A SUMMER STORY

By Martin Bihl

The kids just got out of school. Yesterday morning before I left for work, Holden got up early – like at 6:30 – for no reason. Came downstairs in his shorts, and flopped on the couch.

I said, "Dude, what’re you doing up so early?"

And he just shrugged that shrug of "what does ‘early’ mean to me? I have no plans. I could watch TV now and go to sleep again at noon and then eat breakfast at 3:15. School is out and I transcend time. And anyway, who are you to ask me what I’m doing, as you hustle your skinny, over-mortgaged, overworked, burnt out, cholesterol-toting ass off to the train, Mr. 9-to-5?"

Or maybe I’m just projecting.