down to the end of the hallway where her large laundry basket was . She hauled it into the living room and starting sorting the clothes into piles to wash .
• • •
Jill unlocked the door and went into her apartment . She had been lucky and there had been three open washing machines in the basement laundry room . She was able to get a week ’ s worth of laundry done at one time instead of waiting for an open machine .
“ I ’ m back ,” she yelled out to the kids , who were still coloring in Davie ’ s room . Maddie came out and said , “ Cookie .” “ Alright , Maddie . You and brother have been so good today , you definitely deserve a cookie ,” Jill replied going into the kitchen .
She pulled a bag of chocolate chip cookies from the pantry and handed her one .
“ Will you take one to Davie ,” Jill asked , handing her another one .
Maddie smiled and nodded , running to the back with a cookie in each hand . Jill left the bag on the counter , knowing that they ’ d be back for more .
She looked in the open pantry to see what she could put together for supper that night . She had thawed out some ground beef in the fridge overnight . She was low on everything , it seemed . She rummaged around and realized that she had quite a few cans of tomato sauce and a box of noodles .
“ Spaghetti it is ,” she said , pulling out the rest of what she needed and setting it on the counter .
There was a knock on her door and she walked out of the kitchen , noticing her kids coming down the hallway from Davie ’ s room at the sound of the knocking .
She looked through the peep hole in the door to the sound of her son ’ s “ Who is it Mommy ? Who is it ?”
She opened the door to her neighbor from across the hall , Maria , who looked frantic and was holding one of her twins in her arms . The little boy was crying and holding his arm to his chest .
“ Jill , I think Billy might have broken his arm or his wrist or I don ’ t know ! I ’ ve got to take him to the Dispensary and have them look at it . Will you keep an eye on Bobby and Suzanna for me ?” she said almost all in one breath .
“ Of course , of course . Go , go ! Get him to the clinic ,” Jill said motioning to the other two children , who were standing behind their mother , to come into the apartment .
Maria rushed down the stairs , calling out “ Thank you !” over her shoulder .
Jill closed the door and told Billy and Suzanna as she put an arm around each of them , “ We were just having cookies .”
The two children hesitated in front of the door , obviously , a little stricken by what had happened and still trying to catch their breaths .
“ Everything will be just fine ,” Jill told them . “ Everyone come sit down at the table .”
The four children all found places at the table and Jill went into the kitchen and got some napkins and the bag of cookies . She came out and placed a napkin in front of each child and put two cookies on each napkin .
“ Would you like some apple juice ,” she asked the kids , who all nodded vigorously . “ What happened ?” asked Davie . Suzanna , who was two years older than the twins , said , “ Billy fell off the top of the bunk bed on his arm .” “ Oh ,” Davie replied . “ I didn ’ t push him or anything ,” Bobby piped up . “ No , he was standing up and trying to reach the balloon that went up to the ceiling ,” responded Suzanna .
“ You shouldn ’ t stand on a bunk bed ,” said Davie seriously while shaking his head .
“ Nooooo ,” added Maddie , her mouth full of cookie .
Jill brought out the juice for each of the children and said , “ Why don ’ t we play Uno ?”
She went to the hutch next to the dining room table and took out a set of Uno cards from a drawer . She picked up Maddie and sat down at the table with her in her lap . Then , she dealt out the cards , showing Suzanna and Bobby how to play the game .
After a few rounds of the game , Jill went downstairs to the basement to check on the laundry , reminding the kids that they were not to open the door to anyone , unless it was Maria and she would let them know that it was her when she knocked .
74 MoultrieScene MAY 2024