Tag: short story

18

Vinnie’s mom, Vinnie’s dad, Rupert and Vinnie sit at the dining room table. Rupert’s back leans against Vinnie’s lunch box. Dexter lies on the floor next to Vinnie’s chair. The scent of the lingering fragrance of hotdog residue in Vinnie’s pant’s pocket has Dexter’s beagle optimism reader on high.  Vinnie’s dad says, “I’m ready to answer why you can’t do what you want.”

“Too late, Dad. The game’s rules say if you don’t answer it right away, I can change the question,” says Vinnie.

Vinnie’s dad knowing he has to score some points with Vinnie’s mom says, “Vinnie, this is a great game, but this is last question. The game ends after I answer the question, right or wrong.”

Vinnie’s mom glances at Vinnie’s dad and says, “You’ve got to do better.”

“I’m working on it, Dear,” says Vinnie’s dad.

Vinnie pulls an imaginary piece of paper out of the lunch box. He holds the imaginary paper in front of him and reads the imaginary words off of it, “When I grow up, will I be tall and skinny and nerdy looking like you, Dad. Or, will I be like Mom and be able to do sports really good and be really smart?”

Vinnie’s dad blushes. He says, “I am tall and you’re tall for your age group. You’ll be over six feet. But, I’m not nerdy and I like to run.”

Vinnie’s mom touches Vinnie’s dad’s arm, “Dear, you need to answer the question. It is entirely appropriate.”

“Thank you, Mom,” says Vinnie.

“It’s not even a question because it’s imaginary. There was no paper. Vinnie made it up,” says Vinnie’s dad defensively.

“No I didn’t Dad. It’s right here,” Vinnie points to an imaginary spot on the table. He adds, “Rupert wrote it for me. He has great cursive writing.”

Vinnie’s mom, now enjoying the game for the first time says, “Can I see the question, Vinnie?”

“Sure, Mom,” says Vinnie picking up the imaginary question and handing it to his mom.

Vinnie’s mom accepts the imaginary question, holds it up in front of her face and reads it, “When I grow up, will I be tall and skinny and nerdy looking like you, Dad. Or, will I be like Mom and be able to do sports really good and be really smart?” She adds, “You’re right, Vinnie. Rupert has excellent cursive.”

“This isn’t fair,” says Vinnie’s dad. “Can I have a different question?”

“I like this question,” interrupts Vinnie’s mom.

Vinnie reaches over to his mom and she hands the imaginary question to him. Vinnie says, “Dad, I’m going to mark you down. Don’t worry, I have a few extra credit questions for you to get you back in the game. Do you like ketchup?”

“Yes, Vinnie, I like ketchup,” says Vinnie’s dad.

“Dad, do you like ice cream?” asks Vinnie.

“Yes, I like ice cream. What’s the point?” asks Vinnie’s dad.

“Then, Dad, do you ketchup ice cream?” asks Vinnie.

Vinnie’s dad intuitively senses if he answers yes, Vinnie will go to the kitchen and bring his a bowl of ice cream with ketchup on it. If he answers no, Vinnie will tell him he didn’t tell the truth on the first two questions.

Vinnie’s mom says, “Dear, do you now understand what it’s like? Once you leave for work, he starts. Once he gets off the bus it begins again. Two or three times a week I’m called to school talk to teachers about Vinnie.”

“It’s all good stuff, right, Mom?” says Vinnie.

Vinnie’s mom glances at Vinnie. She says, “Vinnie, you amaze your teachers every day.”

“Thanks, Mom. Dad, do you want some ice cream?”

17

Vinnie’s mom and dad tell Vinnie everyone needs a break. Vinnie’s mom and dad go in their bedroom and close the door behind them. Vinnie, Rupert, and Dexter head to the kitchen. Dexter’s favorite room. 

Vinnie’s mom sits on the edge of the bed. She pats a space on the bed next to her. Vinnie’s dad, well trained, walks to the edge of the bed, turns and sits down next to Vinnie’s mom. 

“Well?” asks Vinnie’s mom.

“Well, what?” answers Vinnie’s dad.

“Well, what are you going to tell him about Joey’s dad being horny?” says Vinnie’s mom.

“I don’t know. This never came up in birthing classes,” says Vinnie’s dad.

“It’s TV. We need to get rid of the TV,” says Vinnie’s mom.

“What will we do without football, basketball, and baseball, not to mention golf, winter and summer olympics. You’ll miss the food channel and the home fixer upper channels,” argues Vinnie’s dad as if he’s giving the closing summation in the trial of a serial killer.

“You have to do something. Talk to him man to man,” says Vinnie’s mom.

“He’s only eight years old. I can’t talk to him man to man,” says Vinnie’s dad.

“Then talk to him man to boy, father to son. Dear, he has an overload of your DNA. You have to take responsibility. You know I wanted a girl. But no, you said the first child should be a boy and you read that Indian book on positions more likely to produce a son instead of a daughter. Well … ?” says Vinnie’s mom.

“Do I have to?” asks Vinnie’s dad.

“You sound just like Vinnie. Yes, you have to,” says Vinnie’s mom. “What’s that smell? It smells like the turkey bacon I cook in the skillet for you. Oh, no. Do you think …”

“Yes. He’s cooking turkey bacon,” says Vinnie’s dad.

