Neither
Heather, Dan or the baby were alcoholics, of course. They were a
typical, suburban family who had moved into a new house. New to
them, but really about 50 years old and in need of repairs. They
couldn’t afford everything they wanted to do to the house, but
paint was a cheap and quick fix.
While
they were figuring out what colors the various rooms should be
painted, Peter was engrossed in figuring how to communicate all the
many thoughts that whizzed through his consciousness. When they
first moved in, they only had 2 kitchen chairs. One Saturday
morning, Dan and Heather were sitting in them, drinking coffee.
Little Peter toddled in from his play area in the dining room. He
looked around and asked, “Where’s my sit down?”
Heather
and Dan smothered their laughs when they realized what he meant. Dan
said, “I always knew my son would be a genius. He’ll never have
a problem asking for what he needs.” Heather brought in his little
rocking chair from the dining room so Peter could ‘sit down’ next
to them.
It
was mid-January, very cold, although it hadn’t snowed yet. Dan was
eager to get all the inside painting done, so he could start on the
garden when the weather warmed up. He and Heather decided they
should perk up Peter’s little room first. It was going to be a
typical boy’s design of red, white and blue color scheme. Heather
knew her dad, a former Marine would appreciate their effort.
She
made red and white striped curtains with a trim of little blue cotton
balls. Dan covered the beat up, built in wooden bookcases with a
coat of Williamsburg blue to go with an old blue trunk they found in
a thrift store.
Peter
didn’t say much as he watched all this activity. His eyes followed
every brush stroke as Dan used a paintbrush to cover Peter's gloomy
green walls with a bright, clean white. The little guy tried to
imitate his Dad, sticking his hand in the can of white paint, which
caused a work stoppage for a major clean up. And then, when Dan
turned his back again, Peter tried to use his little hairbrush to
paint “like Daddy.” Dan couldn't let him do these messy things,
but secretly he was proud that his son wanted to be just like him.
Although
the winter had been snow free so far, the weatherman predicted a
heavy snow fall for the day after Dan painted Peter's room. And for
once it was an accurate prediction. When Heather saw her transformed
yard and neighborhood, her eyes danced with anticipation. She knew
Peter was going to love playing in the fluffy, cold stuff. Last year
he had been too young to appreciate it.
As
she looked out the hall windows, she heard Peter's happy morning
sounds. She walked in to his room with a big smile. “I have a
surprise for you today.”
“'Prize?”
Peter asked. He raised his chubby arms for her to lift him out of
the crib. Heather first bent to give him a good morning kiss and
hug. He squirmed away and asked again, “Prize?” She nuggled his
neck as she carried him over to the window. They looked out at a
white world. Snow covered the front yard, the driveway, the street
and all the trees.
“Honey,
look. It's a surprise. Everything's all white.”
Peter
opened his eyes wide as he peered through the frost framed window.
He looked at the world that he'd last seen as brown and green and
orange. He laughed and clapped his hands. “Daddy painted it all
white.”
The End
