Two by Two(45)

"A what?"

"You know, girl stuff. We'll get all dressed up and get a manicure and  pedicure, maybe have her hair styled, things like that. Kind of a  mini-celebration before her first day of school, where we're not having  to rush around like crazy like we did yesterday."

"Is any place open on Sunday?"

"We'll find something," she said. "I could use a good mani-pedi, too."

"Does London even know what a mani-pedi is?"

"Of course she does. And it'll be good to have some alone time with her,  you know? I've been working so much lately. And it'll give you a break,  too, to do whatever you want. Goof around, work, whatever."

"When do I ever goof around?"

"You know what I mean," she said. "Anyway, I have to go help her pick  out some clothes. I want to get all dressed up and make it special."

"That sounds like a very girly day," I agreed. "I hope the two of you have a good time."

"We will."

"How long do you think you'll be out?"

"Oh, I don't know. It depends. We might not be back until dinner if  London wants to have lunch. I want the day to sort of play out in a  relaxed sort of way. Who knows? Maybe she'll want to see a movie."

Forty-five minutes later, they were out the door, and I had the place to  myself. These days, it wasn't all that common, but I'd grown so used to  rushing from here to there that I wasn't even sure what I should do.  Because everything was pretty much arranged with Taglieri, there wasn't  really anything in the way of work, and other than a few dishes to place  in the dishwasher, the house was tidy. I'd finished my workout and the  paper and I'd visited with my family most of the day before, all of  which left me wandering the house aimlessly after I'd been on my own for  less than an hour. Something was missing-or rather, someone-and I  realized that what I really wanted to do if I'd had the option was to  ride bikes through the neighborhood with London, the two of us together  on a wonderful lazy Sunday afternoon.





Vivian and London didn't return home until nearly seven and I ate both lunch and dinner alone.

I would have loved to have been the kind of guy who'd gone to the gym or  meditated, or spent the afternoon reading a biography of Teddy  Roosevelt, but the low-key day led to a low-key energy level without a  tinge of self-improvement ambition. I ended up spending the day surfing  the Internet, one click leading to the next, whatever caught my  interest. I read about a giant jellyfish that had washed up on the  beaches of Australia, the ongoing travails of various countries in the  Middle East, the impending extinction of gorillas in central Africa, and  the "Ten Best Foods to Eat to Reduce Belly Fat Fast!"

If there was anything about the surfing to be proud about, it was that I  didn't read a single item about any celebrity. It wasn't enough to make  me hitch up my pants and walk a bit taller, but it was something,  right?

Vivian and London were both weary by the time they came home, but it was  a good kind of weary. London showed me her fingernails and toenails and  told me that they'd seen a movie and gone shopping, in addition to  eating. After her bath, I read to her as usual, but she was yawning  steadily before I turned the final page. I kissed her, inhaling the  scent of the baby shampoo she still preferred to use.

By the time I was downstairs, Vivian was in her pajamas and sitting in  the family room, holding a glass of wine. The TV was on-some show about  housewives, most of whom seemed emotionally unstable-but Vivian was more  chipper than usual. She chatted about her day, gave me a coy expression  when I made a suggestive comment and we ended up in bed.

It wasn't exactly a planned date night, but I was happy nonetheless.





On Tuesday morning, London's first day of school, Vivian and I walked  with her through the parking lot, toward the classroom building. When I  asked if she wanted me to hold her hand, she hooked her thumbs under the  straps on her backpack.

"I'm not a little girl anymore," she said.

Yesterday, Vivian and I had received an email from the teacher saying  that the first day could be traumatic for some children and that it was  best not to linger over goodbyes. A quick kiss or pat on the back and  let the teacher lead them into the classroom, the email instructed. We  were discouraged from standing by the door and watching, or gazing  through the classroom windows for too long. We were warned against  letting our children see us cry, no matter how emotional we might feel,  because that might heighten our child's anxiety. We were given the phone  numbers of the school nurse, and told that the school counselor would  be available in the lobby, if any parents wanted to discuss what they  were feeling about their child heading off to school. I wondered if my  parents had ever received a letter like that when Marge or I started  school and laughed aloud at the thought.         

