art's been in the right place； but if you line it up objectively； a
man like； say； Mr。 Loski adds up to a much better
husband and father than a man like me does。 He's around more； he provides more； and he's
probably a lot more fun。”
My dad wasn't one to go fishing for pliments or signs of appreciation； but still； I couldn't
quite believe he actually thought that。 “Dad； I don't
care how it looks on paper； I think you're the best dad ever！ And when I marry somebody
someday； I sure don't want him to be like Mr。 Loski！ I want
him to be like you。”
He looked at me like he couldn't quite believe his ears。 “Is that so；” he said with a grin。 “Well；
I'll remind you of that as your someday approaches。”
That turned the rest of the trip around。 We laughed and joked and talked about all kinds of
things； but as we neared home； there was one thing
the conversation kept turning back to。
Pancakes。
My mother； though； had other plans。 She'd spent the morning scrubbing floors and nixed the
pancakes。 “I need something with more staying
power。 Like grilled ham…and…cheese。 With onions；” she said。 “Lots of onions！”
“Scrubbing floors？” my dad said。 “It's Sunday； Trina。 Why were you scrubbing floors？”
“Nervous energy。” She looked at me。 “How'd it go？”
“Okay。 I'm glad I went。”
She glanced at my dad and then at me。 “Well； good；” she sighed； then said； “I also