I can tell because Stephen is home, being his usual wise-ass self. But that’s okay. I’ll get him back. He arrived home last night at 1:30 a.m. with a classmate from Uganda. His friend has never been in NY before so he’s off exploring the city today.
Steve is home enjoying his favorite sport - laughing at me. He found it amusing when I strapped the elbow brace thingie on my arm this morning. “Why is that so funny?” I asked him. “I need it because it helps a bit with support and because it restricts my movements. I forget that I’m injured so it stops me from hurting my elbow more.”
“I’m not laughing because you’re using that. I’m laughing because you’re handicapped now.” I wanted to smack him except a smacking motion hurts too much. Maybe I should have kicked him instead.
Then I was informing the boy that Frank has a new work phone number because they moved his department from Wall Street into Midtown yesterday. Frank starts rattling off the number to Steve who enters it into his cell phone. I’m surprised that he knows it already. “You memorized the phone number?” He only had the new number for one day.
Again my son laughs at me. He says it’s an easy number to remember. There are a lot of 4s and 7s in it. It’s not all that complicated. Yeah, he’s saying this to a woman who didn’t know her own cell phone number for 3 years.
Another sign that Stephen is home is the house is filled with piano music. I really need to force that boy to make me a CD of him playing stuff. It’s too quiet when he’s not here.
That’s another sign Stephen is home - math, philosophy, and assorted other books & clothing on the piano bench when it’s not occupied by him sitting there.
