Post by Eis on Apr 7, 2021 18:25:52 GMT -8
"Time to go! We've got to get you to the bus stop!"
"I'm comin!" a voice rang out in return. Hurried little footsteps slapped against the hardwood floor. She'd been wearing her favorite pink flip-flops. "Mom, lookit!" the girl beamed, proudly holding up her treasure. It was a little rag doll, with orange yarn glued on its head. Its dress was a cone of pink felt. Two plain black dots marked the eyes and a crooked smile was drawn in permanent marker.
The mother kneeled down, pulling the girl close with one arm. She took the doll with her other hand. "And who's this?"
"Umm... her naaaamth... Katie." The girl grinned big and wide, showing her notably absent front teeth. Very matter-of-factly, she added "Katie'th a orthodontitht."
"Did you make her yourself?" the mother asked, just a little proud of her for learning a new word. Her daughter was always curious, and she'd spent a good ten minutes asking the poor dentist questions. This was, at any rate, the report from the girl's father.
"Daddy helped." the girl replied.
The mother tousled the girl's long, walnut colored hair. "Well I think Katie's wonderful. Now come; to the car!"
"To the car!" she echoed, like a battle-cry.
The bus stop wasn't more than two blocks away, but the girl was far too young to be walking around on her own. The mother had given her a cell phone - of all things - to call her whenever she'd gotten back on the bus to come home. The girl sat 'Katie' right next to her on the seat, with the seatbelt pinning the two of them in.
"Are you going to show Katie to class?" the mother asked, sparing the girl a glance as their car rolled down the street.
"No."
"No?" the mother asked, curious.
"She hath to go to work today. Will you drive her for me?"
The mother chuckled. "Of course."
As the car slowed to a stop behind the large, yellow bus, the mother unbuckled her daughter and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Have fun. Be good. Make sure you call me when you get on the bus!"
"I know. Bye! Love you!"
"I love you too."
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Around 2:30, the cell phone rang.
"Yes, dear? Are you on your way?"
"Yep. I'll be home thoon."
The mother grabbed her car keys - and Katie - off the counter. Along with a little surprise she'd picked up at the store: pink frosted cupcakes. Her daughter loved anything pink. And the mother, well... the mother needed to 'up her game' if the girl's father made a toy with her. It would likely work.
Moments later, she was at the bus stop, waiting with treasures in tow.
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Around 3:00, the cell phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It wasn't her daughter. The bus must have been running late. She frowned, then put her ear to the receiver.
"Miss Granby?" a man's voice asked.
"This is she." she replied, mildly annoyed. Sales calls usually started this way.
"Look... I dunno how to tell you this. Are you... are you sitting down?" She could hear him sigh over the line. "There's been an accident."