In the kitchen, Vinnie pulls the last piece of turkey bacon out of the skillet. He dangles it in the air to cool it. The dangling of the turkey bacon has a hypnotizing affect on Dexter. Dexter’s eyes sway like a metronome in four four time. Dexter is lying on the floor. Rupert is sitting against him. Dexter knows this is the easiest gig in the world for a dog.  Don’t move, let a stuffed animal sit against your side and be paid with food for performing this difficult act.

Vinnie’s mom is first to reach the kitchen. “Vincent, what are you doing?”

“I taught Dexter a new trick, Mom. I taught him to lie of the floor and take care of Rupert for me. Look, he’s real good at it,” said Vinnie putting the last piece of turkey bacon next to Dexter’s mouth. 

Dexter’s tongue is quicker than the hands of a blackjack dealer in a Vegas casino. The turkey bacon vanishes into the cosmic space of air, a beagle’s tongue, and a beagle’s digestive track.

Vinnie’s mom turns the stove off. She says, “Vincent, you could have burned the house down. Do you know how dangerous this was?”

Vinnie gives his mom a quizzical look, “I don’t think so, Mom. Look at Rupert. I put the fire extinguisher next to him. If anything happened, Rupert would be all over it.”

Vinnie’s mom turns and faces Vinnie’s dad, “Say something.”

“Looks like he thought of everything. Can we continue playing the game?”

“Dear Mother of God, please ask your Son why,” says Vinnie’s Mom.

16

“I’m confused, Vinnie. Am I answering the second question or the first question,” says Vinnie’s dad trying to wrap his head around Vinnie thought process.

Vinnie says, “I need to talk to Rupert and Dexter.” Vinnie gets off his chair, picks up Rupert and sits on the floor next to Dexter. He sets Rupert in front of Dexter. Dexter’s nose rests on his two front paws. He can’t smell anything so, with considerable effort, he opens his eyes and looks at Rupert for two point one seconds. Dexter’s nose begins twitching. This is part of the built in food seeking mechanism in all domesticated beagles. Dexter stands, shakes his body and sits on his haunches in front of Vinnie. Vinnie takes a half of raw hot dog out of his pocket and gives it to Dexter. Dexter doesn’t bother to chew, he lets it slide down his throat into his belly. Dexter isn’t sure what he did, but he wants to do it again.

Vinnie’s mom says, “Did you take a raw hot dog out of your pocket, Vinnie? How long has it been in your pocket?”

Vinnie says, “It’s been in my pocket since last night, Mom. I never know when I’ll need it. I don’t want Dexter to have low blood sugar.”

“You can make Dexter sick giving him a hot dog left out all night. Besides, no wonder Dexter’s belly drags on the ground. You keep stuffing him with bad food.”

“Mom, if the food I give Dexter is bad, why do you buy it for Dad?”

“Vinnie has a point, Dear.”

“Mom? Mom?”

“What, Vinnie?”

“Is eating the hotdog I kept in my pocket overnight worse for Dexter than Dexter smelling dog poop when we go to the park? This question is not part of the game.”

Vinnie’s dad says, “Looks like your question, Dear.”

Vinnie’s mom says, “Can I phone a friend? Ask for a lifeline? Get a pass? Please, Vincent, just ask Dad the question. Don’t confuse his little brain.”

“My brain isn’t little. I’m very smart,” says Vinnie’s dad.

“If you’re so smart, is smelling dog poop worse than eating an unrefrigerated hot dog for Dexter?” says Vinnie’s mom.

“Mom got you, Dad. I saw that one coming from the end of Mulberry Street. You need to put your iPhone away and concentrate on our game,” laughs Vinnie.

“Thank you, Vinnie. My point, exactly,” says Vinnie’s mom in mock triumph.

Vinnie turns to Rupert, “What’s that, Rupert? Dexter just text you an important question to ask Mom and Dad instead of the question I wanted to ask?”

Vinnie’s dad says, “Dogs can’t text.”

“Yes they can, Dad. Dexter has electrodes in his paws and so does Rupert.”

“Vinnie’s being creative, Dear. You have to agree,” says Vinnie’s mom landing another one on Dexter’s dad.

Vinnie’s dad says, “Okay, you got me. Please take this question. I need a moment to regroup.”

Vinnie’s mom say, “I’m ready, Vinnie. I’m sure Rupert and Dexter have an intelligent question to ask.”

“Why does Joey’s dad have horns and Dad doesn’t?” asks Vinnie.

“Horns? What are you talking about?” asks Vinnie’s mom.

“Joey said he heard his mom ask his dad why he was always horny. Does that mean Joey’s dad has horns?”

Vinnie’s mom starts fishing around in her handbag. 

“What are you looking for, Mom. Maybe Dad and I can help,” says Vinnie.

“I’m looking for my rosary.”

“Oh,” says Vinnie.

Vinnie’s mom takes her hand out of the handbag. “Okay, Vinnie, what do you know about my missing rosary?”

“It’s on the floor in my room, Mom. I needed something to make a boundary for my warriors. I didn’t think you’d miss it. You only use it when you feel stressed.”