The Hill Man’s Blogspot

Pop, Crackle, Boom

Dad…Dad…DAAAAAAAAD! Come on. let’s go, You PROMISED!” I whine. “Alright, alright, I’m coming” dad sighs and stops what he’s doing.  I run down the stairs to get the popcorn ready, “You get the food, I’ll start the fire.” Dad says as he lumbers into the family room. Its winter break, my dad and I have spent the last week watching the Star Wars Trilogy, we’re on the third and final one, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

Pop, crackle, boom, goes the popcorn in the microwave. I wait impatiently for all the kernels to pop.  3…2…1, the microwave goes off. I hop onto the counter to get the bag out of the microwave. “Lila, let’s go, the movie’s starting.” dad yells from the family room.  “No, not yet!” I blazed down the stairs, hot popcorn in my hands, and hop onto the futon just in time to hear the Star Wars theme music come on

Dad is already comfortable in his favorite chair, his big feet enclosed in his goofy winter slippers; I spread out on the lumpy futon. My little eyes strain as the words scroll up the screen, Dad notices and pauses the movie every now and then. “Remember what happened in the last movie?” he asks, I shake my head no in response. He explains for a few minutes when mom pokes her head into the room, “Not too late.” she warns. I smile with satisfaction, “Hah, I get to stay up past my bed time”. My seven year old brain is ticking away with the possibilities. Mom rolls her eyes and goes up the stairs. Dad hits play and I snuggle under my blanket as the movie starts up again.

We watch until it gets really late, 11:00 almost, until my eyes droop with sleepiness.  I keep watching, it’s not every day I get to stay up past my bedtime and watch big kid movies with my Dad. We get to the scary part with Jabba the Hutt, I pull my blanket over my head and dive from the futon onto my dads lap. “Ouff” he groans and reshuffles me into a more comfortable position. This is right where I like to be, my sleepy head resting on dads big belly. After only a few short minutes on his belly I’m out like a light. The rising and falling of his stomach as he breaths in and out has put me fast asleep. I hear the movie stop and the television go off and I feel him lift me up to carry me to my room. He climbs up into the kitchen gently, trying not to wake me. He turns the corner and goes up the stairs to my room. I hear the floorboards creak and count the stairs as he climbs them, Ten…eleven… twelve…He lays me on my bed. He tucks me in tight, too tight almost. He turns off my light, “Don’t forget my nightlight” I manage to say before I’m swept away by sleep. It is only a matter of seconds before I’m off into a dreamland with Luke, Hans and Leia.

Filed by Mr. Hillman at March 29th, 2008 under Wait until your father gets home! Tales of family...