Kate looked up from her cereal and grinned.
“Mommy!” she said.
“Yes, that’s Mommy!” said Thurman. “Are you excited to see her?”
“Yeah” said Kate. She had dropped her spoon and grabbed the seat of her chair with both hands, bouncing and barely able to contain her excitement.
“Yesterday, we played PlayDoh and blew bubbles and made cupcakes!”
“Did you? What are you going to do today?”
“Well maybe we’ll play outside and make sand castles and maybe we’ll blow bubbles again and chase them around the lawn and see a dog or go to the zoo.”
Is there a zoo here? Thurman couldn’t remember. He tried to spark his memory with another sip of coffee. He didn’t think so, but maybe there was. Maybe it was new.
“What kind of animals are at the zoo, Sweetie?”
“Well there’s a lion, and a monkey, and sometimes a big snake.”
It’s a game said Phyllis. It’s her imagination.
“Is it a long way to the zoo?” Thurman was thoroughly confused.
“Yeah. It’s three TV shows.”
It’s not real said Phyllis.
The bathroom door shut, the shower turned on.
“But, but Mommy!” said Kate.
“She’ll be down soon. Just a few more minutes.”
Kate sank back into her chair, picked up her spoon, and continued eating her cereal.
“I hope you get to the zoo today, Sweetie”.
Kate took another bite.
The Average Life of Thurman Dogood 