Toby wskazał na przedmiot na krześle.
Potem przesunąłem się bokiem.
Głowa potoczyła się.
Piłka nożna wypadła spod czapki, odbiła się od podłokietnika i upadła na podłogę.
Wpatrywałem się.
Dżinsy były wypchane poduszkami z kanapy.
Ręcznik wystawał zza kołnierza.
Buty Juliana były zawiązane wokół wypchanych nogawek spodni.
Głowa potoczyła się.
Za mną Toby jęknął. „O nie”.
Spojrzałem wstecz.
“Co TO jest?”
„Podróżujący tato” – odpowiedział Toby.
„Co to jest Travel Dad?”
He sighed like I was being difficult.
“Dad.”
“That is not Dad.”
“I know, Mom.”
I closed my eyes.
Five minutes earlier, I had imagined the worst.
“What is THAT?”
Now I was arguing with an eight-year-old about whether a soccer ball counted as his father’s head.
Then I noticed the sweatshirt.
I knew it.
Julian had worn it the Sunday before his latest trip.
I picked up one sleeve.
It still smelled faintly of his deodorant.
Then I noticed the sweatshirt.
“Toby, why did you use Dad’s clothes?”
He scratched his cheek.
“Because they work better.”
“Better for what?”
He shrugged.
Toby hated silence when he knew I’d caught him doing something strange.
Finally he mumbled, “Clean ones don’t smell like Dad.”
Everything funny disappeared.
“Toby, why did you use Dad’s clothes?”
I sat down on the edge of the couch.
“Come here.”
“I’m not in trouble?”
“Not until you explain what’s going on.”
***
Julian traveled two or three times most months for work. Sometimes two nights. Sometimes four. Occasionally longer.
Toby had always seemed to handle it beautifully.
Julian traveled two or three times most months for work.
He helped Julian pack, counted socks, waved during airport calls, and never asked him to stay.
I’d been proud of him for it. Maybe too proud.
“How long have you been making Travel Dad?”
Toby studied the rug.
“This one?”
I took a half-step back.
“What do you mean, this one?”
“How long have you been making Travel Dad?”
“The first one was bad, Mom.”
I stared at him.
He hurried to explain.
“The legs kept bending.”
“When did you make this one?”
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