There was a whistle that had slid underneath the stove. Abby was pointing at it, in an obvious plea for help. I winced at the darkness, feeling crumbs on my palm, but it was just out of my grasp. At which point, I reached for my Brave Cape. Finding a thin piece of broken molding, I swept it’s stolen contents and held my breath.
I didn’t know the last time that stove had been moved. You see, we rent. Not only did I not know when it was last moved, but I have no idea of who lived in this house before us. What I could possibly find underneath these large appliances really, truly scared me.
But I had on my Brave Cape, so I tried as best I could to mentally prepare for the worst. I swept. Out flew a few alphabet magnets I hadn’t seen since we first moved in more than 2 years ago. I swept again. More long lost magnets, as well as mutant dust bunnies the size of Mexico.
I was pleasantly shocked to find nothing inherently gross. There were no used condoms circa 2002, nor were there any unidentified bones. These were just a few of the many disgusting scenarios I was half expecting. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
Since I was still smugly decked in my Brave Cape, I decided to take a sweep under the refrigerator. More magnets, a soy sauce pack, and an old bottle top. Except, I thought I could feel something. That was it. I was done. We’ve had enough brevity for a day, anyway.
And look kids! Magnets! It’s like brand new toys! Just let me wash them off first.
For the rest of the day, Buzz and Abby fought relentlessly over those stupid magnets. No good deed goes unpunished. As for the whistle, it’s still trapped somewhere under the stove.
A “Brave Cape” — I love it! The things we do for our children! I had to smoosh a spider the other day, that had thought to make my son’s toybox it’s new winter home. I’m seriously arachnaphobic, and before having a child, would scream and shake and cry and hand-flap whenever I’d find a spider. I can’t do that in front of my little guy (don’t want to pass on my silly phobia) so I sucked it up, pulled on my brave cape, and smooshed away. (Then immediately hid myself in the bathroom so I could cry/sputter/hand-flap safely out of his view).
.-= semicrunchymama´s latest blog post: Remembering to Cherish the Moment =-.
@semicrunchymama, I don’t like spiders, either. I really hate bumble bees, though. Unfortunately, my fear has been known to get the best of me, even while my kids have been around.
This exact thing has happened to me. I try to rescue a toy for them and find something else in the process, only to have my children completely forget their desire for the “lost and then found” toy and fight over the something else.
I’m just WAITING to find all of the dead binkies around the house when we eventually move. Heh.
.-= Aunt Becky´s latest blog post: I’m Bringing (Aunt) Becky Back =-.
We’ve lost many a magnets under the fridge.
It’s disgusting under there. I try to clean what I can but the vacuum hose only goes so far.
.-= Amber´s latest blog post: My Dear Letters =-.