The morning came with the soft patter of rain and an overcast beginning to the day. The children rose very slowly, resembling sleeping mummies risen from their sarcophagi. The eldest male was asked to awaken, as he was expected at a morning appointment. When only fifteen minutes before departure remained, the benefactor passed his doorway, observing him still tucked under the covers. Terse words were thrown into the room to inspire wakening. Finally, he rose with bitterness. Fruit in hand for breakfast, the younger children quickly gathered their growing school materials and left to greet the gray day, the first genuine hint of fall’s arrival singing in the breeze. The benefactor sat in the transport vehicle, observing the elder male peeking out of the bathroom blinds, as she impatiently waited for him to finish coiffing his hair. She signaled a warning to remind him to hustle. He finally, reluctantly, left the home, leaving the door wide open. When asked to return to close it, his eyes became throwing swords tossed at the benefactor. He remained in silent, bitter stupor for the few hours.
In the evening, the benefactor elected to take the younger children to a music festival. On the way, she asked the children to postulate who they knew that might be ‘with child’. After naming two women over the age of 50, they then listed the elder female and elder male as potential suspects, the last one troubling for obvious reasons, and a clear indication that the youngest female needs additional information on the miracle of reproduction. They were delighted to learn that their aunt, the benefactor’s sibling, was now pregnant. At the concert, the children enjoyed running through the grassy plaza, eating sorbet, and listening to the band play as night slowly fell. Dancing and joy were relished in large quantities. When they finally arrived home, it was bedtime, and they were ushered to their rooms right away. The older children lounged downstairs, like sleeping snails. The benefactor reminded them that a pair of socks needed to be picked up, the same pair that had been living at the bottom of the staircase, looking forlorn and forgotten for a week. Both grunted an acknowledgement that they heard the comment, yet neither tweaked a muscle to stand, which forced the benefactor to repeat the statement. With exaggerated eye rolling, the elder male finally discovered his legs and moved to collect them from the floor. The youngest female asked to read a book and presented two to the benefactor, and a selection by Dr. Seuss was chosen. As the benefactor began reading, the youngest female initiated a full emotional meltdown as it was not the book she wanted to read. When asked why she presented it as an option, all she could moan was, “I don’t know”. Finally, she calmed herself enough to enjoy the tale of a one, two, a red, and a blue fish. At last, tucked in and snuggled, the youngest children drifted off to sleep, the benefactor hoping to follow suit.
1 Comment
Julie Page
8/25/2017 01:23:39 pm
LOVE!
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AuthorWelcome to the jungle of my life as a 40-something single mother of four. Archives
May 2018
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