Sleepover (WWG 1.27)

The squeal made Kathy wince.  She had just put Charlie to bed and she hoped the girls didn't wake him up. Kathy checked her watch. 9:30. Yeah, it was time to bring the show to a close. Charlie was sound asleep, oblivious to the noise in the next room. Good. 

Sticking her head into Emily's room, she saw Maddie trying to braid her hair while looking at the small screen in Emily's hand. The friendship bracelet they made earlier kept getting tangled in the lace of her nightgown and she was getting frustrated.  Kathy peeked over her shoulder. The image was of a girl about their age giving beauty tips. Some things don't change. She could remember being with Becky and Sarah flipping through magazines and trying to figure out how to tame her curls into something. 

"OK, Girls." She said. "Light's out. Let me have the phone."

"Oh, Mom!" Emily whined. "We aren't going to look. We promise."

"Right.", Kathy smiled. "I was your age once and I would use a flashlight to read the magazines."

"What's a magazine?" Maddie asked.

"It was YouTube on a paper. It was all we had when I was little."

"Mrs. Morris, have you ever had braids?" 

"I haven't in a while. It's easier just to tie it back." The girls nodded at that one. 

"Is Daddy home,?" Emily asked.

"Not yet," Kathy said. "His job got a new program and he said it might take a while for him to get everything running right. Your Daddy doesn't like to leave things not right. Anyway, you two need to get to bed"

With exaggerated sighs, the phone was handed over. Emily hopped up on her bed while Maddie laid down on the air mattress. 

As she turned out the lights, Kathy realized it was moments like this that brought her peace. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In Honor of Al Jaffee

The image below is probably the most politically incorrect graphic the great comic artist Al Jaffee ever produced. Originally published in a special issue of MAD magazine in 1971, it brought protests for its seeming disrespectful tone. It even launched a brief FBI investigation into possible political subversion.  So, why am I bringing it up? 2 reasons. First, Mr. Jaffee just celebrated his 95th birthday. Second, In all of the turmoil of the Election, it is important that the pledge be for all people. Not just the moneyed elite. More importantly, to weed out infection the poisons of bigotry by all people need to be aired. Burying thoughts and ideas through euphemisms and language discussion allow the opinions to fester. The quote "Just because you silence a man does not mean you convert him" very much applies. Donald Trump has made efforts to silence his critics. His critics have made a double effort to silence. him. And nothing gets done.
Read more

The Date (Blogophilia 13.5)

So, here she was at Manuel’s, her usual fifteen minutes early.   A quick glance to make sure the lipstick line was still straight.   Satisfied, the compact disappeared into the leather purse.   Kari hadn’t been this nervous meeting anyone in quite a long time.   But then, it had been at least 20 years since she had been on a blind date.   What will he look like?   All Mary told her was he was a bachelor with a paying job and no kids.    Nothing about how old, or whether he was a slob or a crackhead.   Not even the guy’s name.   Only that she thought Kari would enjoy his company.     Just be at there at 5:30. Sipping on her gimlet, it seemed like she had never left.   The Musak was mostly Sinatra and the political types still hung to their tables like they were still in high school.   Tony, the manager, gave her a peck when he saw her and said she could come back to work any time.   No.   She’d had enough of slinging swill and dealing with the obnoxious, of stepping over the hoo
Read more