Changing Seasons

Thirty-Two

****

"What should we go do, bro?" Krist asked as Rocco jumped down the front stairs of the Head Start entrance.

"Ice cream, Dad." stomped in a puddle. Krist had just bought those Nikes, and he winced. "You said we can get ice cream."

"I did say that, didn't I?" Krist laughed and reached for Rocco's arm to stop him from jumping into another puddle. "What did you want to do after that? Should we go to Chuck E. Cheese after?"

Rocco jumped with excitement, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" He cheered, raising a finger in the air, mimicking one of his wrestlers, Daniel Bryan. He skipped over to their older model BMW M3, waiting for his father to let him in. Krist buckled Rocco into his five-point harness, closed the door, and seated himself in the driver's seat, texting Atira, "Miss you, baby," before pulling away from the curb.

"How was your day at school?" Krist glanced at Rocco in the rearview mirror.

"Good. Benny peed his pants." Rocco informed him.

"Ah, that sucks, bro."

"I laughed, and Miss Tammy told me that wasn't nice."

"She's right, that isn't nice." Krist told him sternly. "What if it was you that peed your pants? Would it still be funny?"

Rocco fell quiet and kicked the back of Krist's seat as he swung his legs. That kid was always moving.

Krist pulled into the parking lot of Yolicious, one of Rocco's favorite places. It wasn't technically ice cream, but Rocco knew no better.

Krist glanced at his phone and responded to Atira. Rocco darted to the door, holding it open for his father, "Stop being so slow, Dad!" He swung from the handle impatiently.

"Dude, get off the door like that." Krist scolded him as he texted Atira where he was at the moment. Rocco ran inside the yogurt shop, talking a mile a minute as he bounced. "Chill, bro."

He grabbed two small paper bowls and helped Rocco with his. Rocco, of course, wanted multiple flavors with multiple toppings that didn't go together. Krist rolled his eyes to himself and obliged, serving himself a bowl of rainbow sherbet.

They paid for their dishes before sitting down at a small table. Rocco's energy had irritated Krist that afternoon, and he felt guilty. He knew he was stressed out and anxious about Atira returning home. Still, it was coming out as annoyance towards Rocco.

After they'd finished, he took Rocco to the restroom to clean up before loading him back in the car.

"Are we going to Chuck E. Cheese?" Rocco shouted from the backseat.

Krist put on a happy face for him. "Of course, bro!"

****

Chuck E. Cheese was no less than overwhelming for the already-annoyed Krist. The cacophony of various games, automated rides, and music increased his stress. Still, Rocco was happy, and that's what mattered most.

They purchased ten dollars in-game tokens. Krist followed Rocco around the colorful building, cheering him on as he played skeeball, Whack-A-Mole, and Mario Kart.

Krist's fowl mood faded, and he agreed to purchase another twenty tokens so they could play a few more games together.

Once the tokens had run out, he let Rocco cash in his tickets for a few small prizes and bought him a few trinkets to take home. By that time, it was pushing three. They had enough time to do two grocery deliveries before returning to the apartment.