Resourceful

Austin had a pretty funny little adventure yesterday.  We learned that our boy is quite resourceful through all of his blunders.  If it was any of our other children it would have been panic and mayhem.

I texted Austin around 3:15 to let him know that Lauren was going with a friend after school.  He could either ride the bus to Grandma’s J’s or walk home.  I figured he would go with the bus since it was 35 degrees out and quite blustery.  I was right.  He was going to his grandma’s. 

Strike that.  He texts me to let me know that he missed the bus.  So he was walking home.  It’s about a 20 minute walk from the middle school to our house.  About halfway through his journey home he realized something.  Something quite major.  He didn’t have a key to the house!

Austin had 3 house keys.  He gave one to Lauren who lost hers.  Then he put the other two on one key ring.  Those other two were at home in his pants from the day before. 

This time I get a phone call. 

“Where are you, Mom?”

“I’m at work son. Why?”

“Oh, um.  I don’t have a key to get in the house.”

There was no way I could leave work.  I’m an hour from quitting time and it would take 60 minutes there and back.  I don’t have the vacation or sick time to spare an hour at the moment.  Kevin & I work in a neighboring town from the one we live in.  So Kevin couldn’t go either.  The only option was for Austin to hunker down and tough it out.

He did.  I called him as soon as I was walking out of the door of my office.  I asked him if he found a way to get into the house.  He hadn’t.  At least I know the doors and windows are locked tight. 

On the other end of the line it was awfully quiet for how loud the winds were.  “Where are you at Austin?”

“I’m in the storage shed.”

“Are you serious!?”

“Yeah, it was unlocked.  It’s really warm in here mom.”

I couldn’t help but laugh when I got off the phone with him.  But it only got funnier.  When I pulled into our carport I glanced over at the storage shed.  The door was propped open with something.  When I got out of the van I realized that the door was propped open with a can of Raid.  I went to open the door but Austin had it tied shut…with Christmas lights!!  I guess the wind got so cold that it was whipping the door open and letting the cool air in.  So he had propped the door open with the can to allow some air to get in.  Then he took the lights and wrapped one end around the door knob and the other end around some stuff in the shed to hold it closed. 

I’m glad he plans to career in the Marines.  He sure can think of stuff in a heart beat .