Varland Story - Chapter 25 - Jody

 



I would so rather be in the lab.  That's heresy in this family, after the way Mamma Zeline rhapsodized so about her plants and her boys (in that order, I think).  I keep the garden going; we're all rather fond of food. I must be missing the Earth Mother gene, though; I can't seem to enjoy dirt,sweat and bugs. Testing circuits is another story; hours can pass without my noticing.

Speaking of hours passing without noticing and missing Earth Mother genes, I'm ashamed to say that I missed my son's fifth birthday.  We were getting ready for this major integration test, and, well, it's a good thing Sunset Valley doesn't have a Child Protective Services bureau yet.

I tried to make it up to him over the weekend.  He's forgiven me, I think, but I'm not sure about the rest of the family.  They certainly didn't hold back with their disappointment in me; I think getting absorbed in a project and forgetting the time was even worse than if I'd intentionally worked half the night.  I hope they'll understand when our product goes beta.  I shouldn't divulge anything; we don't want the lab looted, but, one word:  video.

 

Bjarne is like a birthday boy himself these days.  Now that building materials are unrationed and ornamental plants are permitted, our neighbours have gone all out.  We've put up proper walls and started a lawn. 

Bjarne's found an ancient Better Homes and Gardens magazine and suggests one improvement project after another.  I tense up now at every sentence that begins with "You should plant...".

I know he's terribly busy; they call him "Leader of the Free World" these days.  So is everyone else; I'm still not up to the task.

 

Riding herd on Eyvin is a full-time job for the proverbial village. He racks up hours in detention for his inability to sit still and be quiet.

 

He's prone to flash-in-the-pan passions of about a week's duration, so far, this term he's had career ambitions for builder, firefighter, lifeguard, chef, mayor and doctor.   At the moment he wants to be a clergyman; that one's lasted nearly a fortnight.

 

Unfortunately, none of these passions involve his studies, or even sport or music. My friends in the pharma division suggest that he probably has ADHD.  They plan to make Ritalin someday, but not soon enough for Eyvin. 

 

I've put him to work in the garden, hoping it will help him find a direction and focus.  He'd rather play with the sprinkler.

For that matter, so would I.