Linda's morning reverie was interrupted by an urgent text from Zoe. Both of these were unusual. The morning reverie was unusual because with three kids and a dog, mornings tended to be a bit hectic. One child sleeping the day away simplified things, as much as she wished he felt better. But that was life, you couldn't just wish away things like being sick, or having to walk the dog, or sending important work emails. But with a third of the children to wrangle, a lot of it was done in half the normal time. She now had a bit of peace to sip her coffee, read through one of the magazines she'd been meaning to catch up on.
But a message from Zoe wasn't normal. First, she should be at school already. Second, their relationship was a bit rocky, and Mom was rarely the person she turned to for help.
Zoe: Mom.
Zoe: MOM!
Zoe: MOOMMM!!!
Zoe: I left my bag
Zoe: Prolly on the back of the kitchen chair
Zoe: I need that for next period. It's got a super important project in it.
Zoe: Could you be the most amazing mom ever and bring it to the school?
Linda checked. The bag was exactly where Zoe had thought she left it, slung across the back of the chair. She took a photo of it for the chat.
Linda: I am on my way.
Linda put the apple slices and caramel in the fridge, so Sydney couldn't even be tempted, and drove to the rescue.
--
The school building had changed a little since Linda was last here for the April PTA meeting. Not structurally, but at each of the doors, there was a place to scan an ID card. They had talked about security and needing a new system,, but it was strange to not have gotten messages about it, or to have been told about meetings. The bureaucracy involved in school decisions was one reason why the local school was so far behind. On one hand, it was nice to see improvements being made. But on the other, not being able to get in for this quick errand was a little annoying.
"Okay, try the door now?" The voice of Janet, one of the secretarial staff at the school sounded hopeful, in the way that you can when you think it's going to work, but it is your fifth try and you thought the previous things were going to work as well. The door clicked open and Linda gave a small cheer.
At the office, Janet handed her a form to fill out. "I had to issue you a temporary ID to get you in the building. I'm not sure how the new system is supposed to work, but it is what it is. I also called Mr. Carrey to let Zoe come and get her bag. Not sure if she'll be here before you've gone, but she knows at least.
Linda let out a small deprecating chuckle. "Oh, she doesn't want to see her mom at the school. She'd love it if I wasn't there at all."
Janet shook her head. "That's teenagers for you. She'll be regretting it someday. But I can let you in on some gossip. She's one of the nicest students we have here, always willing to look out for younger kids and transfers. She could probably be in the student council, if she wanted to."
Linda laughed. "That's so different than she is at home. I wish I could get to know that side of her."
A monumental statement, in another branch. In this storyline though, the stone is safely in wherever the bedridden Jon hid it. A casual wish like that isn't going to be granted. At least, not directly like it would in other branches
"Hopefully, you can get to see glimmers of that. Now, if you'd look here and smile? The ID system wants to get your picture for some reason and won't let me continue until it does.
A flash goes off from Janet's System Tablet. If you were watching from the outside, you'd see that Linda was a little shorter than she had been before. With a wave and a promise to chat more at the next PTA meeting, Linda headed back out to her car.
