A Perfect Companion

A few weeks ago, Aidan and Brennan were scheduled to have a half day at school. Griffin had a full day of school and Brennan was invited to a birthday party. I asked Aidan if he wanted me to set up a play date for him while his brothers were otherwise engaged. Aidan sighed, smiled and said, "You know what I would really like to do, Mom?" I shook my head no. "I would love it if we could just go to the bookstore, just the two of us, and wander around looking at books. Wouldn't that be great?" He smiled shyly at me as I looked at him in wonder. Is it possible that through my oldest child I may have created a perfect companion for me? No one else that I know could possibly love bookstores as much as me, but now, I have someone who does! (When I relayed this story to Chris, I told him that when Aidan mentioned the bookstore, it was if the clouds parted with the sun gleaming through and I heard angels singing in the background. He told me I was being a bit dramatic. I do not think that is possible.) And so off we went, my oldest child and I, to the closest mega-Barnes and Noble. We browsed the stacks, discussed plots and personal favorites, grabbed arms full of books and retreated to the coffee shop. We sat in side by side overstuffed chairs, me with my coffee and Aidan with his hot chocolate, and perused our selections. After a few minutes, Aidan looked up at me and asked, "Mom, can I sit on your lap?" I could have cried from the sweetness of my almost nine year old boy snuggling into my lap as we looked at books together. Yes, the clouds parted, the sun gleamed through, and angels sang. May my perfect companion never get too old to want to wander a bookstore and snuggle onto my lap.