The Athlete

by carolynholm

Mom,
It’s time for The Game.
Charlie

Dear Charlie,
I know, sweetie. Give me a minute, I’m in the middle of something.
Love, Carolyn

Mom,
I saw you put your coffee cup in the sink. That means you are ready for The Game.
Charlie

Dear Charlie,
As usual you’re on the mark. Give me a minute.
Love, Carolyn

MOM,
IT’S TIME FOR THE GAME!!!!!!!!!
Charlie

Dear Charlie,
You can stop yelling, we’re going to play. Who knew what a hit this wand toy would be.
Love, Carolyn

Mom,
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Charlie

Dear Charlie,
I love watching you play with it!
Love, Carolyn 

Mom,
It’s not play.
Charlie

Dear Charlie,
You’re right. It’s something else altogether. You leap so high, you are eye-level with me! Maybe I should call you Air Charlie. And while you are airborne, sometimes you change direction so fast that a leap turns into a flip!  What an athlete you are! 
Love, Carolyn

Mom,
I love it when you yell WOO HOO!!!!
Charlie

Dear Charlie,
I love it when you jump so high that it calls for a Woo Hoo! What an extraordinary performance. Hey, I’ve got an even better name for you – I’m going to start calling you Charlie BaryshniKat.
Love, Carolyn

Mom,
That’s a weird name.
Charlie

Dear Charlie,
No, it’s an honor, to be named after one of the greatest dancers in the world. You have the athleticism, the grace, and the beauty of a great ballet dancer.
Love, Carolyn

Mom,
Does that guy catch the prey like I do?
Charlie

Dear Charlie,
No one catches it like you do. 
Love, Carolyn

Mom,
It’s a very tricky prey.
Charlie

Dear Charlie,
But somehow you catch that thing while you are up in the air! And I love the ritual after you catch it, when we walk around the house with the prey in your mouth, me following you, holding the wand like a leash!
Love, Carolyn

Mom,
That’s part of the game.
Charlie

Dear Charlie
I get it. Kind of like a victory lap. Or maybe it’s an instinct to cache your prey. Puffin did that too, when he played with his wand. When he caught his prey, he walked it to a specific spot where he put it down on the rug. Every time. When you catch it we take a tour of the house, making a big circle to end up back where we started.
Love, Carolyn

Mom,
Ready for the next round.
Charlie

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