My Daddy "The Fonz"

Chapter 5/Part 1: First Night With the Kid

Fonzie's POV:

So, here goes nothin'. Right when we get home from Arnold's, I have Bobby sit on the couch so I can clear my head and wonder what in the world it is I should do with him. Freaking out inside, I poke my head out of my bedroom window to breathe in the brisk night air.

When I finally come to my senses, my watch tells me it's already 8:30pm, and I have no idea when this kid should be in bed. Heck, I don't know the FIRST THING about taking care of him. I shouldn't have let Richie go back home so quickly. I could've used him further. Knocking on the door frame of the living room, I walk in to find the little squirt passed out on my couch.

Well, I think the matter has fixed itself. Let the kid fall asleep when he's good and ready. Makes perfect sense.

Then it dawns on me. Does he need to go to school? I realize that today is Monday of all days, and I don't even know which school this kid goes to. About to blow my top, I wake Bobby up from his sound sleep. "Hey, kid."

He looks at me like I'm on somethin'. "What?"

"I was just wonderin' if you need to go to school."

"Not right now. It's night time."

I rub my cramping forehead. "Well, duh, I know that. I was thinkin' since tomorrow's Monday and all, and you're seven, that you probably should go to school."

He sits up a bit and stares off into the back wall behind me. "Can we talk about this later? I'm tired."

"No, kid, I have to work tomorrow, and I can't just have you doing whatever you dang well please all by yourself." Then he glares at me. Boy, this kid.

"Fine. My school is John Quincy Adams Elementary, just across town, I think. I guess I don't know where it is."

I nod. At least we're gettin' somewhere. "Fine. I know where it is. I know everything about this town. I'll take you there in the morning then, unless you're too chicken to ride my bike with me. You'll have a helmet. It's harmless." Right as I say it, he hides under a cushion. I can tell he doesn't like the sound of riding my bike. Perhaps Mrs. C or Richie could drive him for me. I mean, Richie already takes Joanie to school, so it shouldn't be a big deal, right?

Now that the school thing is out of the way, about ten thousand other things ping at my brain. Like, does this kid have a tooth brush? Does he have enough clothes? Do I have to set rules like the Cunninghams' or should I just wing it? What about exercise? Do I take him on walks like people do with dogs? Shoot. Do I need to pack him a lunch? I'm at a loss right now. A complete and total loss, and it's only the first night. Nothing bad has even happened yet. What if something does? I'm totally effed.

Not seeing straight, I can feel my lungs inflate to the point where I can't exhale anymore. So I don't keel over on my nice polished floor and make a fool of myself in front of the kid, I gently plop my lower half onto the couch beside him.

Bobby looks at me, but I don't know how to explain this. What is there to say here? Should I just tell him I'm completely incompetent and can barely keep myself afloat, let alone another person? That should work. He'd understand. I'm a genius. Again, sarcasm.

He scooches closer to me, and I so badly want to escape. I try to breathe in one deep breath of clean air to avoid the increasing tightness in my chest. I hate people pushing my personal space. This kid, I can already tell, doesn't know the first thing about boundaries. I need to set the record straight, but those d*mned puppy dog eyes. No, Fonz, stay strong. Don't let him see through you. You're bigger than this. A little kid does not have power over you.

"Daddy?"

I groan. Not that word. Please, any other word. "Yes, Bobby?"

"Are you okay? You look green."