He Knows

One of the fears most parents have is that someday, without warning, their child will be better than them. Smarter, faster, stronger . . . able to leap tall buildings in a single cliche.

Part of this is because time is on their side. Children, by definition, are younger than their parents. While we're growing older, they're growing up. We've passed our prime, and they've yet to reach their's. It's a patently unfair system, but it's the only one we've got.

Enter Porter.

The kid smiles like grins are on sale. Not all the time, mind you. He has a serious side as well. But I'm convinced he knows he's keeping his mother and I awake and away from anything approaching a full night's sleep, and he's playing us like marked cards.

It's like a less athletically capable Stewie saying, "Yes mother, I AM cute, aren't I."

"Oh, father, here's a smile to warm the sub-cockles of your heart!"

Damned if it doesn't work every time.