.A hike was the perfect order of the day. The boys were excited about the idea. It would be a good¡¡1¡¡and it would be good to be together.¡¡

Immediately after lunch we¡¡2¡¡the trailhead. Chuck joined us and led the expedition. The little guys fell in on the trail¡¡3¡¡of me with their full daypacks and bottles filled with water. They soon found walking sticks. I laughed as I watched Wes lurching along the trail¡¡4¡¡with all his strength. He shuffled along behind his brothers carefully not to drop behind. Not a word of¡¡5¡¡escaped his lips.¡¡

We climbed to the top of a hill up earthen stairs built into the hillside. Finally, I asked Wes if I could carry the¡¡6¡¡for a while. He smiled¡¡7¡¡and handed the thing to me. I kept Wes’s pack and¡¡

finally asked him, “What’s in the pack, Wes? ”“A¡¡8¡¡, ”he said. I thought maybe he packed a field guide, field glasses, or the¡¡9¡¡of Thoreau. Any of these would have made¡¡10¡¡, but Wes said, “A calculator. ”

Kids are fun and full of¡¡11¡¡. I chuckle every time I think of it and I am¡¡12¡¡what a priceless thing it is to have a little boy to¡¡13¡¡with.¡¡