Friday, November 02, 2007

Part 7

Charlotte was nursing a massive mug of decaffeinated coffee, when Sarah shuffled into the kitchen. Purposely she kept her eyes focused on the liquid before her. If the teen wanted to know the details of the phone message, she was going to have to ask. After all Charlotte didn't know much more than her daughter had obviously guessed.

After making two peanut butter toast and washing a pear, Sarah broke the silence by snidely asking, "Should you be drinking that?"

"It's decaf."

"But isn't coffee bad for you, and..." just then Lovie stumbled into the kitchen and crawled up on Charlotte's lap. "Pancakes, mom" was all she utter.

This would be the first time ever that Charlotte would not pursue a conversation with her teen. And the first time she wouldn't reprimand a daughter for an interruption. Instead she wrapped the pj clad bundle up in her arms and pretended to chew on her shoulder. "Why have pancakes when we have pure sweetness right here?"

Lovie squirmed. "Mom, that's not sweetness, it's my shoulder."

"But you must store your sweetness there, because it tastes so sweet," insisted Charlotte going back for a second pretend nibble, all the while wondering if she would be up for nibbling next. A morning ritual that she had enjoyed with all her children, so far. Could a 50 year old woman even hold a toddler on her lap? At 52 and older, would she be able to carry the next one all the way to school, like she did for Lovie, and used to do for Sarah and Jenny?

"Mom, you stopped nibbling..." Charlotte laughed as she eased Lovie off her lap. "Go upstairs and get dressed. I'll get your pancakes going." And as she stood to start breakfast, Sarah said, "No , Mom, I'll do it. You're going to need your strength."

A pearl of wisdom from a teenager.

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