The Long Haul

Mum and Dad were watching TV when Mum said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed." She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunch, rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons, bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes onto the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and the telephone book into the drawer.

Next, she watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung a towel up to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. But she stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the school excursion and pulled a textbook out from under the chair.

She then signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope, wrote a quick note for the grocery store and put both near her bag.

Mum then washed her face, put on some night cream, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.

Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed."

"I'm on my way," she said.

She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on. She walked into each of the children's rooms and turned out their bedside lamps and radios, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the kid who was still up and doing his homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm, laid out clothes for the next day and straightened up the shoe rack. She said her prayers, and visualised the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular, "I'm going to bed." And he did ... without another thought.

Sent to Starmag by Sathy Veera