Bum knee leaves time for contemplation about 'lame' chores

Ellie, who will be in kindergarten next week, asked me, 'Why do we always have to do chores? It’s so lame.'


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I recently tried to be a star in a church basketball pick-up game, but instead my knee buckled and I collapsed in a heap just inside the free-throw line.

There are a few perks to the injury, though. As I lay peacefully in bed the other night, my wife, Hailey, got jealous as she busied herself fetching me a glass of water and some ibuprofen. Just as she sat back down, she got up again to give the fussy baby a pacifier.

She said, “I should break my ankle just so I don't have to do any of this stuff.”

“I’m supposed to elevate,” I responded. “Can you get me another pillow?”

Unfortunately, my children have also been jealous of me as I sit on the couch and do nothing. Ellie, who will be in kindergarten next week, asked me, “Why do we always have to do chores? It’s so lame.”

“Because it’s good to work,” I said. “We get things done, and it feels good.”

She thought for a moment and said, “I think it’s lame.”

Later, as I moved from the couch to my current stage of hobbling, Ellie gave me some advice.

“You know how you keep walking like this?” she said, as she mimicked my gait, dragging her own leg behind her.

“Yes?” I said.

“That means you’re not letting it go on hinges,” she said. At church, the children sing a song to get their wiggles out, and it's all about the joints, or hinges, in your body. Apparently, she has taken it to heart. Quoting the song, she said, “'You have to be hinges or else you will crack.' You’re going to crack, Dad.” For dramatic effect, she clapped her hands, signifying my demise.

Hopefully my hinge will soon restore itself, and hopefully Ellie can remember something more useful from church next time.

 

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