Spark Into a Flame

Joey

I was bored out of my mind.  Elliott wouldn't talk to me.  I was suspended from soccer practice.  All I could do was come home after school and do my homework.  My friends all did extra curriculars so they were busy.  I laid on my bed with my head dangling over the edge.  I heard footsteps in the hallway and then an upside-down Dad appeared at the door.

"Why don't you come help me with dinner?" he suggested, his hand resting on the doorknob.

"How about no?" I retorted.  He tilted his head to the side and shook it.

"Looks like you have nothing better to do," he pointed out and I rolled my eyes.  "I'll meet you in the kitchen in five."

Out of sheer boredom, I did.  I let my arms drape over me and my hands found the floor.  The gymnastics I'd done until I was about eight came in handy - I did a back walkover and landed on my feet.  That made me kind of proud.  I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and then joined Dad in the kitchen, where he already was getting ingredients out.

"Alright," he said.  "Why don't you start by cutting up this onion."

I looked at him like he was crazy.  "Dad?  Seriously?"

He looked at me, confused.

"You want to make me cry?" I asked and he chuckled a little.

"I'll show you a trick," he said.  He dug around in the side drawer and retrieved some chewing gum.  He passed me a piece and told me to chew while I was cutting.  I decided to give it a try.  After popping the piece in my mouth I carefully positioned the knife over the onion and cut in.

A couple minutes of chopping later, it seemed to have worked.  I don't know how it did, but it did.  "Wow," I said.  "It actually worked."

I spoke too soon.  Stupidly, I rubbed at an itch on my eye and got onion liquid in there.  "Fuck!"

Dad was about to admonish me when he saw what was up.  I felt his hands on my shoulders as he guided me to the kitchen sink.  He turned on the water and made it warm, then told me to start rinsing my eyes out.  I whined like a little kid as I tried to wash out the sting.  Finally, it was gone.  Dad handed me a paper towel.

"Yeah, don't rub your eyes," he told me, trying not to laugh at me.  I glared at him and sighed.  "Another trick - wear safety goggles."

I actually had a pair in my backpack from chemistry class.  I ran back to my room and retrieved them, then positioned them on my head.  I turned to smile at dad and he burst out laughing.  Of course he had to take a picture, which was immediately sent to Pippa, his parents, and many others.  I'm glad they were getting amusement out of my misfortune.

As we worked together, Alex and Jack played in the living room.  I had noticed a little tree project sitting out on the dining room table.  Alex's birth family.

"What's that tree thing about?" I asked my dad as we kept working.

"Alex's school project," he said, checking the recipe.  "She has to make a family tree."

"Oh," I said.  "Does she remember them?"

Dad glanced at me.  "She does," he said, measuring out some milk.  "Her parents and grandparents mostly."

"Must be hard," I commented, and he nodded.

"I asked if she wanted to do two trees," he went on.  "She thought it would be too much work, but I think it's a good idea."

"She's gonna include us?" I asked as I finished cutting the onion.

"Mmmhmm," he said, grabbing a bowl.  He carefully wiped the freshly cut onion into the bowl.  His eyes started to tear up from it.