It was an honest mistake on his part. Of that I am one hundred percent sure. But just the same, as we got out of the truck to go into Arby's for a pretend healthy version of fast food, Connor sat the pack of "C" size Duracells next to him on the car seat.
I vaguely remembered the door alarm at Home Depot whining at me as I exited, but that has a four out of five probability with no foul play on a regular day and my ears have become somewhat deaf to it's accusatory tones unless they are accompanied by a dull "Hey, excuse me sir?....."
The boys had been more than a little well behaved as we jogged through the sharp implements of destruction aisle, and had not walked backwards even once into an unsuspecting guy in an orange vest, so when Connor asked if we could buy some batteries for his new combat ready apache death squad terrorist insurgent Bush chopper, I cheerfully agreed without even the usual, "Well son, do you have enough in your piggy bank to pay for those"?
A not so pleasant wait behind a lady who had far more electrical fittings than she could ever know what to do with, was starting to grate on everyone's nerves. The boys were running out of discipline, and I was running out of patience. I was about to start threatening the final card in my deck of control (Well, maybe we WON'T be going to Arby's after all) When at last the nice man took my plumbing parts and charged me a couple hundred dollars for the favor.
So the thought never crossed my mind.
Now, we prepare for the grand challenge. Tomorrow, we must return to Home Depot. Unopened batteries in hand, and Soulful expression of fearful apology in eyes. "But Dad, I didn't remember that we had to pay for them".
"I know Son, it was an accident. I forgot that you had them too".
"Then can you just bring them back without me"?
"Sorry big guy, we both need to go. Even though it was an accident, we were in the wrong, so we both have to make it right".
"oh"
..
..
..
"Dad'? "What if they don't believe me that it was an accident'?
(The faintest hint of evil begged me to tell him that we would both go away to prison for a very long time. I firmly and silently shoved my size 13 boot up evil's ass and sent it away to sulk till the next time I got angry with a fast food clerk through a bad microphone connection)
"It's okay son. They'll be surprised that we came back at all."
"then.....why do we have to go"?
(oh child. One Day You Will Know)
"Because, Connor it's the right thing to do. And when ever we can, we need to do the right thing".
"okay Dad, but I'll just leave them in the car for you in case you decide to do the right thing without me".
(Not a chance my love. Not a chance)
Oy. I hope whomever you talk to at Home Depot remembers that you could have KEPT doing the wrong thing, and reinforces your lesson by taking your money nicely and saying "Thank you for being a nice, honest boy." If they don't, tell him he's welcome to take all the batteries he wants.
(KIDDING!
Mostly.)
It's A Good Thing that he asked "What if they don't believe me...?" instead of "Well, if we got away with free batteries, why not just fageddabattit?" (Which would lead to a long lecture about his conscience, backed up with a lesser version of Evil's chortling about prison.)
Good Dadding, there.
Posted by: Beth at April 27, 2004 01:55 PM