Krist told him.

Rocco's eyes went wide, "You have a cat!"

"His name is Jacques. Do you want to see him?"

The little boy nodded eagerly. Atira disappeared from the screen, returning with the fat cat in her arms, "He's so cute!" Rocco cooed, "My dad won't let me have a cat. He said they shed and piss all over the place."

Atira covered her mouth and nearly dropped her cat, holding back her laughter.

"Rocco!" Krist exclaimed, reaching for his phone.

Rocco looked up at him wide-eyed, "You did! You said cats shed and pi-"

"Hey, I believe you, Rocco!" Atira bit her bottom lip, fighting back her laughter.

Krist set the phone down on the counter, "I said some cats. Some cats shed and piss all over," he told Atira.

"So you hate cats, is what you're saying?" Atira laughed.

"He does!" Rocco yelled at the phone.

"Jacques doesn't shed much, and he doesn't...use the bathroom anywhere but his litter box. Maybe your dad will like him, Rocco."

Rocco looked at his father, "You better!"

"Is that a threat?" Krist teased.

"I agree, you better like my cat!" Atira laughed.

****

The week went by relatively quickly and uneventfully for Krist. He stayed busy with work and Rocco, making decent money with his deliveries. Before he knew it, Friday had rolled around.