“Goodmorning Anais. This is your mother.”
Ten more hours. Anais had ten more hours of freedom that she was investing in sleeping to catch up on the rest she had missed through the long work week. At the sound of the familiar voice she wiggled just enough to appreciate the sweet, peaceful clouds of high count cotton and quality mattress that were supporting her. Luxurious yet costly manufactured formations held her so comfortably in her current position that she didn’t allow the initial annoyance of her phone ringing at her bedside to disrupt her. A fresh cool breeze flowed over her and she moved just enough that the comforter was stretched over her head so that she was shielded from the blinking light of a voicemail being played out to the master bedroom for anyone that happened to be within earshot. It was unacceptable. A fast intervention was in order. Just in case the comforter couldn’t handle the job the pillow beneath her head was pulled free and positioned over her face.
”I am feeling much better today, thank you for asking. Where shall I begin since you feel my talking to your machine instead of you is acceptable? Oh yes, You will be relieved to know that I do believe I am over the taco sangria terror that your father subjected me to courtesy of that ridiculously expensive egg shaped grill he purchased at Lelow’s Outdoor Supply last month at your urging. Leave it to you to be so helpful. My garden party guest’s made bets on what dinosaur would most likely appear from it when it finally cracks like Bethany’s did two days ago. Her hellion grandchildren knocked it over and it tumbled down the stone wall the city gave them hell about putting up. You probably don’t remember that because you were in... where was it again, Fitz?”
Only the briefest of silence played out while her father was called into the conference.
“Fitz! Turn down the t.v.! I asked you a question. What was that? Your father said Aruba but I think it was when you were doing that tour on the coast with your flying buddies. Fitz, please! Can’t you see I am talking? Anyways, your father wants you to know that his back flared up while helping me move the canoes you and your sister forgot to put away the last time you were here. No need to worry about it. Yes, we covered them and they will be fine for the winter in case they don’t see you until next spring. And in case you are wondering you missed your cousin’s bridal shower last evening. I thought you would want to know that it was a success even if you happened to be expected to be there but forgot completely about it. No Fitz, that is not mean to tell her!”
Anais couldn’t help but cling to the last of the information that was shared as the duration of the time allotted for messages left clicked off the call. It was as if a straightline wind raced over the bedding above her as well as the pillow and sent it flying with the scramble of her swatting hands.
“Holy ****!” The comforter was fighting back and winning. “Oh my god!”
The woman was in a panic as she kicked to get free of the material wrapped around her bare body. It couldn’t be. No way. If it was true then she was in serious trouble. Cori’s bridal shower! How did she miss it? They changed the date?!
"No! No! No!"
While she protested againt the impossible her hand made contact with the clock radio next to her and she tugged it to see what time it was. Minute, hour and screw that. What day was it? Instead of giving her the clues she needed to get reoriented it came free from the wall it was plugged into. Useless as it now was she tried to toss it only for it to become another obstacle as she rolled over to get a hold on the phone. Just as she grasped the receiver the phone rang once before she placed it to her ear.
“Hello!” Her legs went up in the air with the plan of her upper body rocking to a sitting position once she dropped them over the side of the bed.
“There you are dear. Your mother shouldn’t have told you that. It was a lie.” Her father’s voice sounded regretful at the news he was delivering.
“What?” The right leg executed the first part of the combination move that went wrong and had her tumbling off the edge of the bed and to the hardwood floor.
“Cori’s party isn’t until next month.” The pause was filled with the background sounds of clanking pots in the kitchen. Padget Reneau was in a mood and taking it out on the teflon again. “Since you are up would you like to come over for breakfast? Your mother is cooking…” A few hard to ignore cracks of wood kissing the cupboards they were attached to echoed. “Or declaring war. Not quite sure yet.” While she gets off the floor and climbs back into the bed the sound of a hand muffling the phone has her hesitating on hanging up. A whisper comes through. Fitz could be equally dramatic. “If you are there, Anais, save me.”
Ten hours were left. The call ended and the pillow went back to its original position over her head. A few seconds later a hand surfaced from beneath the comforter and knocked the receiver off it’s hook. Ten more hours.
