I've Got A Peaceful, Easy Feeling

Bubba lays on the couch, his big blue eyes closed in the deep sleep of a child who is utterly exhausted. His blanket is abandoned on the floor beneath him as the cool breeze blows through the livingroom of Excitement’s parent’s house. Excitement’s mother, Nonnie sits beside him, her own eyes closed, though whether she sleeps or not, I can never tell. At the far end of the couch, Excitement is snoring, having been up since 3 this morning. Excitement’s father, Poppie has retreated to his room to play with one of their dogs.

It has been a wonderful Easter. Bubba woke up at 3 AM this morning, brimming with energy, anxious to go to Nonnie and Poppie’s house. Excitement took Bubba in his charge and let me sleep for a few more hours until he had breakfast ready. For once, Bubba downed all of his eggs, sausage and toast without a single objection, eager to please the Easter Bunny.

By 8:30 Bubba couldn’t be delayed any more. He had to get to Nonnie and Poppie’s house to see what the Easter bunny had brought. Excitement woke them, rapping on their back window and Bubba danced around the livingroom and rolled on the floor, burning with impatience while Nonnie told him how the Easter bunny had tried to break in last night.

"He was going to break the window, so I opened the door and left it unlocked for him. Can you believe we left the door open and unlocked all night, just so that the Easter Bunny could bring you your toys?" she said. Bubba agreed with her, wide eyed in excitement.

I bounced Bubba on my knee, singing the duck song again and again while Excitement combined the presents I had bought him with the ones from Nonnie and Poppie. At last Bubba got to tear into the basket. A new Hot Wheels track, silly-puddy, sidewalk chalk, water balloons and endless amounts of candy. But the real excitement was yet to come.