"So, want to go back to sleep or stay awake?" John asked.
"Awake. I'm not tired anymore."
"Okay. What would you like to do then?"
"I don't know."
"Come on. Ye've got to know."
"Watch television."
John reached over and turned on the television. Then, he started flipping through channels.
He stopped at some television show episode rerun. John let out a yawn.
"Are you still tired?" Sean asked.
"Yep. I was rudely woken up by the phone."
"So was I."
"Well, feel free to go back to sleep. I just might."
"Okay. But what about dinner?"
"Its too early for that. Don't worry. We don't sleep that long. Only until we're not tired anymore."
Sean laid back down and so did John.
"So, fall asleep while watching the telly?"
Sean nodded.
"Okay. Sounds good to me."
John took his pack of cigarettes and almost pulled one out when he remembered that he wanted to try quitting. He put the pack down again.
"This is hard, kid."
"What?"
"Quitting this filthy habit. I need to throw these away...............later."
John picked it up again.
"But I really want one."
"No daddy."
"Yer right."
He put the pack back down.
"But its so tempting."
Sean stood up and grabbed the pack.
"Kid, yer too young for that."
John tried reaching for it but Sean ran to the trash can and threw them away.
"Oh............thanks..................now I don't want them at all."
Sean ran back and laid down on the couch again. John closed his eyes and put his arm around Sean.
"Dad, are you going to sleep?"
"No. I'm just resting me eyes."
"Oh. Can I rest my eyes?"
"Sure. But I gotta warn ye, you might fall asleep."
"But I don't want to go to sleep."
"Then keep yer eyes open and watch telly."
"Okay."
John looked at the time.
"Still got about two hours until dinner time. Want a snack?"
"No. That will ruin my dinner." Sean said.
John laughed. "Where'd ye hear that from?"
"Mommy told me all the time when I wanted a snack."
"She's right. But we can make an exception. A small snack. How's that sound?"
"Okay. Just a small one."
John smiled. "Very well. Plus, I'm hungry."
"What is going to be for dinner?"
"Hmm................" John started thinking. "Well, for me, I'm having a nice tasty salad. What do you want?"
"Pasta!"
"What kind?"
Sean shrugged. "I don't know. What's a salad?"
"Well, it has whatever you want in it that's healthy. Like............lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers and all that other good, healthy stuff."
"Ew." Sean said.
John started laughing. "Its very good, to be honest. I love lettuce and tomatoes."
"What about all that other stuff? What is it?"
"Well, it could also have carrots, onions, chives, beans, celery, zucchini. It could also have nuts in it depending on what kind of salad yer eating. But lettuce is the main ingredient."
"Are you making it homemade?"
"No. I just bought one already made up."
"Oh."
"Did you know that bacon bits could also be an ingredient?"
"No! Not my bacon!"
John started laughing hard. "No. Bacon bits. Not going to use yer bacon. Bacon bits come in their own little package. I know not to use yer bacon. Yer very protective over it."
"Mine."
"Yes but who's the one who cooks it and maybe steals one or two slices?"
"Can I have bacon for dinner?"
"That's breakfast! Stick with pasta. Maybe when yer older and when you can cook for yerself, you can have bacon for dinner. Deal?"
"Okay."