he and his wife were involved parents

honestly she was involved

                              he was muscle

she had been her high school senior class president

he hadnt a clue who class president was in any of his four years

their daughterstheir eldest was Student Body president her senior year had been class president the three preceding years their other daughter was class VP first three years also senior class president like her mother 

                                                                                                          he was muscle

but he was involved up to his eyeballs they needed a damn thing he was on it

his parents werent

his wifes parents werent

as a matter of fact throughout high school his parents never attended a soccer basketball baseball game he played in

they didthey did however  attend his freshman year first band concert when he had to play a fifteen–measure solo to open the performance on a baritone sax six weeks after picking it up for the first time

                                                                                          it was their first and only showing couldnt help but wonder if they hadnt expected him to fall on his face

he rationalised their four-year absences because he was the eldest of seven first four in four years took some breathers thereafter

           and because their hands were full when their hands werent full he was obligated but because their hands were full he respected the demands upon them

they did not interfere with his athletics could suppose that was the trade-off

he was good with it

when family growingup rather was open discussion he discovered he was an exception his wife was an exception

perhaps that was part of their solace and attraction also their ribald sex

he didnt feel the need to defend his parents

water under the bridge

he explained simply described it akin to juggling his parents were juggling seven children

                                                                                               When I was taken out of the mix I was one less ball to juggle one less egg to fry  there were rarely few who picked up on one less ball one less testicle to juggle

                  his wife would smile sweetly subtly shake her head

 

Suntime,  Saturday,  2  4. 22

1414,  Sunday,  3  4. 22

Fifth Dimension  One Less Bell to Answer  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBrbu7PvMU0