The Evening Games

As he left for South Africa, Bill looked at me pleadingly. "I doubt I'll find any opportunity to blog while I'm away. Could you...?"
I knew where that pleading look came from. I've felt the same way when I'm kept away from my computer for a few days. I feel like I'm letting you down. Taken to an extreme, blogging becomes a chronic condition, and we suffer withdrawal.
So I'll tell you about the evening games, our favorite part of the day. I like it because I sit in a lawnchair and laugh. The kids' laughter rings through the moist air, the sweetest music I know. Having sat in front of a computer most of the day, Bill is ready for some horseplay. His is usually of the caveman variety, involving lots of chasing, roaring, and hoisting of kid bodies. They adore it. He keeps them on their toes.
Here, BOTB feigns sleep, snoring loudly. Liam is wary, knowing something is about to go down.
He keeps his distance. "Daddy? Are you asleep?"
"I can't hear you. Come a little closer." Knowing he shouldn't go any closer, Liam of course does.
ROARRRRR! and the chase is on! Look at Liam's little feet just ahead of Piltdown Man. The pied dire wolf is an able assistant in the chase, leaping to lick the prey and trip it up. The flame-haired juvenile cavegirl will help prepare the catch.
Prey secured, Piltdown Man bears the kill off to his cave to sear it over an open fire.
After the screams and laughter died down, we sat back at the table. A solid-red bird darted just overhead. "What the heck is that bird?" Bill asked. Had to be a summer tanager. It flitted around the yard, catching bees against the siding. Oh, perfect evening.We suspect that summer tanagers had a late nesting on our farm, for the first time ever, last year. We had a persistantly singing male, who we saw chasing a female, in early July. Can lightning strike twice? Come on. Breed for us, darling.
By the way: You can comment. Really. Remember, I'm lonely! Got that?
Zick, pining off.