Parent Woes

Flash Fiction

Parent Woes

“I can’t believe what I just saw.”

Jimmy turned quickly, Dad was looking at him, and not happily. “Was it a flying saucer?” he asked, “I thought you didn’t believe in flying saucers.”

Taken aback, Dad said, “No, what make you think I don’t believe in flying saucers?”

“I thought you said you didn’t think there was life on other planets…”

“I never said that! I said I didn’t think there was life on planets near us. I think if there was, those people who can see other planets would see living things moving around there.”

“What if they all lived underground? Or on the other side, that we can’t, see?”

“Well… that’s a good point there. I’ll keep this in mind next time I think about it.” Dad said, sounding confused. He turned and walked back into his home office.

Half an hour later, Mom got back from the grocery store. “I’m home!” she called from the kitchen. “I noticed the mess has been cleaned up; did you scold Jimmy for leaving it all night?”

“I forgot… it’s all cleaned up now?”

“Yes… didn’t you tell him to clean it up?”

“I got distracted; he must have cleaned it up though. I didn’t”

“Huh…” Jane said, “Well if he cleaned it up before you got to scold him for leaving all that junk in the driveway, I guess we can’t scold him now. Maybe he is getting neater. Woo, woo!”

Jimmy was listening from the back door, planning to go in for cookies. He’d actually moved all the junk to in front of the back door, where he could sneak food easier…

‘Smart move!’ he said to himself! Turning back to the entire peanut butter jar and his big spoon.

Life was about to get complicated again…