It's all going to happen tomorrow. I know, because that's what he told me.

It's like that song in Annie that starts out, "The sun'll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun."

You know that the sun is coming up—it's just something you can count on.

So when I asked him the other day to clean up after the dogs, he said, "I'll do it tomorrow."

Funny thing was, tomorrow came and went, and the back yard was still littered with ... well, you get the idea.

So I said to him again yesterday, "Hey, I thought you were going to clean up the yard."

And in his best Scarlett O'Hara impression, he announced, "I'll do it tomorrow."

"Hey it's not like I'm asking you to clean up the back 40 at Tara," I explained, "just the backyard."

He gave me a rather puzzled look (the Gone With the Wind reference was lost on him).

Well, the day's almost gone, and the work is still piling up in the backyard, if you get the picture.

It came time to change the tone of my request.

"Hey, get out in that backyard and clean that stuff up!" I shouted.

"I will," he agreed. "Tomorrow."

"You're not going to do it tomorrow," I cried. "You're going to do it right now."

He must have been pretty scared. Because he calmly replied, "I'm right in the middle of something. And it's starting to get dark. So I'll be happy to do it tomorrow."

"OK," I bellowed, "but if you don't, you're losing your phone for a week!"

"Fine," he said. "I told you I'd do it tomorrow."

"Yeah, well, that's what you told me yesterday and the day before, too," I said.

Somehow I was starting to feel very much like the guy who was very excited when he saw the sign on the wall of his favorite pub, "Free beer tomorrow."

He was the first one in the bar a day later, looking forward to a free cold one, and there was the sign again.

"Wouldn't you know it," he thought. "I'm always here a day early."

Well, I feel that way when it comes to getting the youngest to complete his chores. He's more than willing to do them, but always tomorrow. And he always has some reason for putting off the project.

You know, he really only has a few chores around the house. Empty the dishwasher, take out the garbage, mow the lawn and clean up after the dogs (though not necessarily in that order).

For those chores, he's been more than adequately compensated— a car and the gas to keep it running; spending money just about any time he needs it; his own room equipped with computer, TV, video games and VCR; and much, much more.

Sure, he sounds a bit spoiled. That's because he is. But he is a pretty good kid, and he does eventually get to his responsibilities ... it just takes him awhile.

So, I tried to appeal to his better judgment.

"You know," I said, "I think it was Benjamin Franklin who once said, 'Never put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today.' "

"Wasn't he the guy who went kite flying in a lightning storm?" he asked.

"Yeah, well, you're going to be awfully busy tomorrow if you wait to clean up after the dogs, mow the lawns, clean your room, empty the dishwasher and take out the trash," I said. "Why not do some of it today?"

"That's OK," he said. "I'll do it tomorrow."

Oh, well. Like Annie says, "Tomorrow's only a day away."

You know, it seems like I've heard that tune before.