Amanda was getting annoyed with how manic Dunc was acting. He took even less time grabbing pumpkins to carve. He picked out two good-sized pumpkins and several smaller ones. By the time we finished, Amanda’s car was full and had a pleasant smell of apples, pumpkins, and the outdoors. Amanda wouldn’t unlock the door for Dunc when he went to the passenger side of the car, expecting to go.
“They have hot chocolate and kettle corn!” Amanda motioned to the area set up near a corn maze. “And a corn maze! Come on, Dunc, let’s go have some fun!” Dunc had given her a baleful look. It only lasted a few seconds, but she saw it and realized that he might be suspecting something. Amanda ran up to him and threw her arms around him. He had his back to the car and couldn’t go anywhere. Amanda raised herself up on her tiptoes and ran her fingers through his hair while kissing him. “Let’s. Go. Have. Fun.” She gave him a playful smirk sliding both hands down his neck and chest. He forgot what he was doing and took her hand.
That bought half an hour longer. They shared hot chocolate, apple cider, and sweet kettle corn. Then Amanda managed to get Dunc to do the corn maze with her. There was one problem. Dunc figured it out in record time, and even though she tried to stall him, they were out faster than she intended. It was 10 AM when they headed back to the car. Amanda’s plan to keep Dunc out had them leaving after 11, so they could go to town for lunch. She also had a fun couples project she had decided on.
Dunc jumped in the car the moment it was unlocked, buckled himself in, and checked the time. “Great, we’ll be home for lunch.”
“We’re going downtown for lunch. I’m treating you.” Amanda pulled out of the field that was serving as the parking lot for the farm. There were a lot more cars out now, and she was trying to be careful.
“Okay, but we’ll be unloading all this at home, then going out,” Dunc stated, looking at Amanda.
“No, we’re going downtown. We don’t need to go home yet.”
And then it happened. Dunc’s expression changed, and he became very still. He stared at the window and began fidgeting with his hands. He clenched his fists and wrung his hands, thinking. He made a groaning noise and hit his forehead on the window. Then he turned to glare at Amanda. “Why, you little traitor! You played me!” A look of rage and hurt at being betrayed clouded Dunc’s blue eyes. “Home. Now. My mother put you up to this, didn’t she? What are they doing? Amanda, what are they doing?”
“Knock it off, Duncan!” Amanda snapped at him. He immediately recoiled against the side of the car, glaring at her. He was so upset; he was shaking.
“Amanda! I want to go home!” Dunc’s voice took on a growly quality. His anger was shifting to simply being upset and anxious. “Oh no, what are they doing?” He buried his head in his hands and kept repeating the same thing. “I hate surprises! I have to stop them!”
“Seriously, Dunc, why is this such a big deal?” Amanda rolled her eyes at him trying to keep her attention on the road. “I don’t know what they’re doing, but it’s your birthday! It wouldn’t be anything bad.” “You don’t understand. My mother is crazy! There is no telling what she might do! Whatever it is will be embarrassing.” Dunc moaned, folded his arms, and sunk into his seat to stare out the window and ignore Amanda. He sulked and would not respond to anything. Dunc trembled off and on. Every few minutes, he would breathe like he was having a difficult time catching his breath.
Amanda grumbled as she drove. She wasn’t sure how long she could tolerate dealing with an almost 7-foot tall 200-pound five-year-old. By the time they reached town, Dunc was still muttering at her. But he had accepted that he wasn’t getting home anytime soon. He made it known he was angry as they walked down the town’s main street. He walked hunched over, hands in his pockets, and glaring at everyone who got too close. Amanda had been hesitant to touch him at first, but she put an arm around his and led him down the sidewalk.
Dunc walked like an angry dog on a leash. He went where Amanda took him but would not talk and sulked the entire time. She ended up in a secluded area of the park with him trying to use his mother’s advice to snap him out of it. By that time, his anger had turned into moping sadness. The man hated his birthday and surprises. He couldn’t justify taking it out on Amanda. He desperately wanted to go home and catch his mother in whatever it was she was doing.
Dunc was trembling and breathing shallowly again. He was swaying unsteadily as he walked and clenching and unclenching his hands. Every few moments, he would rub his chest. It was then that Amanda noticed what was happening. Dunc wasn’t being a bratty child throwing a tantrum. He had a panic attack.
“Duncan.” Amanda clutched his arm and guided him to a nearby tree. She sat down against the trunk and pulled him down with her. “Lay down with your head on my lap. You’re having a panic attack.” “What?” Dunc stared at her in confusion resisting for a moment.
“Please do what I said. I can help.” Amanda touched his face, and Dunc scowled at her, then sighed and did what she said. “I’ve had them, and I know how to
