Worse before Better?

[Sophie]

Hi:)

WHEW...I made it through the soccer game no problem.

I have to get there a little early as Coach wants the kids early to warm them up.

I was sitting comfortably watching....H came in at a slow pace.

H came over to me, sat down one bleacher seat behind me....safe enough distance, but WAY closer than I thought he'd be!

H looked at me with some sort of concern/remorse....I don't know...but, he wasn't carefree and relieved.

As to any other soccer parent I asked 'how are you?.

H gave a slight shake to his head, didn't really answer, and immediately asked me 'how are you?'

I said 'fine' with a little nod, as I would to any other soccer parent.

He kept sitting near me and asked where D8 was. (I already had my report of the kids wherabouts speech prepared in my head)

'She's at her friends house...maybe spending the night. S13 had a late night at his friends bday party so he is being lazy at home with the neighbor...S10(the one playing soccer) has plans to spend the night at his friends after this game'

H: Oh okay...that sounds fun.

I almost told him that I haven't said anything to the kids yet, because I think H was 'fishing' for that....but, I didn't.

I'm pretty sure H could tell by the happy mood of S10 that I hadn't said anything about the D.

When the game started, I went to where I wanted to sit...I had no idea where H went.

After I sat down, settled in...I noticed H standing behind the little bleachers and figured 'whew'...he's going to stand back there.

Nope.

H comes around and sits about 3 feet from me as we have always done...like we are family some how. I'm NOT his sister for pete's sake.

After the game...he walked us to my car. H told S10 to have a good time at his friends.

I said, 'we have to stop and pay for S13's contacts first'....just one of the items I pay for the kids that H never thinks about.

H tried pretty hard to say a sincere 'good bye' to me. He even tapped the car to get my attention.

I finally made eye contact with him, he motioned 'bye'...and I gave a half-tweaked sort of smile.

I drove him...pretty relaxed and relieved that the encounter was OVER.

ahhhhhhhhhhh.....