• • •
Just as Jill was starting her dinner , Maria returned with Billy in-tow with a bandaged wrist . “ It ’ s not broken , thankfully , it ’ s just a really bad sprain ,” she said .
“ Oh , Maria , that ’ s so good to hear . The kids are playing in the back and have had a snack . I ’ m just starting some spaghetti for supper , do you want to eat with us ? It should be ready in about 30 minutes or so ,” Jill replied .
Maria sighed and said , “ That would be wonderful . Right now , that would be just wonderful . I think this one ’ s going to be clingy the rest of the night ,” she said indicating Billy who was glued to her side holding his bandaged wrist . “ I wasn ’ t sure what I was going to do for supper except for maybe peanut butter and jelly sandwiches . Thank you so much !”
Jill patted her shoulder and said , “ Go sit down in the living room and I ’ ll get a pillow for Billy to lay on the couch .“
She went down the hall to her linen closet and pulled out an extra pillow and took it to Maria who had settled with Billy on the couch . In the meantime , the other kids had come into the living room to hover around him . “ Does it hurt ? Is it broken ?,” asked Bobby . Billy just buried his head in his mother ’ s lap and she replied , “ It ’ s just a bad sprain . It will be fine in a few days .” Bobby and Suzanna nodded . “ Are we gonna stay for supper ?,” asked Suzanna who was holding Maddie ’ s hand . “ Cause we ’ re playing house right now and I wanna stay .”
“ Yes , Mrs . Jill has invited us to stay and eat spaghetti . That ’ s your favorite , isn ’ t it ?,” she said patting Billy ’ s head .
“ Mine , too ,” said Bobby climbing up on the couch next to his twin .
“ And garlic bread ,” said Davie .
“ Yes , definitely garlic bread ,” said Jill coming out of the kitchen . “ And ice cream for dessert .”
• • •
It had been a relatively calm evening after that with the kids playing well together . And once Maria had gotten Billy established on the couch with the pillow and his brother , she helped Jill with supper . This allowed Jill to go get her clothes out of the dryers in the laundry room before supper , which was nice because then it wasn ’ t such a rush to get them afterwards before getting the kids bathed .
The kids were down for the night and she was sitting on the couch trying to watch a little television before she went to bed but found herself doing the head bob thing . So , she got up to check the door lock and turned out all the lights in the front of the apartment . As she went down the hallway past the kids ’ bedrooms , she listened . She heard and saw no movement . They were both fast asleep .
She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and noticed that she had a missed call from her parents and made a mental note to call them tomorrow . She undressed and got ready for bed . When she pulled the sheets back and moved her pillow , she saw something lying underneath it .
“ What ’ s this ?” Jill said , picking up a pink , construction paper card , decorated with flowers and “ Happy Mother ’ s Day ” written on it in Davie ’ s scrawling kindergarten print . When she opened it up , it simply read , “ I love you ! Love Davie .” Underneath was a white folded construction paper card which looked like it had been decorated by Maddie , obviously with her brother ’ s help . It also said , “ Happy Mother ’ s Day ” and inside “ Love , M ”, which was one of the letters that Maddie knew how to print .
Tears sprung to Jill ’ s eyes at how precious and thoughtful her son was because he had remembered when she had completely forgotten that today had been Mother ’ s Day .
Tears sprung to Jill ’ s eyes at how precious and thoughtful her son was because he had remembered when she had completely forgotten that today had been Mother ’ s Day .
MAY 2024 MoultrieScene 75