Trimming Joe's Toe Nails

Trimming touch up post-hug.

We may have failed to report that Our Hero has been, for some time now, trimming his own toe nails.  The road to self-sufficiency was rocky and paved with frustration.  Indeed, Joe reached self-sufficiency in this area after Julie, in a (very mature) fit of frustration of her own left a wailing Joe in Raleigh House to march outside and pitch the toe nail clippers out into the yard.  Trimming toe nails was never a big deal, until it suddenly was, and every time the nail clippers would even appear, Joe would begin wailing that it hurt.  It hurt--despite the fact that nothing would be happening, even when the anticipation was over and the moment was upon him.  Thrashing and twisting abounded.  Tears!  Red-faced wailing!  Screaming!  Circumstances were only moderately improved by Ted manning the clippers.

The Evening the Clippers Flew was the night Julie said she was finished with trimming toe nails.  She told Joe as much and told Ted that by default, he had to be in charge of toe nail trimming.  Well the months passed and while no one was tossing nail clippers about, it is fair to say that toe nail trimming was a task dreaded and sometimes avoided until it could be avoided no more.  Eventually, Ted decided to have Joe trim his own toe nails.  Joe began with one toe a night until they were all trimmed.  Time would pass, and the process would repeat itself.  Julie stayed out of it, but asked Ted to please check Joe's work.

Tonight, Ted happened to be telling Julie that even though he knew she was a little annoyed by this one-toe-a-night routine, he did think it was one of the best ideas he ever had (true), and it was at this precise moment that Joe happened to pad up to Julie to announce that he had trimmed all of his toe nails all by himself.

Fans, it is impossible to say who was more proud: Joe, Julie, or Ted.  Julie lifted Joe up and hugged him, then Joe reached out to hug Ted, and then Joe pulled both Julie and Ted in for the group hug.

All trimmed up.  (That abrasion on Our Hero's chest was acquired by repeatedly sliding head-first down the basement steps which, obviously, is way better than trimming toe nails.)