Come Saturday Morning

by E!lf

Roy DeSoto gathered up the bloody gauze and other detritus of his first aid ministrations and tossed them into a plastic bag.  Then he turned to the merry-go-round, where his small son Christopher and Christopher's best friend Tommy Jenkins sat, wide-eyed and solemn.  It was an old-fashioned sort of merry-go-round, high enough off the ground that the two boy's legs didn't reach the circle of bare earth that countless running feet had worn below the seats.

"All right, boys.  Tell me what we've learned from this little exercise today."

Christopher shifted uncomfortably, looking down at the ground.  "Never try to jump off the merry-go-round when it's going as fast as it can or you might fall down and scrape up your knees and elbows really bad and make them bleed," he offered.

"And don't stand up on the metal bars in the center of the merry-go-round while it's moving, even if you are king of the hill, or you might slip and smack your nose on something," Tommy added.

"And there are enough swings to go around.  Don't get into a fight over who gets to swing on which one because some innocent person might get hit in the head," Christopher finished.  Like the merry-go-round, the swing set was the old-fashioned sort and thus had heavy wooden seats.

"That's very good," Roy said solemnly.  "Now I want you to promise that I will never, EVER see either of you doing any of those things, okay?"

"Promise, Daddy!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Okay then."  Without significantly lightening his solemn  expression, Roy gave the two small children a wink and allowed one corner of his mouth to quirk upwards slightly.  "You're good boys.  You've been a lot of help and I'm proud of you.  Now, Christopher, why don't you and Tommy go see if Mom needs any help setting the picnic table?"

"'Kay, Daddy!"

"'Kay, Mr. DeSoto!"

Roy stood and watched the two boys run off, then turned to where John Gage and Chet Kelly slouched against the rail that held the teeter totters.  He pressed his lips together and regarded them coldly.  "I try to be a good example to my children and their friends," he said, "so I suppose there's some argument for having the two of you around to serve as horrible warnings.  This consideration notwithstanding, I am never bringing either of you to the park again!"

Johnny looked away, caught between pouting and sulking.  "Oh, come on, Rooooy!  It wasn't that bad!"

"Eady for you to day," Chet cut in.  "I'b god a hod dade todight.  Do you tink she dodice by dode?"

"At least you can bend your knees and your elbows," Johnny shot back.

Roy groaned and rubbed at the growing knot on his own temple.  "Never," he muttered.  "Never again!"

Johnny gave him a cautious smile.  "Uh, sorry about your head . . . ."

The End

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