Following The Rules...

Write a story centered on an unspoken rule that everyone in the story understands and follows, allowing the rule to emerge through behavior.

"Mom, when is it our turn?" It will be soon, Honey, any minute now. It was maybe only a ten-minute wait yesterday. Honey, we won't be late. That is why we leave early, so we can plan for things that come up. "You are right, Mom. I am okay."

How was school yesterday? "Well, my teacher expected us to stand in line for lunch for an hour!" Come on, know, that is a bit of an exaggeration now, isn't it, Ted? "Well, maybe, but too long to expect someone my age to wait. It was way more than this wait."

I imagine it was, and we know that you have been following the rules in school for four years now, and no reports have been sent home from your teachers. "Still, Mom, why do we have to?" It is frustrating sometimes, and we just plan for times like this. I used to read while waiting.

I loved to read, and it was a perfect opportunity. We are not the only ones in this situation. Everyone else who is here today, and in schools everywhere! Most people follow the rules. "Well, I don't have to like it, right?"

No, you don't have to like it. When is your next wrestling match? I lost my schedule. "I don't know, but I am thinking that I may not keep going. My coach favors certain players, and I always have to take my turn, and most of the time, my turn is last."

Ted, we all have to take our turn when we practice in any sport. When you are older, it will depend on how well you do as to how much time you get! Come on now, what is happening in school that you enjoy right now?

"I like art class and gym class. We are playing kickball." Time to take our turn. There is the lead car. See, that wasn't so bad, now was it? "No, but can we go a different way after school, and how about tomorrow?"

"Did Dad have to wait? I am going to talk to him when he gets home tonight." Daddy will say the same thing. He doesn't like the wait any more than you do. It's just the reality. The saying is it is road construction and snow, and ice, and not much in between.

We are always doing our best by waiting patiently. Why don't you bring something you can work on tomorrow, in case we are at a standstill tomorrow? You could bring an art project you are working on. Do you have anything you can work on in the car?

"I am making a house out of popsicle sticks. Actually, a village. Maybe I could do something with that. I don't know, though. I will have to think about it." That sounds great. There may be something you can do in the car.

~~

Dad is home from work, and Ted runs up to Dad and says, "I am so glad to see you. Do I ever have something to tell you!" You look like you didn't see me on your way to school and on your way home.

"That was different, Dad. I just wanted to tell you about how our teacher had us wait for an hour in line for lunch the other day." Ted, I'm sure it wasn't an hour. "Well, it felt like an hour after our wait in the morning and after school."

So, you didn't care for the wait this morning and after school, huh? Didn't it help that you could see me driving the paver? "No, Mom kept me busy talking the whole time, and I missed seeing you! And it wasn't as long a wait as waiting for lunch!