On a Dime- Mrs. Sullivan

It was early.  I heard the house phone ring, but I chose to ignore it. 

If it was important, they would call again. 

I pulled the covers up, knowing that I would have to get up soon, but I needed to get just

a few more minutes of rest. I wanted to bask in the quiet, before lunches needed to be made,

outfits needed picking out and hair needed brushing. 

Just a little peace before the school and work day began.

But it was difficult to ignore the nagging feeling I was having.  Something felt off. 

The room was getting brighter.  I could tell, even though my eyes were closed.   Soon I would need to get up whether I wanted to or not.  I took a few deep breaths and stretched out my arms, bending my elbows and raising them over my head, like my children had done as babies. I turned to my side toward my nightstand and reluctantly opened my eyes. It was 5:55 am.  It was getting late, usually I was up by now.  But I did not make a move to get up.  I felt safe in bed, and suspected that my day would take a turn once I decided to get up.

I heard a faint sound, and turned my head toward the door.  It started to open, and I expected one of my girls to come charging in.  But it wasn’t my girls.  It was my dad.  He was standing in my doorway.  He and my mom had come to visit, arriving last evening.  My dad was dressed and looked like he had been awake for a while. He did not say anything at first.  He looked at his feet, then back up at me.  His expression looked serious and sorry at the same time. “You need to get up,” my dad said.

“Everything alright?” I asked.  And then I thought back to the early morning telephone call.

“I was taking out your garbage,” my dad said, “and the police pulled into your driveway.”  

I sat up.  

“Is everything ok?” I asked again.  

He shook his head, “You need to get dressed.”