Expectancy

Wild with excitement, Tony ran through the living room in a series of circles, his arms out like airplane wings. For added effect he narrated his activity with motor sounds, alternating the volume of his voice. "Whoo, whoo, zoom…"

"Bambino, stop at once- détente ahora!" Maria called from the kitchen, putting the last of their breakfast dishes into the dishwasher. "You will hurt yourself."

Tony paused momentarily to consider her words, then grinned and began trying to run backwards. "Vroom, vroom, I'm a plane up high!"

His father, Special Agent Gibbs, observed Tony's activity as he jogged down the stairs and started to reprimand him.

Instead, grinning, he hurried up behind his little boy and grabbed him, tickling him affectionately before he lifted him to sit on his shoulders.

"Who do you think you are, Charles Lindberg?"

Tony shrieked with laughter and put both hands under his father's chin to lift his face. The little boy smiled down at him, then planted a sloppy kiss on his father's cheek.

"You love me, Daddy," he announced, confident in his claim.

Maria joined them then, drying her hands on her apron. Holding out her arms, she ordered, "Come, come, my baby boy. It is time for you to brush your teeth and get your bookbag."

Jethro lifted him off of his secure perch and handed the child to Maria, and Tony threw his arms around her and covered her with kisses.

"I will go to school now, Abuela mia. Today, today is time for me to get to kindergarten. I will leave you and Daddy all by yourselves and go with the big children."

He practically shook with anticipation and pronounced solemnly. "You will miss me."

Maria glanced at Jethro, trying to halt her sudden onslaught of tears. The agent looked almost as emotional as she, and shook his head hastily. She set Tony down and gently smacked his bottom.

"Upstairs now- Your room must be clean, then we must finish dressing before you go."

Tony scrambled down and raced for the stairs, his little legs pumping to get up to his room as hurriedly as he could. The adults watched his ascent with a mix of emotion. First, they marveled at what a beautiful child he was, though tiny, with stunning green eyes shaded with long lashes, and brown hair streaked with blond.

Then they contemplated the fact that today was the first day- the very first day- that he would leave for school, and would function independently in a classroom. By himself- without them- he would experience the morning without their protection and control.

Though Tony insisted on calling it kindergarten, it was actually a pre school a couple of blocks from the house. He had begged and begged to enroll, thrilled with the notion that school meant babyhood had been left behind.

At four, he had another year to go before he could enroll at the neighborhood kindergarten. This, then, served as the first step in Tony's long road to independence. He would attend the little school, Moppet Academy, three mornings a week, returning to his home at lunchtime.

Gibbs turned to Maria. Raising his eyebrows, he took one hand and gently patted her cheek. "Are you going to be able to handle turning him over to someone else?" He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head in the direction of the upper floor.

Tony's running feet and energetic voice echoed to the downstairs.

Maria sighed and answered honestly, "That I do not know."

The agent smiled and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her towards him. She hugged back and tilted her head to make eye contact.

"Si, pero I am worried about you, as well."

Gibbs laughed softly and conceded. "You are so right. I can't believe he's going to actually head off to school today." He met her eyes and grinned self consciously.

Maria instantly chided, "No, not real school- he is still the baby, my bambino-"

Hearing what sounded like a crash above them, Gibbs called up the stairs, "Tony, do not run in this house! That is a rule."

In acknowledgement of the reminder, Tony fell to the floor and crawled to the landing in his best imitation of a puppy. He barked, panted down at both of them, and then sat up in a facsimile of a begging dog. "The kitten made me chase it, Abuela and Daddy."

Maria laughed out loud, then frowned softly at his expression. Her baby's intelligence and imagination provided so much joy to her, and she hoped the pre school teacher appreciated how clever he was. Adults normally gravitated towards him because of his good looks, without realizing that he possessed a sharp mind. The instructor needed to understand that this child, Maria's bambino, possessed a sharp mind, also.

Gibbs rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm…Puppy, I wish I knew where my little boy hid up there. He has to leave to go to his first day of school in…." he paused and turned to check the kitchen clock, "five minutes."

Tony jumped up and clapped, his face radiating his excitement. "Here he is, Daddy! I am the puppy and Tony!"

Gibbs and Maria laughed, and she beckoned, "Come, my little man, and let me check you before we go to Moppet."

He hurried down the stairs, little legs navigating the steps like a sprinter. He paused at the second from the bottom and launched himself into his father's arms.

Jethro kissed him when he caught him, then set him down. He tugged at the waistband of Tony's pants. "Tuck your shirt in like Daddy taught you. Remember that you have to unbuckle your belt."

Tony smiled angelically at Maria as he complied. "See, Abuela, I am muy handsome today. I like my clothes for the school. Estas son mis ropas nuevas de la escuela."

He pointed to his shirt, a blue plaid that matched his dark blue pants and reminded his father for the third time that morning, "I picked out my outfit, Daddy."

"You did, I remember," Gibbs agreed. He leaned down to help Tony with the snap on his waistband but Tony pushed away irritably.

"Stop, Daddy! I am not a wee lad! Let me fix my shirt all by myself." He puffed his lip out in a pout. "I go to school now and don't stay home like a baby."

"You are right," Jethro acquiesced, "I need to let you do that by yourself."

Maria interjected, "Bambino, did you use the bathroom just now when you went upstairs?"

Tony grinned sheepishly. "I forgot, Abuela. Lo siento, I am sorry."

"Go now," she ordered, pointing towards the stairs, and added, "do not forget to wash your hands."

He turned and raced back up the steps, and they watched him go with mixed feelings.

Barely five minutes later the little family made its way out the front door, Tony practically running in his excitement. They headed down the street towards Tony's pre school, swiftly passing one yard after another.

The little boy swung between the two adults, each of his tiny hands clasped in one of theirs, racing ahead a couple of steps, then giggling as they would lift him off the pavement to let him swing. Nearing the school he ordered seriously, "Stop, now, I have to get my bookbag ready. I must check that I have everything, todo."

The trio halted and Tony shrugged the backpack adorned with Sesame Street's Grover from his shoulders. He unzipped it hurriedly and peered inside, then grinned up at his father and grandmother. "It is all here. I have everything for school. Todo para la escuela ya esta aqui."

Maria and Jethro exchanged glances and Jethro shook his head before they began to walk again. Within a couple of minutes they joined a handful of other parents and children lining up to enter the daycare.