"Can you take me golfing sometimes?" my 13-year-old son asked. I had a bathroom to remodel . I wanted to say no. "Sure," I said."What did you have in mind ?" "Well, maybe you could, like, pick up Jared and me after school on Friday and take us out to Oakway." "Sounds good." Friday came. In front of the school, Ryan and Jared piled in. Ryan looked confused. "What's with the golf hat, Dad ?" he asked It was, I thought, a silly question, like asking a diver: "What's with the swim fins  ?" "Well, I thought we were going to play some golf." There was a strange pause. "Uh, you're going, too ?" He asked. Suddenly, it struck me that I hadn't been invited. Thirteen years of parenting flashed before my eyes. All these memories sped by in about two seconds, leaving me about three seconds to reply. I had to say something. I wanted to say this: "How could you do this to me? We have always been a team." But I said: "Me? Play? No. You know I'm up to my ears in the remodel project." We drove on in silence for a few moments. "So, how are you planning to play for this?" I asked, my wounnded ego  reaching for the dagger  "Uh, could you loan me $7?" Oh, I get it. He doesn't want me, but he'll gladly take my money. "No problem, " I said. I dropped him and Jared off, wished them luck, and headed for home. Life would never be the same. I walked in the door. "What are you doing home?" my wife asked. "I wasn't invited." I replied. Another one of those strange pauses came. Then my wife laughed. Out loud. At first, I was hurt. Then I, too, laughed. I went back to the bathroom remodel and realized that this is what life is all about: change. A few hours later, I heard Ryan walk in the front door. "Dad," he said, "My game stinks . Can you take me golfing sometime ? I need some help." I wanted to hug him and shout: "I'm still needed!" Instead, I got one of those serious-dad looks on my face and said: "Sure, Ry, anytime." After the author picked up his son and Jared at school, he   _  .
went to play golf with them refused to pay for his son's game realized that he had not been invited to the golf game realized that he had forgotten to bring along his golf hat