I'm pretty sure The Pony was not expecting to be put to work when he came out Monday for steak-grilling. It's not like we harnessed him to the plow. But we DID ask a lot him with little chores.
First of all, I asked if he'd set up my new printer in the living room, so it would work off the WiFi to communicate with HIPPIE in the kitchen. So The Pony unboxed it, glanced at the directions, moved some stuff off the TV tray where I used to have my laptop set up in front of the living room window. He plugged in the printer, and started downloading stuff. While that was going on, we had some other requests.
Take the password off HIPPIE, so I don't have to sign in when I turn it on or let it go to sleep.
Find the kitchen smoke alarm that Farmer H took down because it was beeping. I was in the bathroom changing clothes, and when I came out, The Pony said the alarm worked, so he just put it back up! NO! It would start beeping again soon enough, and it has been two months since The Pony was last at the Mansion. I don't want Farmer H climbing on the cutting block, or going to the basement for the stepstool. So The Pony took it down, and actually put in the new battery, then put it back up.
Figure out which smoke alarm was currently chirping in the basement. The Pony said it was in the workshop. He brought up the printer paper as I had asked.
Put an icon for the calculator on Farmer H's main phone screen.
Test the printer. IT WORKED!
Dust and set the kitchen table for our feast.
Throw some eggshells, lettuce cores, and onion skins off the back porch.
Clear the plates from the table.
Take my purse and HIPPIE and files back to the table when we were done.
The Pony carried out all duties as directed. He's a credit to the workhorse force.
4 comments:
He's a credit to YOU, helping with all of that and not a single complaint. Cleary you raised him well.
River,
Aww! Flattery will get you everywhere! The Pony is a gentle soul. Always has been, from babyhood. Harsh words within his hearing range would make him tear up. He's always been compliant, even if he doesn't like his orders. Genius is the livewire, a little spitfire from the get-go. Not afraid to fight for what he believes in. Funny how you can raise them the same, but with different outcomes. Nature over nurture, I guess. Each successful in their own way.
He worked for his dinner! We do the same thing with our son. Last time he was here he climbed on the roof and cleaned the gutters after driving straight through from Minnesota. Then he grabbed the tab for our dinner and wouldn't let us pay. My new daughter-in-law is from Peru and in her culture elders are honored. Families live together and you always take care of your parents. I am on board with this!!
Kathy,
It's the least they can do, right? The Pony never begrudges us help. Then again, we've never asked him to clean the gutters. And he doesn't have a spouse to encourage him to be nice to us!
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