Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: INDEFATIGABLE (02/11/16)
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TITLE: Love of my Life | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kate Warren
02/16/16 -
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“Outside, Mamma outside!”
“Would you like some eggs? You didn’t eat the cereal?”
“Noooo! Outside, Mamma!”
“Breakfast first, son, you know that!”
“Toaster Fruit! Her little package of pure action decided.
“Well, it’s not the healthiest, but that is why you get vitamins. Open up!”
His face screwed up at the flavor and it made her laugh. “Okay, let me get you some clothes while the toaster pastry heats up then when you are done you can go outside. “ She darted to the bedroom to grab some clothes. It was less than a minute.
“CRASH!”
“Owwwww!” She ran back out to the kitchen to find him on the floor next to the toaster.
He was on the floor, the toaster next to him. “Oh my poor baby, where did it hit you? Are you hurt?” She saw a welt coming up on his forehead and grabbed a cloth and some ice to put on it. “Oh, my poor darling; come sit with Mamma will make that bump go away.” She blamed herself for what happened; she knew better.
She settled into her rocker, held the compress to his pale forehead, and rocked absently while humming softly. This was the one time she could keep him quiet. He loved the rocking motion and listening to her heart beat. Soon he was wriggling again. He slipped his little hand up to her face.
“Mamma, I better now. Outside?”
“Oh, alright, but let’s get some clothes on you first. Do you need to potty again?”
A firm shake of his head sent started them on the process of stripping off his bedclothes and getting the shorts and shirt into place. Once he was dressed and charged to the door. She grabbed some drinks from the refrigerator and followed him outside. He ran into the huge world known as “Backyard”; she settled into the chaise on the porch with some cold orange juice.
In a bit it would be “Inside” time, he would get a bath, and play pen time. For now, she enjoyed the morning cool and watched her little man toddle from one part of the yard to another. He settled at his dirt pit where all his trucks and bulldozers were and pushed them around as long as his short attention span would allow. Then he was off to find more action.
She had just finished working the graveyard shift at the local hospital. It had been a quiet night, but she was ready to close her eyes. The soft breeze and morning coolness lulled Mamma to sleep. She did not hear when he got up and ran across the yard. He stopped just short of the porch and stared at something poking out from between the screen and the metal frame. He reached for it tentatively and Mamma did not say anything so he became bolder.
“Mamma, look, I fix!” She awoke to a proud toddler holding the spline that held the screens in the metal porch frame. All screens of all the bottom frames lay on the ground. She jumped up looking with disbelief at the unscreened back porch. She closed her eyes and prayed to calm the anger that boiled up in her.
She lifted him up into her arms and hugged him tight. “Matthew, Matthew, Matthew! God grant me the patience to be all that you need. Yes, Mamma sees. It is getting hot, inside time!”
She ran the bubble bath and while he played, she dialed her husband and explained what happened. They talked about the porch, her job, what was for dinner. Her second call was to the hospital. She let them know she would not be coming in that night or any night thereafter. Once off the phone, she looked down at her precious son. He was splashing tirelessly. She pulled out a towel and lifted him from the tub, carried him into his room, and dropped him carefully onto the bed. She put her hands on either side of him and bounced him up and down. That belly laugh she so loved rumbled from deep down in his tummy. She so loved to watch his joyous embrace of life. He was her pride and joy.
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I believe playpen is one word.