In which we frighten one of Joseph's friends

"Mom, Liam doesn't think you like him."

"Bud, why would he think that? I don't even know him."

"Remember when you met him at the high school orientation night, when I was kidding with him and said, 'Dude, my mom doesn't like you'... well I think that's why."

Then Joseph's eyes take on a slightly evil glint. "Hey, I have an idea... since Liam's coming over after school tomorrow, why don't you act like you really don't like him? It'll be funny."

"I don't know, Bud... "

"C'mon, Mom-- it'll be funny."

So the next day, I'm heading up our block on the way to get Evan after school when I spot Joseph and Liam walking toward me.

"Hey Bud," I say, then turning to his friend, "Hello-- Liam," I spit out, before turning my head quickly away -- like I just smelled something really bad.

When I turn back toward the boys, Liam's blue eyes are huge; his face, drawn up in fear.

"Liam, hey.... I was just kidding."

Even though his expression melts into one full of relief, I immediately regret our little prank.

"Mom, don't worry," Joseph says, noting my concern, "I told him you were gonna do that when we saw you coming-- but you were really convincing. That was great!"

So we all have a good laugh before going our separate ways.

Fast forward to one week later -- the morning after Liam has his first sleepover at our house.

I come downstairs to the smell of fresh coffee, orange pancakes and bacon. Ryan is standing in the middle of the kitchen, spatula in hand, yuckin' it up with Joseph and Liam as both boys sit at the counter, ready for another round of pancakes.

"So Liam, how did you sleep?"

He looks up at me as if at a loss for words.

Then they all start laughing.

"What? What?"

"Okay, so I go in to check the boy last night," Ryan begins, "and remember how he sat up a few nights ago when I was checking him-- he wasn't awake, but he kept pulling away like he didn't know what I was doing?"

"Oh no," I say.

He smiles and continues.

"Well, last night I reach up to the top bunk, take Joseph's hand-- and he pulls it away. I try again, and he says, 'please... please... stop!' I finally grab hold of it a third time and tell him, 'Mister, I have to check you.' That's when he sits up and I see his face."

"It was Liam," I say.

Absolutely horrified.

Quickly I look down at the boys and (thank god) they're both laughing.

"Oh, Ryan-- how could you make that mistake?"

"I know," he says, shaking his head, "I just forgot the boy was in the bottom bunk."

Later, I ask Joseph if his friend was really okay.

"Mom, he's fine."

"And how do you feel? I mean, do you feel bad or embarrassed about what happened?"

"No, Mom. Not at all. Actually it gave us a funny story to tell... believe me, it's all good."

I'm glad they found it funny. But still, what Liam must have thought when Ryan came at him with that lancet...