Backstory
Our trampoline sits next to the neighbors wall on our side yard. For the past two years we have had a "safety" net around the trampoline. Last week I had to take down the "safety" net because it had WAY too many holes in it - it was not longer "safe", and had become an eyesore. So now, the trampoline looks like the kind us adults played on when we were kids - remember those days - before seat belts, car seats, "child proofing" and safety nets were considered important? Besides being "unsafe", our newly configured tramp now gives our kids access to the neighbors wall, AND his "lemon" tree.
Story
When I got back form work on Friday, Sheri informed me that Tyler had picked the neighbors lemons off his tree while playing on the tramp. We talked it over with Tyler, and decided that we needed to walk over to the neighbors and apologize. Tyler started crying, and said that he was scared because he thought the neighbor would call the cops on him and he would have to go to jail. The neighbor (Dave) is a great friend of ours, and we told Tyler that he wouldn't call the cops, but that it was important that we tell him what Tyler had done, and to tell him "I'm sorry".
Tyler and I walked over to Mr. Dave's house, rang the doorbell and waited. Mr Dave's son answered the door, and we asked if Mr. Dave was home and could we talk to him.
Mr. Dave came to the door and said "hey guys - whats up"?
I said - "Tyler has something he needs to tell you".
Through tear filled eyes, Tyler said - "I'm sorry".
"What are you sorry for"? replied Mr. Dave.
Tyler just stood there crying, and not willing to fess up.
So I said "come on Ty - you need to tell him"
"I'm too scared" Tyler said.
Then I could see that Mr. Dave was about to cave in - he could tell Tyler was really upset.
One more time I asked Tyler to tell him, and he found the courage to say "I picked your lemons".
The look on Mr. Dave's face was priceless - he looked at me for an explanation, and I said "it appears that Tyler reached over your wall and picked the lemons off your tree".
Mr. Dave said - "I have lemons"?
Dave's really green oranges where what Tyler had picked.
Mr. Dave looked at Tyler and said "Tyler - its ok - anytime you want to pick my oranges, all you have to do is come over, ring the doorbell, and ask.
Then he shook Tyler's hand, and I thanked him and Tyler and I walked away from Mr. Dave's house hand in hand. About half way down the driveway - Tyler wipes away one of his tears, and looks up at me and says "Well, that didn't go so bad..."
Our trampoline sits next to the neighbors wall on our side yard. For the past two years we have had a "safety" net around the trampoline. Last week I had to take down the "safety" net because it had WAY too many holes in it - it was not longer "safe", and had become an eyesore. So now, the trampoline looks like the kind us adults played on when we were kids - remember those days - before seat belts, car seats, "child proofing" and safety nets were considered important? Besides being "unsafe", our newly configured tramp now gives our kids access to the neighbors wall, AND his "lemon" tree.
Story
When I got back form work on Friday, Sheri informed me that Tyler had picked the neighbors lemons off his tree while playing on the tramp. We talked it over with Tyler, and decided that we needed to walk over to the neighbors and apologize. Tyler started crying, and said that he was scared because he thought the neighbor would call the cops on him and he would have to go to jail. The neighbor (Dave) is a great friend of ours, and we told Tyler that he wouldn't call the cops, but that it was important that we tell him what Tyler had done, and to tell him "I'm sorry".
Tyler and I walked over to Mr. Dave's house, rang the doorbell and waited. Mr Dave's son answered the door, and we asked if Mr. Dave was home and could we talk to him.
Mr. Dave came to the door and said "hey guys - whats up"?
I said - "Tyler has something he needs to tell you".
Through tear filled eyes, Tyler said - "I'm sorry".
"What are you sorry for"? replied Mr. Dave.
Tyler just stood there crying, and not willing to fess up.
So I said "come on Ty - you need to tell him"
"I'm too scared" Tyler said.
Then I could see that Mr. Dave was about to cave in - he could tell Tyler was really upset.
One more time I asked Tyler to tell him, and he found the courage to say "I picked your lemons".
The look on Mr. Dave's face was priceless - he looked at me for an explanation, and I said "it appears that Tyler reached over your wall and picked the lemons off your tree".
Mr. Dave said - "I have lemons"?
Dave's really green oranges where what Tyler had picked.
Mr. Dave looked at Tyler and said "Tyler - its ok - anytime you want to pick my oranges, all you have to do is come over, ring the doorbell, and ask.
Then he shook Tyler's hand, and I thanked him and Tyler and I walked away from Mr. Dave's house hand in hand. About half way down the driveway - Tyler wipes away one of his tears, and looks up at me and says "Well, that didn't go so bad..."
Priceless!
3 comments:
Hey Joe we loved the Tyler experience. It made me remember the corn candy return at Carson's Market in the old days. Also congrats on the pepsi challenge ..you guys are winners.
Tyler is such a sweet-heart!
So precious.
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