Ten more hours. Anais had ten more hours of freedom that she was investing in sleeping to catch up on the rest she had missed through the long work week. At the sound of the familiar voice she wiggled just enough to appreciate the sweet, peaceful clouds of high count cotton and quality mattress that were supporting her. Luxurious yet costly manufactured formations held her so comfortably in her current position that she didn’t allow the initial annoyance of her phone ringing at her bedside to disrupt her. A fresh cool breeze flowed over her and she moved just enough that the comforter was stretched over her head so that she was shielded from the blinking light of a voicemail being played out to the master bedroom for anyone that happened to be within earshot. It was unacceptable. A fast intervention was in order. Just in case the comforter couldn’t handle the job the pillow beneath her head was pulled free and positioned over her face.
”I am feeling much better today, thank you for asking. Where shall I begin since you feel my talking to your machine instead of you is acceptable? Oh yes, You will be relieved to know that I do believe I am over the taco sangria terror that your father subjected me to courtesy of that ridiculously expensive egg shaped grill he purchased at Lelow’s Outdoor Supply last month at your urging. Leave it to you to be so helpful. My garden party guest’s made bets on what dinosaur would most likely appear from it when it finally cracks like Bethany’s did two days ago. Her hellion grandchildren knocked it over and it tumbled down the stone wall the city gave them hell about putting up. You probably don’t remember that because you were in... where was it again, Fitz?”
Only the briefest of silence played out while her father was called into the conference.
“Fitz! Turn down the t.v.! I asked you a question. What was that? Your father said Aruba but I think it was when you were doing that tour on the coast with your flying buddies. Fitz, please! Can’t you see I am talking? Anyways, your father wants you to know that his back flared up while helping me move the canoes you and your sister forgot to put away the last time you were here. No need to worry about it. Yes, we covered them and they will be fine for the winter in case they don’t see you until next spring. And in case you are wondering you missed your cousin’s bridal shower last evening. I thought you would want to know that it was a success even if you happened to be expected to be there but forgot completely about it. No Fitz, that is not mean to tell her!”
Anais couldn’t help but cling to the last of the information that was shared as the duration of the time allotted for messages left clicked off the call. It was as if a straightline wind raced over the bedding above her as well as the pillow and sent it flying with the scramble of her swatting hands.
“Holy ****!” The comforter was fighting back and winning. “Oh my god!”
The woman was in a panic as she kicked to get free of the material wrapped around her bare body. It couldn’t be. No way. If it was true then she was in serious trouble. Cori’s bridal shower! How did she miss it? They changed the date?!
"No! No! No!"
While she protested againt the impossible her hand made contact with the clock radio next to her and she tugged it to see what time it was. Minute, hour and screw that. What day was it? Instead of giving her the clues she needed to get reoriented it came free from the wall it was plugged into. Useless as it now was she tried to toss it only for it to become another obstacle as she rolled over to get a hold on the phone. Just as she grasped the receiver the phone rang once before she placed it to her ear.
“Hello!” Her legs went up in the air with the plan of her upper body rocking to a sitting position once she dropped them over the side of the bed.
“There you are dear. Your mother shouldn’t have told you that. It was a lie.” Her father’s voice sounded regretful at the news he was delivering.
“What?” The right leg executed the first part of the combination move that went wrong and had her tumbling off the edge of the bed and to the hardwood floor.
“Cori’s party isn’t until next month.” The pause was filled with the background sounds of clanking pots in the kitchen. Padget Reneau was in a mood and taking it out on the teflon again. “Since you are up would you like to come over for breakfast? Your mother is cooking…” A few hard to ignore cracks of wood kissing the cupboards they were attached to echoed. “Or declaring war. Not quite sure yet.” While she gets off the floor and climbs back into the bed the sound of a hand muffling the phone has her hesitating on hanging up. A whisper comes through. Fitz could be equally dramatic. “If you are there, Anais, save me.”
Ten hours were left. The call ended and the pillow went back to its original position over her head. A few seconds later a hand surfaced from beneath the comforter and knocked the receiver off it’s hook. Ten more hours.
