It's been two weeks since Jocie started song writing for us. She seems to like it and the boys love her as well. The kids haven't even officially met her yet. They know we got a new songwriter, but they have been going to school and daycare every single day.
I want the kids to meet her, but I'm afraid she'll run away like the last one. Or I'm afraid she will judge and I'll have to make her leave too. It's not easy being a dad and working all the time. I just wish it could be easier in all ways.
"Party at the crib tonight," Zion says to Jocie.
"A party?" She asks. "I haven't been to a party in years."
"Well then this is the perfect chance for you to come to one," Edwin says. "Starts at eight."
"Will everyone be there?" She glances at me quickly and then back to Edwin and Zion.
"All of us except Nick," Zion says.
She looks at me, "Why won't you be there?"
"I don't really party these days," I say. "And I have priorities to take care of at home."
"Priorities?" She asks.
"Yes, uhm, I have..."
Austin and Brandon barge in, interrupting what I was going to tell Jocie. Right when I thought I was going to tell her about the kids.
"We have a title," Austin says getting super excited.
"Which is?" Jocie asks.
"Phases," Brandon says.
"Think about it," Austin starts. "She's going through all of these rough patches in life. Each of them being a different phase in her life."
"And the guy is staying through each phase. He's not giving up even though she already gave up on their phase," Brandon says.
"I love it," I say.
"Me too," Jocie says. She turns around in her chair and grabs her pencil. I watch her as she writes 'Phases' at the top of the paper. She turns back to us, "Phases it is."
***
"Bri, stop yelling at him," I say. "He's not doing anything wrong."
"He messed up my puzzle," she yells.
"He didn't mean to," I say back to her. "He tripped and fell. You can't be mad at him. If you are going to be mad then you can go sit in your room."
"Fine!" She yells. She storms off to her room, slamming the door behind her.
I sigh and I throw the wet rag down into the sink. I swear I can't ever win when it comes to these kids. They are never satisfied with anything.
"Dad, is uncles coming tonight?" Colton asks me as he plays with his food.
"I don't think so," I say. "They are having friends over tonight."
"You are friend," Denton says. "Why aren't you going too?"
"Because I'm staying here with you guys," I say.
"We can go too," Denton says.
"No," I say gently. "They are having adult people over. No kids are aloud."
"Not fair," Colton says. "I think we should throw a kid party then. They aren't invited."
I chuckle, "That's not very nice though."
"Me not care," he says. "They aren't nice to us, so we be mean back."
I bend down at the table next to him, "No, bud. That's not how life works. Just because people are mean to you doesn't mean you can be mean back. You have to be nice to others."
