Riley and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Today I woke up and I was freezing, because my brother Tobey turned on the air conditioner to “high”. It was like winter in our room. Then on the way downstairs I tripped on some dirty laundry and fell down the steps. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
When I got downstairs, mom was leaving for work. I hate it when she goes to work, because then I have to listen to Brennan, and no one likes to listen Brennan. I don’t know why I have to listen to him anyway, because Tobey bosses me around more. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
While mom was at work, I started to feel sad and missed my dad, who is in Arizona. When I tried to call Dad, Brennan took the phone away and I had to throw animal crackers at him to get it back. It didn’t matter that I threw the crackers, because the dog ate them anyway. But Brennan still had to call Mom and tell on me. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
When mom finally got home from work I wanted to go outside and play. “I have been cooped up all day” I said. “You have to finish your chores” Mom said. I don’t know why I even have to do chores. Everything just gets messy the next day anyway. Then I snuck out and rode around the block once on my bike to get some energy. When I came back, Mom was waiting on the front porch and said “Put your bike away and go inside!” I tried to explain to her that I was just trying to get some energy so I could do my chores, but she didn’t believe me. I told her I was going to move to Arizona, and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
For dinner we had chicken quesadillas. I like chicken quesadillas, except when I askidentally spill too much salsa on them. Mom said that if I had used the spoon to get the salsa out I would not have dumped half the jar onto my plate. Mom said I would have to do my best to eat it anyway. I told her the salsa was gross, but she said “just scrape it off”. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
After dinner it was time to go to Vacation Bible School. Brennan was working as a helper there, and Mom said he would take me. When Mom went to the bathroom I decided to go for a bike ride. I guess that while I was gone, Mom & Brennan thought that I already went to church, so Mom sent Brennan over too. A little while later I rode my bike up the driveway, and Mom come running outside, totally freaked out. “Where were you?” she yelled at me. “I just rode around the block a couple times!” I yelled back. Mom explained to me that 7 year olds aren’t allowed to do that by themselves, especially without telling anyone. I wish I was 15, I said. “You’re coming with me and Tobey to baseball practice” Mom said. I hate going to Tobey’s baseball practices. I don’t even get to go to the concession stand. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
At the practice, I tried to be on my best behavior, but when Mom stood up to talk to some people, I climbed a tree. Mom said “Get down please”, but I didn’t get down. I guess Mom had to tell me too many times to get down, because after a while she really got angry. When I finally sat down in my chair, Mom smelled something and told me to stand up. Boy, was she mad when she saw that my whole butt was covered in pine sap. How was I to know that I would get sap on me if I sat on a pine branch? I asked her. Then I sat in the dirt by the fence to fix my shoe and the dirt stuck to the sap and Mom got even more angry. When I stood up my shoelace got tangled on the bottom of the chain link fence, and mom had to walk all the way around to get it unstuck. I told you I should move to Arizona, I cried. Mom says even in Arizona people have bad days.
At bedtime I couldn’t find my puppy. Everyone knows I can’t sleep without my puppy. I fell asleep during “America’s Got Talent” and missed the end, and then Brennan and Tobey were talking about it and it made me feel bad. Tomorrow will be a better day, said Mom.

Sandlot Baseball, Part 2

The youngest boy left his bat bag at their Elementary school after the game (containing a batting helmet, glove, and his team hat). We went back to search for it, but came up empty. If you see anyone walking around with a bag or items labeled Aldrich, let me know, will ya?
Sometimes the best lessons in life are learned the hard way.

Sandlot baseball

Once upon a time three boys were invited to play baseball at the park with a group of their friends. It seemed as though they would go, but when the agreed upon time came, they were sitting on the couch, watching TV.
"Go to the park and play!" Their mother told them.

"I am watching TV" said the biggest boy.

"I have no bike" said the middle sized boy.
"I have no socks" said wee little boy.

"Why should those things stop you from playing baseball?" asked their mother.
"My ear hurts" said the biggest boy.
"How will I get there?" asked the middle boy.
"What?" asked the wee little boy.

After a moment of consideration, it was decided that the biggest boy would stay home on the couch, to make his ear feel better. Apparently episodes of Naruto are a cure-all for ear aches.

The middle boy explained that walking to the park would exert too much energy, thus causing him to expire too soon during play, resulting in a premature return home. Riding a bicycle would be an energy conserving method of transportation to and from the park.

The smallest boy had moved on to playing Legos.

After much discussion of bicycles and scooters, a method of transporting the bat bag and other gear was fine tuned and the second child was ready to go.

His younger brother was eating ham in the bathroom. (Don't ask)

Their mother took over. The small one was reminded of the baseball game, in which he quickly said "But I have no socks!", and so the hunt for a pair of socks began. After looking in his sock drawer, the wee one was delighted to find that there were indeed socks in it. After about ten minutes, the medium boy became annoyed by his younger counterpart, and went upstairs to find the distracted child playing with matchbox cars on his bed.

When the trip to the park finally began, their mother watched them pedal away, hoping the younger boy can remember to return home.