Thursday, March 31, 2011

Morning drop off


Today's TRDC prompt is about people that get under your skin. This story is fiction. The names are fake and so are the people. 


“Kids......time to go to school!” I say to my three little munchkins.

I throw on my favorite sweater and scarf, and slip into my Uggs. My keys to the Rover are on the counter with my bag.

“Come on everyone! Chloe, Parker, Madison, let’s go. Mommy’s ready.” I shout up the stairs with a little more urgency.

The school is only about 3 blocks away, a quick two-minute walk, but with three kids and daycare the opposite direction it’s just easier for me to drive.

We finally get in the car and get to the school in one minute.

There is always a line of cars in the drop off lane.

The kids are fidgeting in the back. Parker is eyeing Chloe’s lunchbox.

They are so darling. I’m such a lucky girl.

We finally get to the front of the line. Oh good. There is a spot right by the main entrance. I have no idea why everyone pulls all the way to the end of the lane. The kindergarten classrooms are not at that end. Why would I do that?

“Hold on guys, I’ll get the door.” I say to Chloe and Madison.

I take a sip of coffee, unbuckle my seat belt, adjust my yoga top, run my fingers through my long blonde hair for a quick touch up, and step out of the car.

I walk around to the passenger side and open the door. Chloe and Madison hop out. I grab their backpacks and place them on their tiny bodies. We hug. I kiss them on the cheek, give them a little pat on the butt, and off they go.


I watch them go in the main doors skipping down the hall. **Sigh**

I turn around and get back in the car. I have a text.

TEXT: Hi. Meet u at yoga. Coffee @ Peet’s after?

Oh my gosh, we definitely need to do that.

TEXT: Yes and yes. See u in 5.

I start the car and see a woman in jeans and a neon orange vest standing at the curb waving everyone on. She is one of the parent volunteers. She is laughing and waving her baton like she is a majorette or something. Ha. That is funny.

I am not volunteering for that.

I buckle my seat belt, take another sip of coffee, and glance in the mirror. Ok. Let’s get out of here. I glance to my left, give a little wave and smile to the driver in the Volvo.

She is not smiling back. In fact, she looks kind of pissed off. What's up with that?

I’ll just let her go.

Oh. She just waved me on. I wave back and zip in front of her.

Ooh. Look at my nails. I’m due for a manicure. 

Man, the cars are not moving.

TEXT: Heather, let’s get a mani and pedi after yoga instead of coffee.

Oh. I love this song. Is this the Black Eyed Peas?

TEXT: U R a genius

I look in my rear-view mirror again. I love my new sunglasses. I wonder if I should get my roots done? Wait. Is the woman behind me talking to me? I think she is flaring her fingers at me and yelling at me. Maybe she's on the phone. Whatever.

Parker is playing with his foot in his car seat and blabbing on and on about something.

“Hi baby. Ready to go to daycare? Mommy loves you.” I say.

“Go.” says Parker. "Go. Go. Go!" And he giggles.

I glance up. All the cars in front of me are gone. 

Oops!



Today's TRDC Assignment:

This week we want to challenge you to try something new. Is there someone who drives you crazy? Someone who really gets under your skin. Write a first-person piece - as if YOU are this individual. Write from his or her perspective and include the things that really bother you. For instance, maybe there's a good reason why they eat with their mouths open, or why they use sarcasm as a weapon.

This can be completely fictional or you can base it on a real-life person.


I chose to write about a handful of mothers that don't pay attention to the rules at morning drop off. They drive me insane. They live in their own little world. They break every rule and don't care. I am the freak in the Volvo (Not my real car. You know, just in case.) 

15 comments:

  1. Ahhh is she a flake or is she just perpetually happy?
    Maybe yoga is making her too calm?
    Lol
    That woman behind her, waving her hands?
    That's me giving the finger.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm riding in the car with Leighann giving that mom her other finger.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wish I could say that I have never met anyone like that, but alas I have. Several times. In fact I have a sneaking suspicion that my sister maybe one of them!

    Thanks for sharing-

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, I love this, Kris!
    You did an amazing job of leaving me conflicted.
    I'm irritated by her...I swear I know her...but you have presented her as oblivious, not intentionally rude.
    Amazing job!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I totally agree with Nicole, you did such a great job of presenting her obliviousness. Even though she's an air-head I still wanted to smack some sense into her. I was so worried she was accidently going to run over some one's child!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good job Kris! We've got Moms like that here too....grrrrr.....are we annoyed with them because they're oblivious -or- because we're JEALOUS! ha ha ha

    ReplyDelete
  7. I was going to say what Leighann said, that maybe Yoga has made her too calm.

    I know this mom, I don't like her for a variety of reasons, but most of them being the thought that she just might be that oblivious and are her kids her CHILDREN or just her accessories. Being Infertile for so long I don't like anyone who takes mothering for granted. You know.

    I liked this, you used the prompt so well!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for all the feedback.
    @Kristy, I am ashamed to say I did have fun imagining what goes on in "her" head! I didn't like her in high school and don't like her now.
    @Nichole - yes, I was trying to portray how oblivious she was. In fact, I'm not sure she would have noticed me in the car behind her. But I had to include myself. : )
    @Kathy - I am jealous in a way. Their lives seem so simple. But nothing is ever as it seems.
    @DaisyGal - I agree completely! Thanks for commenting.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lots of fun. I love how selfish she is. Not intentionally--it's just her nature.

    Great use of details to bolster the sorry--names, yoga, car, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Did you have to make her a blond?! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  11. i loved the oblivious/perfect little life persona you gave her. That was the most standout feature to me. I know those people too, in my rich suburban community where I am not one of the elite. Great response to the prompt!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's a good work posting this Kris. Sometimes we need to know if those Moms really exist:) I wish Moms will always be real Moms. I wish.

    Cooksandlay
    www.yoursmartkitchen.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sigh....it always amazes me how people make pick-up and drop-off so hard.

    But I must also say, being that I have both my kids at home, that a pedicure after a leisurely yoga class sounds heavenly.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Every detail from her boots to her car to her children's names painted a picture. I like that you didn't make her rude, merely oblivious. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  15. IĆ¢€™ve been into blogging for quite some time and this is definitely a great post.Cheers!

    generic paxil

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your feedback!

~Kris