The fact that he appeared too young to be allowed to build and maintain a fire never occurred to him. There was general agreement in society that five-year-olds should not play with matches. If a park ranger had seen him building a fire in the small barbecue pit, his “mother” would have been arrested for benign neglect. Anita had foreseen such a difficulty and had eliminated the possibility by not bringing the supplies necessary for grilling. She had no intention of arguing with Howard over making a fire. She knew what he’d think the moment she suggested going to the park. He’d just assume that she would pack charcoal and hickory chips the way she always did. She hated to disappoint him, but she saw her job in the home as partly preventative. It was her responsibility to head off trouble before it happened, no matter what Howard thought.
Who Wears the Pants Scene 125
