Byron managed to get my mother to the airport with plenty of time to spare, managed to make it to his train for the other airport with no worries even after the morning muddle. But in what we might call The Continuing Misadventures of Mathboy he realized that he had been relieved of some of his luggage. To be precise: the portion containing his extra clothes, money, and passport.
It is not possible to travel to Cyprus without a passport, no matter how important the journey might be. He had to turn around and head back to Cambridge and spend hours on the phone trying to sort out a solution. In the end he gave his conference presentation via speaker phone.
I observed from a distance, receiving text messages about his trials as I walked around town with the children getting ready for school to start and preparing for my own trip. It was all quite stressful, until I realized that the unexpected presence of a second parent would give me the time I need to make my deadline.
Last night we walked across Midsummer Common, staring up at the enormous orange harvest moon framed by the flash and sparkle of early fireworks. I turned toward the boat and Byron walked on to take the children to see the circus.
I was not disappointed to defer this task; the children are often less than happy when presented with such treats, because they know too many circus performers. If an act is not, in their opinion, as good as Feather’s mom, they scoff openly.
Which I find embarrassing and rude, and then we have to have lots of long boring conversations about supporting artists.
I worked for hours by the light of an oil lamp and about the time I was ready to stop heard them shouting and scampering across the common. They came running up with flashing electric swords and tiger painted faces.
The boat was filled with laughter and mock sword fights well into the night.