Homework Part I

He comes in through the front door, it has been unlocked for days.  The white tee-shirt he is wearing looks stretched-out and worn.  I am sitting in front of my computer, at the my high top kitchen table.  I notice his hair is getting long again.  I am not sure whether it his desire to grow it out is the reason  or the fact his mother is reluctant to take him to get it cut.

Twin A is my oldest son-- oldest by like five minutes.  I usually refer to him as taking on the roll of the middle child but Twin b has been wearing those shoes lately.  Twin A is very sedate tonight.  He doesn't put up a fuss as we do his homework.  I am unaccustomed to such patience coming from him.  We do his math problems.  I try to explain the theory behind the work.  He shakes his head, yes when I ask if he understands.  He doesn't complain when we do a few extra problems.

"Your mother didn't understand this?"  I ask, a bit surprised.

"She says you were some kind of brainiac in school."

"Apparently, it would appear that way if she didn't get this."

When we finish, he runs upstairs to spend the rest of his time here on the Xbox 360.  It is as peaceful here as it can be with a sixteen year old over.