Water Boy

Coach has assigned the task of water boy to Trevor. He has these green Gatorade bottles, six of them to a tray. He has to keep them filled and hand them around for the boys to stay hydrated on the sidelines. He catches the boys coming off the field and shoves a bottle into their hands. When the bottles are empty he fills them out of the three five gallon water jugs that sit on a table on the side line at the fifty yard marker.

I was impressed that Trevor stuck with it the whole game. He pushed water on everyone. He kept the bottles filled. He stayed focused on the game and his task. The coaches patted him on the back as he did his job, letting him know they noticed. He also got to go out to the huddle on the field during time outs to hand round the water. He liked that part as he hustled out.

We noticed one other boy in shorts on the team side line, perhaps another probationary Freshman.

I waved at Trevor to let him know I was there. He waved back. Riley was bored but we had met at a restaurant before the game and he had eaten, so I felt that he had received a treat for his time. He had still not figured out where to catch the after school bus, as a result he had to come to the game with me. The weather was beautiful. A friend and her daughter arrived to give support. Her daughter and Riley wandered off to get candy at a store nearby. I gave Riley $5 to spend.

Trevor's team won 33 to 14. We headed home.

Trevor needs a waterproof watch. He needs to know the time at all times. He regretted the big lunch off campus as his swim class is right after lunch. He made it back in time but the work out was hard on an over full stomach. Swimming is hard work. He said he was exhausted just by the dozen warm up laps. He will definitely get in shape with swim conditioning. He said his football coach wanted him in weight training but I think Trevor will do well with the swimming. There is more efficiency of time with swimming, less interruptions from changing machines. Trevor will get weight training eventually. He said there were a few other boys from football in the swim class.

So far no homework other than to get me to sign parent agreement forms. Two games down and two to go before probation is over.

Riley is reading Frankenstein for his first book in Honors English. He is not thrilled. He finds it depressing and the language difficult. I offered him a copy from the junior collection. We have a copy somewhere. I thought the boys might like to read it last year, but neither one was interested at the time. Riley doesn't like scary or Horror. He didn't even finish the Harry Potter series as it got too dark for his tastes. He likes happy endings for everyone.

To be at the brink of death changes a person. He doesn't like to dwell on the dark side. He has even become friendlier even through male puberty. Where Trevor will angrily answer me, Riley will respond with a hug. He avoids conflict. He likes a happy place. He has taken to heart our Grandma Yama's mantra "You only get one shot at this life. You can be happy or not. You choose." Yama lived way past two husbands and had some tough times. Very little ever got her down for long. The boys remember her fondly with happy memories.

Both boys are liking their first days of school. Riley says his Spanish teacher is full immersion. All instruction is done in Spanish with very little English. Both boys try to brag about who's teacher is the most fun and interesting. I love their engagement, and am grateful we got through the first week without too much incident. I told Riley to ask the bus drive where he will be parked after school, so he can finally ride the bus home.

Still waiting on the call back for how much the window will cost us. Once ordered, it will be two weeks before the window will arrive for installation as it has to be shipped. Because technology changes, the glass will be a slightly off color from the rest of the windows. It will be a better R factor and a stronger window, but kind of like matching paint colors from a different can on a patch job, the glass guy said it wont be exact. I would have to replace all the windows at the same time to get the glass all to match. Then a different window would probably get broken. I am not that fussy. You would really have to stare and look for it to see a difference.

The glass guy came recommended by a couple of Tom's construction friends. While talking to him he said the majority of his work used to be new construction, big jobs. In the last three years that pool has dried up entirely. Now he stays in business doing jobs like mine, broken windows. It is a scary realization how far our economy has tumbled. I wonder if we will ever see it robust again in our life time. I wonder what my boys will do to succeed.

Tom told Riley if he graduates early from High School, Tom will help pay for college and Riley wont have to get a job. Of course Tom is not talking private school and Riley will still need to try for scholarships. I just want the boys to succeed in High School and have fun. The post school years will come soon enough.