TIME by Gloria Moress

The alarm didn’t go off and I woke up at quarter to seven in a bit of a panic. The kids weren’t up either, so I woke them and went into the kitchen. Then I discovered we had no milk and only the two end crusts of the bread left. I wish they’d let me know when it runs out instead of just shoving the packet back in the breadbox! I was too exhausted to shop on my way home from work last night, and I hadn’t made the lunches either. I ducked across the road to get a couple of things, but my cash card wouldn’t work and the girl had to swipe it half a dozen times. “It’ll just take a minute,” she smiled in a way that made me want to slap her. When I got back the kids were still in bed, I yelled at them then started the breakfasts and lunches.

The kids got up but mucked around in front of the TV and were so slow getting dressed, I had to go in and shout at them four times. Emma had her top on back to front, so I had to fix that up, and Matthew couldn’t find any socks. Why is it always when you’re in a hurry? It was quarter to eight when they got to the table, and the bus comes at eight! I brushed their hair while they were eating, then shoved their bags at them and pushed them out the door. I don’t think Jason brushed his teeth! God knows what the teacher will think.

I hadn’t ironed my blouse and that always takes bloody ages but I had the iron too hot and scorched the collar. The mark wouldn’t come out so I went downstairs to check for another one in the laundry. That’s when I saw the cat had been sick all over the rumpus room carpet. I couldn’t leave it, the smell was putrid, and it took me a good twenty minutes clean it up, then I went all the way back upstairs without the blasted shirt I’d been after in the first place.

The phone rang and I wasn’t going to answer it, but I thought maybe one of the kids had forgotten something in the rush. It was my mother. She started talking about which restaurant to book for Dad’s birthday and I just about hung up on her in the end.

When I got in the car the fuel light was on, so I had to go to the petrol station. The man at the bowser in front of me was just sitting in the driver’s seat going through his wallet or something, in no hurry whatsoever! I was going to toot him but I thought he might sit there longer just to spite me so I gritted my teeth. I kept looking at the clock on the car radio and I swear four minutes has never seemed so long.

When I finally got to work there were no good parks left so I had to park right down the road. It was freezing, I’d forgotten my coat of course, and I was almost forty minutes late. I knew we were having a staff meeting first thing and the last thing I felt like were everyone’s eyes on me when I walked in late. I felt half dressed and unprepared for the day. I’d done my face but a glance in the rearview mirror at the lights had shown I hadn’t blended my foundation too well, and upon closer study I discovered I’d forgotten to put mascara on my right eyelashes. I know you’re probably thinking it could only get better after such an awful start but I wasn’t in any state to think logically by then. I was almost at the lift when the woman stopped me and the doors closed right in front of my disbelieving eyes.

And that, your Honour, is the reason I hit the woman when she asked me if I had the time.

Gloria Moress ©