Mr. Hide

"Let's play Hide and Seek!" was the greeting I received as I entered our living room on Sunday. 

Despite the fact that I had a lingering cold and nasty cough the result of which had me feeling like death left out on the counter with the lid off all night, I simply couldn't refuse.  The forces that hold the fabric of the universe together (well, this one anyway) would be in serious jeopardy if I begged off.  I am Daddy and that's my job.

"Sure Buddy" I responded with a smile.  "Okay Daddy, you go and hide and I will find you!" Lukas instructed me.  And with that I was off to find a suitable place to hide from my 3 year old. 

As I mentioned I wasn't feeling all that well so naturally the creative center of my brain, which I am convinced must be roughly the size of a grain of rice and buried deep down - somewhere behind the primal stem perhaps? - wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders.  My first attempt to hide found me squeezed into a corner behind a wall one room over. This seemed reasonable, since in past renditions of the game this usually worked pretty well.

This time Lukas found me in 5 seconds flat.  "Okay, let me try this again"  I said then went off and hid behind the inward opening bathroom door, which was a surefire bet for causing lots of searching.  But again I was found by a grinning boy, with little effort. Likewise I met with similar FAILS when attempting to hide under the covers of the bed, and also standing near the back entry way with a backpack held in front of my body.   Lukas is older now, and obviously wise to all my dated hiding ploys.

Then I realized that I had be more creative.  By this time I was smiling and laughing a lot which helped spark a new idea.  "Stay here and count to 10 Buddy" I told him as I left him in the upstairs bedroom and entered the hallway.  Then I lifted the rather squeaky baby gate that still closes off the stairway to the main floor and fake stomped a few times to make it sound like I was going down to hide. 

Then, with my 40 plus year old Ninja skills I slipped quietly into the bathroom with nary a squeak of the Fir floors listening as Lukas came out and immediately headed downstairs to look for me.  "Daddy, where are you?" he called from down in the living room, to my obvious pleasure.  Yes! Point to Dad.  Even though he is getting good at this game, I proved I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.

I have a feeling I should enjoy it while I can, though.  My days are most definitely numbered.