Travel Portrait 16
Sandy Watiff Off-Season: Part 4
July 27, 2008 [listen]

I. The Acclimation

I finished unloading the car at the same moment Eddie awakened. I could see his head turn left-and-right as he tried to gather his whereabouts since all the stuff that was in the car was missing.

"Daddy? Dahdee!!!"

"Over here, son." I waved my hand as I approached the car. "You okay?"

"Okay."

"Let's get you situated."

"Okay. Are we there yet," he asked with a smile.

"Yes, son--we're here--so you'll need to get out of the car."

"What's that over there?"

"Let's get you out of the car so we can have a look-see. C'mon."

Eddie took a big yawn and a stretch preceding the unbuckling of the seatbelt.

"I'm ready for breakfast, dahdee."

"Well, get outta the car. Now look, we're gonna hafta get to the supermarket to get some milk and other essentials. So you're gonna have some jelly bread and a piece of fruit for breakfast. There's apples, oranges, kiwi, peach, plum, and frozen strawberries (which are probably soggy by now). So, let's get you (and me) some grub. Let's go!"

"Hey!"

I pressed the lever that made the passenger-side backrest fold and the entire seat slide forward. Eddie carefully stood up on the car floor. He needed assistance getting out of the car. Once both feet were planted on the ground, his body weebled as his eyes squinted from the scenic flash of light. Eddie took a non-directional step towards the cottage and the beach.

"Over there, daddy--look!"

"Over where?"

"There--the rocks."

"Yeah. There're some rocks, too."

"I want to go over there."

"Where?"

"There!"

"Where, there! What do you mean," I asked becoming impatient.

"Jelly bread."

"Oh. Let's get you situated, all right."

"Okay."

Finally we were able to settle in the cottage--and begin the acclimation.

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Eddie went through his inspection of the cottage as I placed the perishable foodstuffs in the refrigerator and freezer. I found the bread and sugar-free jelly. I called Eddie into the kitchen so that he could select his piece of fruit.

"Apple, skin off... Um, dahdee."

"Yes."

"May I have two pieces of fruit?"

"Okay. Tell me."

"Um. May I have a peach, too?"

"All right, yeah."

Then I asked Eddie to sit at the counter and wait a minute as I washed the peach, peeled the apple, and prepared the jelly bread. I prepared my breakfast as well: hot dogs, chips, and a salad. While we ate (what turned out to be our brunch), I went over our itinerary for the day. I received little feedback.

**********************************

We ran our errands, completed the itinerary and were back at the cottage within a few hours. Eddie was anxious to get out of the car. He wanted his easel, drawing paper and tackle box full of his art supplies.

"Hurry up, daddy."

"Yes son. I'm moving as fast as I can. Let me get the groceries outta the back."

"More faster."

"Do you have to go potty?

"No."

"Then why are you rushing me?"

"Because I want to do something."

"Like what?"

"C'mon, dahdee, please!"

"Oh, okay."

We entered the cottage. I placed the entire bag of groceries into the refrigerator. I located the easel and the paper. Eddie grabbed the tackle box and ran out the door.

"Eddie, wait for me!"

"I'm right here, daddy."

"I'll follow you, just wait a minute," I shouted after him enthusiastically. "But wait we need some sunscreen."

"Aw, c'mon daddy," he exclaimed with a whine tinting his voice."

"Here I come."

I grabbed the easel and paper and went chasing after him.

"I'll setup on that big rock right here."

Eddie and I spent the rest of the afternoon at the bay playing.