This is how a lot of my afternoons go. About 3:25 a boy named Max calls on the phone. He very politely tells me who he is (I already know because I have caller ID and because I expect his phone call at this time) and then very politely asks me if he may speak to Bennett. I then very politely tell him that Bennett is not home yet and I will be absolutely sure to have him call him back when he gets home in 20 minutes. He is calling to see if Bennett can play before anyone else does.
The boys arrive home 20 minutes later and I brace myself. After the message is relayed to Bennett the phone again begins to ring and ring and ring. I half expect it to vibrate off its base because it is ringing so much. Toshi, David, J.T., Ryan, Carter and Ethan to name a few. All these boys are calling wanting to play with my boys.
That is when my job as ringmaster begins. "Now who is coming over?"...."Where are you going and when are you coming home?"....."Wait, I need to pick you up? When?"...."Who is Jacob?"
The ringing of the phone is replaced by the ringing of the doorbell. But they don't all choose to come through the front. Some enjoy the back door and the side door. Do you know that boys come in packs? Very similar to a pack of dogs now that I think about it. They smell and eat that way too as a matter of fact.
It is not uncommon for a group of them to breeze into my house and down the stairs before I can even say hello. And it is not uncommon to see an unfamiliar face as well. "Who's that kid?" You see they like to bring their friends and cousins and neighbors along.
And while I am comparing my boys to dogs, do you know that boys also like to roam? Generally they are not satisfied at playing at one house. They like to go to multiple houses in one afternoon to partake of the entertainment everywhere. My job as ringmaster is constantly changing. One kid comes, 2 leave, and then another comes..... All the while I am trying to keep track in my head who is at my house at one given time. I would hate to have a mother call asking for her boy and me have no idea if he is here or not.
I really should take advantage of this opportunity and upgrade my boy's shoes.
I hear a lot of muffled yelling and screaming and the occasional cry from our playroom. This is the only time I go down and assess the injury other than making sure everyone is playing fairly. The games they come up with are quite remarkable. Football, soccer, acrobatics, dodge ball, something with murder in the name, and others I will not mention for fear that mothers out there will cringe. Hey they are boys and they need an outlet.
After awhile they decide they are hungry and thirsty so up they come...in a pack... to drink and devour anything that I offer them. I am a big fan of popcorn. Very cheap and will feed a lot of kids. The only downside is the mess, which I threaten and tell them I will give them a job for each kernel I find on the ground. They make a mess anyway.
Down they go again to play until about 5:30 or so when it is time to go home. I take a deep sigh as they leave and say "See you tomorrow." My job as ringmaster is over for the day.
