Rocks and Beans

They get in these big bags of beans and have to wash them and remove the stones.  This, he was told by the manager of the Taco Cafe.  After finding a small rock in his burrito, he called the store and asked to speak with a manager. Privy to such customer service issues being that he works at MacDonald's, they spoke Manager to Manager.   I was ticked that he was letting them off the hook so easy.

He proclaimed, "Those must be some fresh beans if I'm biting down on a rock!"

Jayme's Shawna Cat

She was one or two years older than he. He never
abused her but had she been any other, she would not
have tolerated him. Yet, she craved affection and
he provided. Often, with his arm wrapped under her
belly with legs dangling, he'd carry her off to his
room. He held her captive in his bed.
She cried to be released, but he'd stoke her body,
coaxing her to settle in.
He'd talk to her, reassure her the while.
And finally, she would succomb.

Countless hours, they spent like this. If he didn't
drag her off to his bed, he was dragging her off to
the couch. Oftentimes you would find them asleep
together, in the bed, on the couch, on the floor.
They truly loved each other.

For years they had traveled in the car together.
She cried mercilessly and he would perform his majic on
her. Endlessly reassuring her, talking to her, petting her.

Once, when he was a baby, not yet one year old,
across the room I saw him on the floor and he was gasping.
It sounded like cries for help. With all four of her
paws atop his head, the cat was clawing at his head.

Her front paws had been declawed but I knew those
back claws were sharp.
Immediately, I ran to his rescue to discover that he
was laughing. Clearly cat and child were
involved in some form of play.

They carried on like this for 12 years until we left
for Japan. We had to leave several pets behind.
Grandma buried Mrs. Jingles, the pet mouse, the
first year. The second year, Sam, the neighbor's cat that
had come to live with us.

Grandma called us during the school day to advise us
of these deaths. "Why me?" Jayme would ask. "Why
does everything bad happen to me?" And then the
inevitable, "Why did we have to come to Japan?"

This time, things are so very different.

Jayme was finishing up his last school year in
Japan. He was enjoying the festivities and some
sudden new friendships. Grandma had sense not to cast
a shadow over any of it. Shawna's bowls, full of food and
water continued to be set out. Since Memorial day weekend,
people would assume the cat was outside. Grandma awaited
Jayme's return.

I called to see if he and his X-Box arrived safely.
Jayme answered the phone. They were on their way to
Crickets, our favorite restaurant. Just before he
left Japan yesterday, he was wondering if he should have the
hamburger or a steak.

But he was unusually quiet now.

We were both comfortable with the silence, but I was
concerned. I fear for the boy's happiness, always.
I have not been a role model for happiness throughout
his life. He was such a playful and happy child but
I'd been prone to episodes of melancholy.

"I don't have much to say," he said. Then, after
another brief pause, he told me.

We continued to hold the phone in silence. I asked
few questions. Grandma hadn't told anyone else.
She waited since Memorial Day. She told him just
before they entered the house.