A woman showed up at my front door today with her pre-teen son at her side. I thought maybe she came to share with me the way of salvation, but instead, it turned out that she knew someone who knows me. The boy at her side was her son and she wondered if he could stay at our house all afternoon and then go with my boys to youth group tonight. My boys don’t attend youth group, but I said, “Sure,” and that’s how I ended up with yet another boy in my house.
Isn’t it odd, though, that someone I’d never laid eyes on before dropped her son off at my house before jetting off to work? And isn’t it stranger still that I agreed to this sudden arrangement?
The boys all played some crazy physical game outside where they attempted to beat each others’ brains out. Or something like that. I opened the front door at one point and hollered out, “You! Big kids! Take it easy on the little kids!” and then closed the door again.
They soon galloped into the back yard and played a noisy game of hide-and-seek. Then they all trampled inside. My 8-year old had muddy pant-legs and flushed cheeks and dirty hands. Two boys have gone home, but there are still seven boys in the Boy Cave. The three littler kids are running back and forth in the house.
* * *
Do I look different tonight? I’m typing from the keyboard of my brand new bottom-of-the-line Dell laptop computer. Yes, I know, several of you recommended (practically demanded, really) that I purchase an Apple computer, but I’m a simple girl with simple needs and a very small budget.
Tell me this. If I offered free books, would you be willing to contribute a quarter (per chance) if you wanted the book? That way, someone gets the book for twenty-five cents and I don’t have to pay shipping. I will probably give away two books a week if enough people will donate a quarter in exchange for a chance to win. (Kind of like a raffle, but very unofficial . . . we’d use Paypal.) Let me know if you would participate in such a giveaway. I’d love to send books without asking for anything in return, but I’m not made of money. Alas.
So, would you send a quarter for a chance to adopt a book? Yes or no? Anyone have a better idea?
Actual Unretouched Photo 
The whole book idea sounds really fun to me and I am glad you survived all those boys. WOW, that is a lot of boys.
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I would love to! How would you get the quarter? Hmmm….
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My bottom of the line Dell laptop welcomes your bottom of the line Dell laptop to it’s new home.
I would pay a quarter just to read your blog everyday. Although, presently I don’t even have a quarter, but I do have PayPal!
Um. You are an amazing woman. I, of course, would have accepted the child as one would accept strangers and possibly end up entertaining angels. So, I must ask, WAS he an angel?
My next question is this: Did your boys LIKE him? My kids finally told me that I had to stop letting strange kids come play at our house, as some of them were just that – STRANGE kids.
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Re; the boy at your door….
Reminds me of when we moved here and found myself with a little girl staying the night with my daughter and I had NO IDEA what her name even was.
Didn’t know her last name, didn’t know the parents name, didn’t know where they lived or how to reach them. The Mom didn’t even come to the door… she just dropped the daughter off.
LOL.
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I love the book idea, I’m interested 🙂 I love reading your blog!
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Love the book idea … I’d play =)
Interesting situation with the boy … I’m not really sure how I would have responded were it me … but hopefully it all worked out for the best!
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I think the book adoption thingie sounds cool. I would do it….I would just give you a flat $5 so I could run a tab…
🙂
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How utterly lame to leave your kid with someone you don’t know. WTF is wrong with people? How did you keep yourself from saying, “Um, but you don’t know me. Are you sure you want to leave your kid here?”
I am sure your Dell will be good to you, I have two Dells and I practically demanded that you get a Mac! But, Dells work too =)
I will pass on the book thing, if I let another book into this house my husband may set fire to them all.
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What a shame to leave some unadopted books out in the cold. I’d love to sponsor a book, especially in this time of giving… Hey, it’s the least I can do. No thanks necessary.
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I love the book idea – I like the idea of “running a tab” I have My Sister’s Keeper on reserve at the library strictly on your recommendation – I’d never read Picoult until you mentioned her – then I read The Pact last week and loved it. Funny how you can influence me and I don’t really know you.
Which brings me to this mom who left her son with you. That poor boy – having a mom who would so cavalierly leave him with anybody she didn’t know (although now that I “know” you, I’d leave my kids with you any day.)
I guess I’m done.
Have a great day!
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What did you give to that kid? Well done!
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I’ll donate my quarter! Sure- very cool idea! And so weird about gaining an extra boy for a bit- you must have a good reputation with your own boys for someone you don’t know to just leave their son with you! : )
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Sure thing. I’d donate. I’m a book fanatic.
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Yes! BooK! Please!!
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I’m all about the books. Count me in.
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