A long time ago I said if you all were nice to me I would post some fiction. I haven't forgotten that promise but I have not fulfilled it either. Until now. Ta-da! It's just a first draft (well, second if you count the version in my Writer's Notebook). Inspired by a couple I saw for ten seconds while people watching in the airport. <>< K
Juggling a cranky toddler in one arm and an overfull diaper bag with the other, Samantha slowly made her way down the airport concourse.
"Sam."
His booming voice made her insides swell with excitement. Had it really only been four days? She felt like she had been gone for four years. Even though she had not yet found Brad in the crowd, she knew they were close because Alexi squirmed more with every step Samantha took. Finally Samantha saw him. His big white smile, deep blue eyes, and shaggy brown hair. She could get lost staring at him.
Alexi flew out of Samantha's arms and fell into her father's chest. Samantha watched as Brad nuzzled his face into Alexi's hair. If ever there had been a doubt regarding this father's love for his daughter, this moment eliminated it.
"Hey, Beautiful," he said to Samantha. He stepped forward and kiss her on the forehead. With his free arm he wrapped her into him. Letting the diaper bag fall to the ground, she gripped his back with both hands and breathed in his scent. She loved being held firmly in his embrace.
Alexi let out a giggle and leaped backwards, almost throwing herself to the ground. Brad let go of his wife and shifted his attention back to the baby. He entertained Alexi while Samantha claimed their stroller and large suitcase with a heavy tag, again she questioned if the trip had truly only been four days. She reassembled the stroller and threw the diaper bag into the seat. There would be no removing Alexi from her daddy's arms anytime in the near future; they both would protest if Samantha tried.
"Ready?"
Samantha nodded. She pushed the stroller with her left hand and pulled the suitcase with her right. The three of them headed out the door. Samantha was ready to get home. Ready to relax on her own couch, cuddle with her husband, and let him take care of the baby. She didn't think he'd mind.
As they stepped into crosswalk, Brad switched Alexi to his right arm and reached for the suitcase with his left hand. Samantha let him take the weight, but she did not remove her hand. She wrapped her pinky around his and held on as they walked to the car.
Showing posts with label wife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wife. Show all posts
Friday, October 22, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
A Trip to the Police Station
I've never really cared for the administrative assistant at the police station. She's not as friendly as the officers. Maybe it was the smirk she gave me when I went in to report a missing hub cab a few years back. I don't know. I do know she did not earn herself any more points today.
I needed another key made for my roommate. They did not provide us with enough when we moved in, so we've had to get more made. 'Round these parts you do that at the police station. I walked in yesterday and was told the key-maker had left for the day. He would be back between 6 and noon today. I went back today a little before noon, and he was out on the grounds.
At first she began to take down my name (not even daring to repeat my last name to me but requesting I spell it), request, and a phone number. I did not get past the area code when she looked out the window and almost stood. She picked her Blackberry up off of the desk and radio-ed the officer.
Officer: Go ahead.
Secretary: Can you come in and help this little girl?
Woah. I glanced around to make sure she and I were the only ones in the room. Nope, no little girl had snuck in on my watch. I politely waited, but her words rang through my head.
"Help this little girl... help this little girl... help this little girl..."
Suddenly instead of a renter asking for a new key to be made, I felt like a child separated from her mother. That's where separated children are told to do, right? Seek help from police officers. I contemplated producing some tears just to accurately play the part.
Officer Larry came through the front door and stood in front of me, so close that if there had not been a wall and fake ficus behind me I would have stepped backwards to remove him from my large personal bubble. His eyes were the same level as mine, not bad for a little girl.
Officer Larry: What can I do for you?
I held up the key between our faces. I told him my request and gave my apartment number.
Officer: You already have a key.
Katie: My roommate needs one.
Officer: This for the front door?
Katie: Yes, sir.
When it doubt, throw in the "sir." It used to be so unnatural it sounded corny but after three years down South I have to remember to turn it off when I go home (and not say it to women...)
He took the key and walked away. I was not sure if I should follow or not, but I did since he was still talking to me.
Officer: I've already made a bucket full of keys for that front door.
Katie: You've made one, and we need one more.
I didn't blabber my spiel about the apartment housing six students and the school only providing four keys because I was interrupted by the Chief of Police.
