Instead

The first thing he wanted to do when he got to town was to stop at the pawn shop just outside the airport to see if they had any used drum sets.

Let's go in, he said, pointing to the run-down building.

They didn't stop.

Another thing he wanted to do when he got to town was go to see the UT basketball game -- two rated teams battling each other for the top of the charts.

Did you get tickets? he asked.

His brother hadn't bought tickets, and the game was sold out.

And another thing he wanted to do while he was in town was go down to Sixth Street and see some live music.

Let's get dressed and go downtown, he said one night.

His proposal was met with silence. They didn't go.

Instead, they ate at little places hidden away in corners of town. Instead, they climbed Mt. Bonnell and viewed the city from above. Instead, they ran a half-marathon and finished hard. Instead, they ate tacos and burgers and frozen custard and pizza and spaghetti. Instead, they hiked the canyons of Barton Creek. Instead, they played with the dog. Instead, they stayed up late and got up early and played each others' tunes on the stereo. Instead, they walked a boy to school in the morning.

Instead of all these things he had wanted to do, they did all these other things, and they really didn't have time for anything else.

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