Aslynn and I took the van to school to pick up Micah today. Usually I have my own set of keys along, but I haven't been able to find my set for the van for a few days. Don't laugh. It doesn't happen THAT often, does it? At least I knew where my wallet was - is - whatever...
As is my custom, I left the keys in the ignition so the van could stay warm. I don't want Aslynn sitting there all by herself in a cold van. Faith's keys are much less bulky than my set, but the remote doesn't detach from the ignition key, so I left it alone.
Micah is often the last one out, but occasionally comes bursting out of the front doors just raring to go. So I walked to the school doors, and there he was, wearing his gloves without his boots on. I helped him out, and as we are on our way out the door I offered a ride to a couple of girls going to the Seminary Soup and Bun Lunch. Micah's teacher then came outside and commented on how well Micah did today getting ready, and that he was one of the first ones prepared to go. Any encouragement from her is good because she gives it so sparingly. It also says something of Micah's usual classroom behaviour - he talks and watches everyone else, then his brain kicks into gear once they're out the door and figures he'd better get ready and leave too.
So, Micah and I are off in record time to meet Mommy and Judah at the school with Aslynn excitedly waiting to see Micah in the van. We got to the van and I tried to open the door on the passenger side. Locked. That sometimes happens - open one door, leave the rest locked. Well, my door was locked too. God bless power locks! The one day I can't find my keys and don't have the remote in my hands, I'm locked out. Of course, Aslynn the angel had pushed the power lock button at some point and didn't have a clue what she had done.
Micah is standing in the snow next to me and becoming aware of the gravity of the situation. He starts panicking. I'm trying to talk to Aslynn through the window over the blaring stereo inside, but she thinks I'm just playing with her. She's 2 3/4 years old, remember. Even though she's short and young, people still expect her to act like a 4 year old because she is so articulate with her words. No, she's just almost 3. And I'm knocking on the window hoping she understands what I'm saying.
Children are starting to congregate around me, distracting Aslynn from the crisis at hand. I'm telling them to go away and they just don't get that they're making things worse.
Someone pulls up and says, "I can take you to your house to get the spare..."
"Thanks, I think we're okay." Translation: Where are those keys?
Micah says, "Just use another key, Dad."
"I don't have another key, Micah."
You should've seen the look on his face. All courage drained from him and he exclaims through tears: "I'm really hungry, Dad!"
"I know Micah - ASLYNN!!"
Micah starts pounding on the window, "Aslynn! Let us in!"
I don't know how long I knocked and pointed down to the lock. She figured out that we couldn't get in at some point, but was in no rush to help us. She looked where I'm pointing and taps on the sill of the window too. "Down, Aslynn." So she ducked her head down. Great. She came back up a moment later and sat back in the seat.
This action was repeated multiple times. One time she got the door handle and tried pulling it, and I tried directing her to the red manual lock, but that was no use. She just couldn't figure out what button I was talking about. I moved to the driver's side of the vehicle hoping that a new perspective would help her. She could toggle the mirror switch and play with the lights, but couldn't figure out which button to push for the locks. When she reached for the signal lights, I realized that the next logical move would be the gear shift (which would add greatly to my distress).
I deftly moved back to the passenger side and got her to push the automatic sliding door button, but that wouldn't work because it was locked. Micah yells at me, "Get your hand off of the door handle!" He heard the groaning door not moving and thought that she had actually unlocked it and I had spoiled our chances of ever getting into the van. A logical thought, I admit. I explained to him that I wasn't pulling on the handle, and that the sound wasn't the van unlocking, destroying all hope for him. He pounded on the door and yelled Aslynn some more. Not hel-ping! At this point we are the alone in the parking lot, and I'm fine with that...
Aslynn says of over the stereo and Micah's screaming, "Daddy, I'm tired. I'm just tired." Translation: I give up. Fix it yourself.
At this point, I made a strategic call. I sent Micah to tell Mommy what had happened. It wasn't a long walk, he had the motivation to do it, and at least it would give him something to accomplish in a rather helpless situation. My hunch was that my keys might be in her coat pocket. She would also be wondering why we were 15 minutes late. We were supposed to help clean up after lunch, and I knew she might getting a little tense also. Micah took off running after I made sure he knew where he was going.
It was just Aslynn and me. I coaxed her from her resting position, and she tries explaining to me that she's "tried everything you've asked me to do and nothing has worked, so why even try" (loosely translated). She then looks down at the buttons I have been directing her to the whole time and has an epiphany. She pushes the one button and half-scares herself because the window starts coming down. It is just enough that I can reach my hand in. I was having visions of her closing the window on my arm accidentally. I considered she may also push the unlock button the other way and re-lock the doors, eliminating that option for her once again.
I got my arm in and clicked the button (the wrong way I might add, then the right way) and opened the door. I looked down the lane to see Micah turning back to see what is going on. I quickly hopped into the van, drove up to him as he's running back toward us, and picked him up. We were finally off to eat lunch! At least there were no line-ups when we came in the door! We also cleaned up in record time because Faith's mom had to be picked up at the airport in Regina today around 3 PM.
I think the excitement was just a little much for Micah. Aslynn is just fine. She's asleep... Me? Well, I found my keys - in Faith's purse. Neither of us has any idea how they got there. At least I have them now. I won't be losing them again anytime soon (I hope).
- Mark
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