Instant Hope
Home already and it's only 9:30.
Must be a new record.
At the risk of sounding like a girl, I'm in the mood for a bath and a cup
of tea. I've been feeling my right side
get stiff and sore all day. But first
I'd better take a look at the tub. Not
sure when I cleaned it last.
OK, looks pretty good. I know there
are some bubbles under the sink from Donna.
She gave me a bottle of those bubbles for cranky babies a few months ago
when I was, well, cranky, about something or other.
Found them.
Let's start the hot water while I go and grab a magazine.
Hey, these are pretty relaxing actually.
But I won't tell Donna that, cause well, that would involve friendly
conversation. Something we haven't had
much of lately.
But you know what, I'm not in the mood to dwell on that right now. I'm relaxed and dammit, I'm going to stay
that way.
OK, 45 minutes of soaking in the tub is enough for me, my fingers are pruny
and I think I drained the hot water tank.
Since I did do laundry recently I should be able to find a clean pair of
pajamas relatively easily.
And I do.
Quick trip to the kitchen to put on the teakettle before going back to the
bath to look for the Advil.
As I sit down at the kitchen table with my tea my laptop is staring at me
from across the table. I know I have a
half finished email to my mother on there I should really finish. Taking a deep breath for energy I start up
AOL. The instant message chime sounds as
I am looking for something to eat.
I smile, thinking it is Donna. But
then I realize that it's not, it's my mom.
So I still smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
noahswife: Josh you'd better not still be at work, it's almost 11.
jlyman: Hi, to you too Mom. I'm home. If you must know, I just took a bath
and I'm having a cup of tea.
noahswife: What's wrong?
jlyman: Nothing.
noahswife: Don't lie to your mother,
Joshua. I can tell something is wrong.
jlyman: Mom we're instant messaging, how can you tell something is wrong?
noahswife: I'm a mother, I know
these things, now spill.
jlyman: Fine, I have a headache and
my right side is giving me problems today.
noahswife: Sorry to hear that, now
what else is wrong?
jlyman: Ever think about becoming one of those online psychics?
noahswife: No. I'm waiting.
jlyman: Fine. Donna and I are still not back to normal,
whatever that is. I'm not sure
exactly. But things between us are just,
off somehow.
noahswife: Discombobulated?
jlyman: Yeah, mom, that would be a
good way of putting it.
noahswife: I thought you got past the
whole Cliff thing.
jlyman: We did get over it but
things still aren't back to normal.
noahswife: No bantering, huh?
jlyman: None. Had an incident this morning involving a
group of senior citizens.
noahswife: Hey, watch out how you
talk about us old people, Joshua.
jlyman: Sorry. Donna told me a group of seniors were coming
in for a tour. I thought she meant high
school seniors. I told her I had no time
and she should show them around. She
wasn't exactly thrilled.
noahswife: Did you actually expect
she would be thrilled.
jlyman: No. Anyway, she took them on a tour. A very nice, thorough tour and then they
started to look around for souvenirs to take home with them. And let's say they weren't in the gift shop
at the time. I think I understand why little old ladies carry around those
extra big purses. Next they demanded to meet Toby of all people. I can understand wanting to meet the
President, me, even Sam. But Toby? Can
you explain that one?
noahswife: Toby's got that adorable
rumpled thing going for him.
jlyman: Whatever. Anyway, things got rather heated when Donna
informed them that Toby was busy. So a little old lady took a container of
Wheateena out of her purse and dumped it on Donna's keyboard. Hey, I'm all for fiber, but who carries
around Wheateena in their purse?
noahswife: OK, I'm old and so are
all my friends but none of us carry around Wheateena in our purses. So what happened between you and Donna?
jlyman: I dictated a letter of
apology, which she transcribed with a scowl on her face. Then she had to use my computer cause hers
was jammed with pieces of wheat or something.
We did the little dance around my desk, trying to get out of each
other's way. That was one of most
"off" moments of the day. Usually when we do that dance she just grabs
me and moves me out of her way. Most of the time letting her fingers linger a
little on my arm. God, I can't believe I
am telling you this. Anyway, this time
she clearly went out of her way to avoid touching me.
noahswife: Josh, you can tell me
anything, you know that. Anything else
happen today with Donna.
jlyman: Well, CJ and I were trying
to write the President's answer to the question, Why do you want to be
President. Donna was taking notes and
blowing raspberries at me.
noahswife: Why?
jlyman: Honestly, cause the answer
sucked.
noahswife: And that's why they pay Sam and Toby to write, not you and
CJ. But that lightened the mood a
little, right?
jlyman: A little but it's still not
the same.
noahswife: Joshua, you're whining.
jlyman: I know.
noahswife: Good. So what is it you want from me?
jlyman: I don't know, a little hope,
a little reassurance that things will work out for the best.
noahswife: And exactly what is the
best?
jlyman: I honestly don't know. For now I would be happy with things they way
they were before Cliff came into the picture.
noahswife: That's what Donna wants
too.
jlyman: How do you know that?
noahswife: Cause I just got off the
phone with her before you turned on your computer.
jlyman: And you're just telling me
this now, after I've spilled my guts to you.
Thanks mom.
noahswife: Josh, calm down. I needed
to hear your side of the story.
jlyman: And does my side match up
with Donna's?
noahswife: Pretty much.
jlyman: So there's hope?
noahswife: There's always hope
Joshua.
~~~~~~~~~~
I hear the Buddy List door open and I minimize the IM box to see who it is.
Donna.
My stomach lurches and my heart skips a beat.
God, I'm such a sap.
~~~~~~~~~~
noahswife: Well, if that isn't a
sign Josh, I don't know what is.
jlyman: Yeah. Thanks for listening Mom. I love you.
I'll call you soon, let you know what is happening.
noahswife: I love you too. Remember what I said about hope, my dear
boy. Good night, Joshua. Sleep well.
jlyman: You too. Bye mom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I take a deep breath as I click open another IM box.
THE END
