SOONER THAN ANTICIPATED

It was not something I had planned on doing until later this summer or early Autumn. After I had saved up some more money as I already had other financial obligations. Important ones such as repairing my car, but also paying for my son’s saxophone summer camp and buying him clothes. Now I had another obligation, sooner than anticipated.

I had also not planned on leaving work earlier, but then found I had to rush home and have Sage wait for me at the apartment leasing office. There was no time to drive through the gates and run up the stairs to our apartment to put away the food I bought at Trader Joe’s during my lunch break. So, I placed the various cheeses in plastic bags in my large gym bag I carry around and took it inside to the appointment.

Today was not supposed to be anything but a consultation. One set up last minute, not by his father but by his father’s wife as he has no time for such things. Since she has now taken a break from working again, she is scheduling everything for him. And is being the stand-in other parent. The ‘two moms’ as the doctor called us.

For something as important as a first meeting with the orthodontist, my son’s father could not be bothered by being there. Even if he lives a mere three minutes from the office. Granted, he was there on the phone as we discussed the costs and whether we wanted to proceed with the braces for Sage. But he wanted another opinion.

Seeing how our older daughter already had Invisalign with the same orthodontist, and the place was practically within walking distance for both of us, it made no sense to get another opinion and waste more time. So, he paid for the balance of the procedure after the insurance deductions with my having to pay him back. Somehow.

After the consultation, my older daughter and stepmother left and I waited for my son to have the braces placed on his upper teeth. He did not complain one bit. He later stated that his teeth looked better with braces than without. He chose a beautiful sea blue as the colour of the rubber bands they put around four front braces, something that was not an option when I had them.

As he listened to the assistant explain the precautions he should take and things he can no longer eat, he was a bit disappointed. ‘I can’t eat gummy bears? No Takis?!’, he asked. But ice cream was not forbidden and he was glad for at least bit of good news.

We hurried home to drop off the food left in the car and in the bag that I carried inside the office. Then we stopped by his father’s house to show him the result before driving to HEB for ice cream. Thankfully it was a short visit as I was waiting in the hot car.

As we drove away, he mentioned that his father told him his computer was ready. An old and heavy computer that my son used at his father’s house. One he had to drag from the garage when his father kept promising to set it up for him. One that was promised to be given back to him several times last year and again last month when it was supposed to be dropped off at our place a few days after my son’s birthday.

If it was ready, why did he simply not walk it up to our car? My son has given up and no longer bothers asking about it. I asked Sage if he inquired about the specs, as the graphics card and RAM were the two most important things for his desired gaming computer. ‘I’d be there too long’, was his reply.

Some things happen sooner than anticipated, such as the braces. Other things take much longer. As for the computer, my son wasn’t worried as we already have another plan in mind. A project for this summer break.