     



 

"What are you laughing about?" Vivian asked.

"I'll tell you later. It's nothing."

Up ahead, I saw my mom and dad, waiting by the car. Dad was in his  plumber's outfit, which consisted of a blue button-up short-sleeved  shirt with the company logo, jeans, and work boots. My mom, thank God,  was sans apron or a red hat; she blended, which I appreciated even if  London didn't care.

London saw them and started running. My dad scooped her up as she  jumped. He called her Pumpkin, which I'd never heard before. I wondered  if it was new or if I was completely oblivious.

"Today's the big day," my mom said. "Are you excited?"

"It's going to be fun," London said.

"I'm sure you'll love it," my mom assured her.

My dad kissed London on the cheek as he lowered her to the ground.

"Will you hold my hand, Papa?" London asked.

"Of course I will, Pumpkin."

London walked ahead with my dad while Vivian told my mom a bit about the  email we'd received from the teacher. My mom frowned in confusion.

"They have a counselor for the parents?"

"She works for the school," Vivian explained. "Some parents might be  nervous or upset. I'm sure she'll nod and listen and tell them they'll  be fine. It's no big deal."

"Are you nervous?"

"No. I feel a trace of sadness, like it's the end of an era, but that'll pass I'm sure."

"Well …  good."

We entered the lower school building and as I watched mothers and their  children entering the classroom two by two, I thought of the story of  Noah's ark, London's favorite book. I expected to see Emily and Bodhi  but didn't spot them; I wondered if she'd already come and gone or  hadn't yet arrived.

Not that it mattered, of course. We stood in line with other parents and  children who were heading toward the kindergarten class; sets of two by  twos both in front and behind us. The line moved quickly and when we  were at the door, Vivian took charge, joining my dad and London.

"Okay, sweetie. Give Papa and Nana a kiss, okay? Then it's my turn."

London did as she was told, kissing both my parents before kissing Vivian.

"Your dad will pick you up, but I want to hear all about school when you  get home. And remember, you have piano today at four, okay? I love  you."

"I love you, too, Mommy."

The teacher was smiling. "Well, hello London. Good to see you again. Are you ready for a fun day?"

"Yes, ma'am," London replied, and with a gentle hand on her back, Vivian  scooted London forward while the teacher made room for her to pass. As  cautioned, we didn't linger at the door or windows, though I was able to  spot London standing at a low table littered with felt of different  shapes and sizes. Kids were stacking them, making designs. Still no sign  of Bodhi, but London didn't seem fazed.

It was only when we were making our way back to the car that I registered what had happened.

"I didn't have a chance to kiss her goodbye."

"That's okay. You'll see her after school." Vivian shrugged.

"Do you want to swing by the lobby to see the counselor?"

"Not a chance," she said. "I'm already late for work. Walter is probably pacing his office, waiting for me."





While London was in school, I reconfirmed all aspects of filming before  meeting with the head of the camera crew. We reviewed the schedule,  along with the footage that was needed-especially for the longer  commercial, which had more than a dozen different shots and would need  three days-and made sure we were on exactly the same page. After that, I  also cold-called the offices of half a dozen plastic surgeons, and  lined up two meetings for the following week.

Not bad for a day's work, and when I went to pick up London, I waited in  a queue that stretched down the street. Unlike the drop-off, pickup was  more chaotic and time consuming, and it took twenty minutes before  London finally got in the car.

"How was your first day of school?" I asked her, slowly pulling out and watching her reflection in the rearview mirror.

"It was fun," she said. "The teacher let me help her read Go, Dog. Go!  at story time. Some of the kids don't even know their letters yet."