Chief: You made a bucket full-a them? Now whatcha gonna do? Can your bucket hold one more?
Officer Larry: I guess so.
Katie: Thank you.
Officer Larry disappeared I stood in Chief's doorway waiting.
Chief: What are you up to today?
Katie: Causin' trouble.
Chief: Would you stop that?
Katie: What are you up to?
He looked down at his desk, knowing my eyes would follow and see his Subway sandwich and chips.
Katie: Eatin' lunch?
Chief: Yup.
Katie: All day?
Chief: Yup. You're like my wife. I'm sitting on the tractor and she says, "Are you going to cut the grass?" I want to say, "No, I'm just sitting here because I feel like it."
I contemplated telling him about how my dad and his neighbor-friends gather their matching orange tractors in the middle of the yard, rest their feet on the steering wheels, sit back, and enjoy a good beer and great company. But I remembered I'm in the South... and talking to a police chief. Crazy Northern Lutheran stories were probably unwelcome.
Instead, I should have asked to ride the segway. Chief might have actually said yes. Either that or he would have said, "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness." I'm not really sure.
I didn't get to find out because Officer Larry came back with two keys and sent this "little girl" on her way to find her own lunch to eat all day.
<>< Katie
I needed another key made for my roommate. They did not provide us with enough when we moved in, so we've had to get more made. 'Round these parts you do that at the police station. I walked in yesterday and was told the key-maker had left for the day. He would be back between 6 and noon today. I went back today a little before noon, and he was out on the grounds.
At first she began to take down my name (not even daring to repeat my last name to me but requesting I spell it), request, and a phone number. I did not get past the area code when she looked out the window and almost stood. She picked her Blackberry up off of the desk and radio-ed the officer.
Officer: Go ahead.
Secretary: Can you come in and help this little girl?
Woah. I glanced around to make sure she and I were the only ones in the room. Nope, no little girl had snuck in on my watch. I politely waited, but her words rang through my head.
"Help this little girl... help this little girl... help this little girl..."
Suddenly instead of a renter asking for a new key to be made, I felt like a child separated from her mother. That's where separated children are told to do, right? Seek help from police officers. I contemplated producing some tears just to accurately play the part.
Officer Larry came through the front door and stood in front of me, so close that if there had not been a wall and fake ficus behind me I would have stepped backwards to remove him from my large personal bubble. His eyes were the same level as mine, not bad for a little girl.
Officer Larry: What can I do for you?
I held up the key between our faces. I told him my request and gave my apartment number.
Officer: You already have a key.
Katie: My roommate needs one.
Officer: This for the front door?
Katie: Yes, sir.
When it doubt, throw in the "sir." It used to be so unnatural it sounded corny but after three years down South I have to remember to turn it off when I go home (and not say it to women...)
He took the key and walked away. I was not sure if I should follow or not, but I did since he was still talking to me.
Officer: I've already made a bucket full of keys for that front door.
Katie: You've made one, and we need one more.
I didn't blabber my spiel about the apartment housing six students and the school only providing four keys because I was interrupted by the Chief of Police.
Chief: You made a bucket full-a them? Now whatcha gonna do? Can your bucket hold one more?
Officer Larry: I guess so.
Katie: Thank you.
Officer Larry disappeared I stood in Chief's doorway waiting.
Chief: What are you up to today?
Katie: Causin' trouble.
Chief: Would you stop that?
Katie: What are you up to?
He looked down at his desk, knowing my eyes would follow and see his Subway sandwich and chips.
Katie: Eatin' lunch?
Chief: Yup.
Katie: All day?
Chief: Yup. You're like my wife. I'm sitting on the tractor and she says, "Are you going to cut the grass?" I want to say, "No, I'm just sitting here because I feel like it."
I contemplated telling him about how my dad and his neighbor-friends gather their matching orange tractors in the middle of the yard, rest their feet on the steering wheels, sit back, and enjoy a good beer and great company. But I remembered I'm in the South... and talking to a police chief. Crazy Northern Lutheran stories were probably unwelcome.
Instead, I should have asked to ride the segway. Chief might have actually said yes. Either that or he would have said, "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness." I'm not really sure.
I didn't get to find out because Officer Larry came back with two keys and sent this "little girl" on her way to find her own lunch to eat all day.
<>< Katie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)