I’m Still Thinking

My plan was to work around the house, but I had a story in my head, and I needed to write it down. The cat meowed teasing me and taunting the dog. Nova Mae kept bringing ropes, stuffed animals, and toys, setting them in my lap and on the bench next to me, asking if I would throw them for her. “I’ll think about it,” I replied while deep in thought on my story.
Less than one minute passed before Edgar attacked the dog’s swooshing tail, then sprinted away, hiding behind me and acting innocent. “That was a cheap shot, Edgar,” I said. Nova brought another toy, ‘Can you throw this one?’ “I’m still thinking about it. They clearly were not going to let me write.
I packed my laptop and went to the Tettegouche Visitors Center, where I could use their Wi-Fi and write my story in peace, but it was a busy morning. I tried to focus on my writing, but there was so much activity surrounding me; people were buzzing about the building like bees at a hive. I was distracted because I just love to watch people.
A young voice at the at the table behind me caught my attention when he asked softly, "Mom, are you still thinking?" Without looking in their direction, my mind wandered off to a time when I was about his age. I would ask my mom if I could do something and she would answer, ‘I'll think about it.’ 
I smiled recalling the times my daughters would ask me, "Dad, are you still thinking about it?" I dreamed into the future, wondering if, and knowing that there will be times when our grandchildren will ask their parents, ‘Are you still thinking about it?’
The little boy’s mom, tapped away at her keyboard, she didn't answer him. He spoke again offering, "I'll be good." She continued to type. He sweetened the deal promising, "Me and Sarah will both be good," adding, "Better than we've ever been." 
A small female voice confirmed, "Yeah, me too, Mom." That must have been Sarah.
The mom answered, "I'm still thinking."
Finally, I glanced behind me. Two kids about five and six-years-old stood patiently next to the table where their mom was working. Each had a backpack and wore little hiking boots. He wore a small blue ball cap, the little girl had her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, under a pink visor. With hope and anticipation, they remained as optimistic little angels, while waiting for the decision. "Mom,” he asked again. “Are you still thinking?" There was a pause, and Mom closed the lid on her laptop. 
"Okay, we can go now," Mom answered. The two little kids were excited. 
While Mom put her laptop into its case, the boy and his little sister ran toward the front doors. They both placed their hands flat on the glass, leaning forward. It was an automatic handicap door, so it was harder to open, but they pushed as a team eventually opening the heavy door. Mom was right behind them as they headed out. 
I wondered which of the many trails they would explore; imagining the things they would see, what treasures nature would offer them to find, and the memories they will make. I smiled, another family headed out on an exciting adventure in the north woods.
For the life of me, I couldn’t remember the story that I was going to write. “I suppose it will come back to me tomorrow,” I surrendered. “But this story makes a pretty nice trump card.”
I went home where Nova Mae and Edgar picked up right where we left off. “Are you still thinking about it, Dad?”
I put Edgar in his jacket (harness) and leashed him. I picked up a tennis ball and told Nova, “Okay, we can go outside now.”
Life is good here on the North Shore, and everywhere.