I pull out a mop and begin cleaning while Kai stands there crying.
Prosperity: Why are you crying? I should be the one crying because I actually have to clean this.
Kai: *cries harder*
Prosperity: I’m sorry, okay. Next time you want to mix colors, let’s put it on canvas.
My calm apologetic voice soothes the tears away instantly. But the pout is still there.
It makes me feel extremely guilty. I just want his happy face back.
Prosperity: Where’s Kai’s smile? I think we lost Kai’s smile…let’s find it!
Kai’s face lights up as I reach over, grab him, and swing him in the air. I place him on my back and begin to pretend to look around.
Prosperity: There was a little boy here a minute ago? Where did he go? Kai! Where are you?
Kai giggles while holding on tight to my back.
Prosperity: Time to fly back to Sulani where it’s nice and warm. *holds arms out* Hold your arms like this, so we can fly away.
Kai holds his arms out and we pretend to fly around the kitchen. After we’re done playing, I realize just how cold it really is in the house. I turn up the thermostat, then finally remove my coat and boots.
I want to start the roommate search early, so I pull out my phone and dial a number that I found online to set up an advertisement for a new roommate to rent the downstairs apartment.
I take Kai to his bedroom, hoping to get him potty trained soon. He sits down on the potty easily this time, but it still takes a while for anything to happen. After he finally pees, I take him to the dining room and warm up his dinner.
Kai eats his nuggets quickly and is whining and crying by the time I warm up my ramen noodles and sit down to eat. I’m forced to stop my meal and get him ready for bed.
Kai is too tired to struggle, but by the time he’s changed and in bed…my noodles are soggy and cold. I grab the bowl and sit down in his room to eat them anyway. Although his bedroom seems to be safe enough, I’m not comfortable leaving him alone in there until I’m sure he’s asleep. I don’t want a repeat of the syrup and flour incident.
I sit down to do a little knitting before I change and crawl into bed myself. It’s been a long few days and I am beyond tired.
In the middle of the night, I hear cries at the foot up of my bed. I reluctantly get up and see Kai standing there.
I’m extremely tired, but apparently, the work doesn’t end at bedtime. I pick him up and place him back in his bed, but he’s wide awake and whining. I have no choice but to pull out a book to read hoping it’ll lure him to sleep.
Between big long yawns, I manage to finish the story, but Kai is still staring at me. I flip back to the beginning of the book and read again until he finally closes his eyes.
(Generation 2 Chapter Summaries)
