Where's the Daylight?

         It was the weekend before daylight savings time, and Joey was complaining about the early dusk. This complaining lead to a week long event called "Daylight Cravings Time."

         Joey Schubert looked out the window at the lowering sun and moaned, "I just want to go out and play some ball. Why does it have to be so dark so early?"

         "Honey," his mom said, putting her arm around him, "just two more days and it's daylight savings time."

         "But, mom, I want to go out now. Why did they even create daylight savings time?"

         "It's so that when daylight savings time does come the days are longer, brighter and so much more fun!"

         "But when it's not, all I can do is sit inside and do. . .nothing! See, mom? What's really the point of this stinkin' daylight savings?"

         "I just told you," she said, and walked out of the room.

         Joey harrumphed, and walked over to his window, pushing the blue curtain out of the way. It was 5:30 and the sky was dark and the street lamps had already clicked on. All he wanted was to have no more daylight savings.

         He went down to the kitchen to see his mom talking to his dad about their brief discussion.

         "He told me he hates daylight savings," she said, laughing.

         "Really? I always thought daylight savings in fall was a blessing. An extra hour of sleep? How is that bad?"

         "Not, sure, but he's excited for it, for sure."

         "You know I'm right here," Joey said, uncertain if they had seen him.

         "We saw you. This isn't a closed door conversation, if you didn't notice," she said, laughing again.

         "Well, you don't have to talk about it like I'm not here," Joey responded, his voice tinged with anger.

         "We're sorry, then, dear. We didn't know we were offending you," his dad said.

         "Yeah," the mom said, "we're really sorry."

         Joey said nothing and just walked from the room.

         My parents are making fun of me behind my back? I'm their son! Why are they talking bad about me, Joey thought.

         The family's pet dog, Bella ambled into Joey's bedroom, wagging it's tail.

         "You like daylight savings time, don't you Bella?"

         The dog tilted it's head as if she understood, but of course said nothing. Then she left the room.

         Joey went to bed, dreaming about daylight savings time.

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         Joey awoke the next morning, still thinking about daylight savings time.

         His mom bustled into the room, a phone in her hand.

         "It's the Academy of Daylight Savings Time," she said, and handed the phone to me.

         Joey put it to his ear and said, "hello."

         "Bonjour! I am Miss Fredeaux and I am speaking to you as a representative of l'Académie du temps de l'heure d'été or the Academy of Daylight Savings Time," she said with a very French sounding accent.

         Hearing these words brought joy to Joey's heart. Joey was talking to those who controlled DST. Maybe he change or even get rid of DST.

         "OK," Joey said, not knowing what exactly to say.

         "Your mother was very clear with what you wanted, and we, at the Academy are very gracious with what we do. So, Joey, we will make a deal with you. As you probably already know, DST is on the second Sunday of March. If you can last for one more day until the DST tomorrow, we will award you with having the DST in the fall on the second Sunday in November, one week longer than it normally would be."

         As Joey listened to these words he nearly fainted. More time for sports outside.

         "I'm in," he said.

         "Well, that's great," she said, "one more week of DST for you, then!"

         "That's enough, Joey," his mom said, "give me back the phone."

         He did, and then he left the room.

         "Thanks, sister," Joey's mom said into the phone, "he's been bugging me for the last week about this DST. Now he shouldn't ask about it until November. I reckon, though, that he'll be pretty angry when there's been no change."

         "Well, you'll get to it when you get to it. Glad I could be of help. Talk to you soon."

         "See you soon," and the phone called ended.