My promised update.
We decided to meet at The Waffle House, because it was kind of in the middle of the physical distance between us, which is a much smaller one than the actual distance between us.
My son and I got to town a little bit early, and I drove through the hospital parking lot just to show him around to keep him from getting bored. I actually wanted to show him the helicopter landing thing, but I couldn't even find it. I did see a sign advertising a nursing program that a university does, and it's obviously right there on hospital property. I took down the name and number and website - I may get some info on it later.
When we pulled into the restaurant they were already there. We walked in and the kid went straight for the bathroom, and made me stay at the table and wait for him. Dang four year olds and their growing self-responsiblity. I sat at the table with them and we had the usual conversations that people have. Even after the boy came from the bathroom the conversations stayed the same. What have you been doing? How's work? How's so-and-so? The baby? So, you went to see Lisa? When does she happen to go up for parole again? Just your average cushy normal conversations. Nothing special. Nothing meaningful. I think that's why he brings his wife with him almost every time; to keep that stuff from happening. You know, the meaningful conversation stuff.
Thankfully at one point he slipped a little bit of cash in the kid's pocket, and I said to the baby, "What are you going to buy with that?" He just kind of shrugged his shoulders, but my new dad said, "I'm sure he'll probably buy mommy some gas and cigarettes." Whatever. Thanks. They paid for dinner. We hugged. We left and said see you next time.
That is all our relationship consists of at this point, and I'm wondering if that will ever change.
After getting the cash all the kid wanted was to stop and get some candy. He had gave him a $20 bill. You have no idea how easily I convinced him that a $1 was better, and he quickly handed over the $20 to trade. Of course we still stopped and stocked up on sugary goodness.
