Distractions
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Thursday, October 02, 2008 12:00 PM
The other night, Dan had a few things he wanted to pick up at Circuit City. Since it was after his work hours and the store is an hour’s drive away (the perils of country living), he suggested that we make a family trip of it.
I love this about my husband. It really does matter to him that he spends time with his family. So, even though it meant quite an undertaking at the end of a long day, I agreed. We found shoes, packed a bag, and loaded the kids into the van for an adventure.
If you’ve ever been to Circuit City, or another store like it, you know that it surely was an adventure. Especially for a gang of kids with limited television and computer game privileges.
The walls, from ceiling to floor are covered with giant, flashing screens.
“Let’s buy all of these!” 3-year-old Raphael shouted enthusiastically as he waved his arms in front of three wide screen televisions airing a stimulating Xbox promotion.
I steered the gang away from a screening of Pirates of the Caribbean featuring some quality nightmare material for the preschool set.
Eventually, most of them settled themselves into leather easy chairs in a well-equipped, fake living room at the back of the store.
Invincible was playing on the big screen before them. I think I saw this movie. I think it was okay. I wasn’t sure about the romance part of the story but for the moment there were only football scenes.
I eyed a nearby teen girl playing a mesmerizing game of Guitar Hero and tried not to panic as thoughts raced through my head about the kinds of things my sheltered kids might be witnessing in all corners of the store.
“Mama! Mama!” Gabrielle’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “Look at this! Come and see what I see!”
This couldn’t be good. I wasn’t sure at all that I wanted to see what she saw. Or that she should even be seeing it, whatever shocking thing it was.
I hurried to where she was sitting on one of the leather seats.
“Loooook!” she smiled at me, pointing in the direction of ... a tiny vase of pink silk flowers on a nearby end table.
In the whole, wild, overstimulating store, this was what my little girl had found most worthy of looking at. That was definitely worth seeing.
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