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I’m Mad At Your Uncle

Lynn was hanging her coat when she noticed Chelsea’s expression. “What’s that face about?”

“I’m mad at your uncle.” Chelsea was wrestling with a sleeve.

Lynn tugged at it. “Oh, boy. What did he do this time?”

“He’s hogging Aunt Ivy! That’s what he did. I don’t get to see her anymore.”

“Chelsea, we wanted them to get married. Of course, they’re going to go out a bunch.”

Chelsea wriggled free of her coat and hung it with an angry flourish. “That’s dumb.”

“How do you expect them to get married if they don’t spend time together?”

“I don’t know.” Chelsea stomped over to their table. “Why can’t they ignore each other like Mommy and Daddy?”

“What are you talking about? My mommy and daddy do everything together.”

“Mine don’t.” Chelsea plopped down on her chair.

“They don’t? What do they do?” Lynn pulled a chair over beside her.

“Daddy has to go away for work a lot. I guess he’s used to being by himself.”

“Doesn’t he sit and watch TV with you or play games?”

“Not if he has a lot of work to do.” Chelsea threw her hands over her head.

“Oh, what about your mommy?”

“Sometimes she does. Mostly, I just play in my room by myself.”

“Doesn’t Kendra play with you, either?”

“If she’s bored, I guess.”

“But your Aunt Ivy plays with you?”

“She did until she started going out with your Uncle Ian.”

Lynn grabbed some construction paper and a pair of scissors.

“What are you doing?”

“Making you a picture.” She began clipping some brown paper into strips.

“Oh, thanks. What about your uncle?”

“I’ll tell him he’s being a problem.” She turned the paper around to get different sized strips.

“Won’t he get mad?”

“He never gets mad.” Lynn set the brown strips aside and started working on a piece of yellow paper.

“That’s good. Everybody at my house is mad all the time.”

“I’m sorry.” Lynn put down her work and gave Chelsea a hug. “Maybe you can come over again and we’ll both tell him he’s being a problem. It will mean more if we both say it.”

“I don’t know if they’ll let me stay over two weeks in a row, Lynn.”

“Can’t hurt to ask.” Lynn said. “Can you reach the glue sticks?”

Chelsea stood up to reach over to the basket with the craft supplies. “I guess it’s okay to ask.”

“So, where are you guys going tonight?” Holly asked.

“He said it’s a surprise, but he wanted to know if you and Frank had anything planned.”

“Us? I don’t think so. Why?”

“Who knows? He’s being mysterious.” Ivy fished around in the cabinet.

“What are you looking for?”

“Tea bags.”

“Left door, next to the cereal.”

“I thought it was above the cereal.”

“Frank moved it down so you could reach it easier.”

“He’s not so bad. You should try being nicer to him.”

“I never get the chance.” Holly grabbed a mug for her sister. “He’s always cooped up in his office, working.”

“Even with a baby on the way?”

“What do you think has him working so hard? We’re going to have to remodel the house next year.”

“Poor Frank.” Ivy stuck her mug in the microwave. “It’s Christmastime. He needs to unwind a little.”

“He needs to unwind a lot.”

“Hi, I’m home!” Chelsea yelled.

Holly picked her up and unzipped her coat. “Hi, sweetie. Did you have a nice day?”

“Lynn made this for me.” She held the paper out to her aunt.

“Let’s see.” Ivy held it up. “Looks like a Nativity Scene. She’s got quite a portfolio, Chelsea.”

“Mommy, can I ask you something?” She wriggled out of her coat.

“Of course, Chelsea. What is it?”

“Can I go to Lynn’s again and stay over?”

“I don’t know, Chelsea. You just went last week.”

“I told her you wouldn’t let me.”

Holly looked at Ivy. “I didn’t say no, Chelsea. I have to ask Daddy.”

“Okay. That way he can say no.”

“He’s the one who said yes last time, Chelsea. Just so you know.”

“Holly.” Ivy shook her head as she went to get her tea from the microwave. “Why don’t you two go put her picture in the special frame?”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.” Holly put Chelsea down. “Let’s go put your picture in the frame.”

“Picture?” Frank asked.

“Hi, Daddy! Lynn made me this picture.” She waved it at him.

“Oh, a Nativity Scene. I think that’s the best one yet.”

“Yeah, she usually just draws me a picture. This time she used a glue stick.”

“I see that, honey. That’s a lovely picture.”

“Can I stay over at Lynn’s again?”

“We have to clear it with her parents, Chelsea.”

“Mommy, can you call them?”

“Frank, are you sure? Two weekends in a row?”

“Thing is, I just got off the phone with Ian.”

Ivy gasped. “Ian called you? What for?”

“He had a great idea.” Frank knelt down to take Chelsea’s hands. “We’re all going to the Family Fun Festival tonight, and so is Lynn’s family. If they’re okay with you staying over, we’ll bring a bag along.”

“Yay!” Chelsea jumped into her father’s arms. “Now we won’t have to tell Uncle Ian he’s being a problem.”

“What did you say?” Ivy laughed.

“Lynn was going to tell him he’s being a problem, but now he’s not.”

Ivy put down her tea and knelt down next to her niece. “What do you mean, ‘being a problem’?”

“He’s keeping you all to himself. I told Lynn I was mad at him. She said she would give him a talking to.”

“Oh, honey. Did you miss me?” Ivy laughed as she hugged Chelsea.

“He has to share, you know.”

“Sure, Chelsea. That’s fair. I’ll let him know he has to share.”

“Oh, you don’t have to say anything now. We’re all going to have fun together tonight.”

Holly shrugged. “I guess that solves that. I’ll call Nancy and see if we should bring a bag.”