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The day began like any other for me, hectic, as if I were running around in at least ten different directions and getting nothing done in the process. I could hear my mother calling my name and all I could do was mumble for her to wait one minute, just one minute, while I tried to catch my breath.



"Lynn, get up here, I can't find my dress. I told you last night I was going to wear my lavender dress to go shopping with Maude and now, I can't find it. Where did you put it?"



"In the dirty clothes hamper, Mom. Remember you spilled spaghetti sauce on it last night? Why don't you wear the yellow one? That looks good on you, makes you look at least five years younger."







"It does not. Why couldn't you wash my lavender dress so I could wear it today? It's not as if you have that much to do all day."



No, of course I don't. Just work, do the errands, come back here and take care of the house, listen to you complain, then try to correct homework before I fall asleep. You're right, Mom, it's not as if I have anything to do all day.



The thoughts formed in my head, but I knew I wouldn't say one of them aloud. It wasn't Mom's fault she was getting old and it wasn't her fault I was still single at thirty-five. Somehow, time had played tricks on both of us and passed us by before we could see it. Now, we were stuck with each other and sometimes I suppose we both got a bit irritable about the situation.



"I didn't have time yesterday because I had homework to correct. Besides, your yellow dress is much prettier. You can wear your pearl necklace with it. Better hurry, I have to be in earlier this morning."



"Why?"



"Mary asked me to take her class this morning. Before you say one word, I know you don't like her and that you think she takes advantage of me, but her youngest, Luke, is sick again. She's taking him to the new doctor, Dr. Jefferson I think she called him."



"The reason she's taking him there is that all the other doctors in town have told her there's nothing wrong with her son. Lynn, quit fussing, I'll wear the yellow dress. Your Dad used to tell me he liked me in yellow, said it reminded him of the fields of flowers behind the farm when he was young. You know, it doesn't hurt anymore when I remember bits and pieces of our lives together. Used to be, just one thought of him would make me cry."

My father had died the previous winter and Mom had taken his death very hard. She blamed herself because we had had to place him in a nursing home.



"I just know that broke his heart, Lynn. I should have been with him at the end."



Nothing I said could ease her sorrow, but today, she seemed more cheerful than she had been in some time. When I left for work, she waved good-bye and I thought how beautiful she looked standing in the doorway. For a minute, I thought of turning back and giving her one more hug. Later, I would ask myself if I knew something would go wrong that day.



Soon enough, I was caught up in the daily routine of teaching. Mary's class was not one of my favorites. She taught sixth grade math to kids who were totally uninterested in the subject. And she didn't seem to have much discipline with them, either.



"Billy Anderson, if I have to tell you one more time to pay attention, you'll be on your way to the principal's office for the rest of the morning. Susan, stop passing notes to Karen."



I don't know who was happier to hear the bell ring, the students or me. I headed for the teachers' lounge, hoping for a few minutes of peace and quiet. Instead, I found Stephanie Wilcox sitting in a chair drinking coffee. Stephanie was blonde, twenty-eight, cute, all the things I had wanted to be all my life. She also had a nice personality, and was friends with anyone who met her. She sent a sympathetic look my way.



"How did you make out with Mary's class, or should I even bother asking?"



I tried not to groan too loudly as I sank on the couch.



"You know, I can understand now why she has such a hard time finding babysitters for her kids. The woman does not know the meaning of the word discipline. I spent most of my time trying to bring order to the class. To be honest, I doubt I taught anyone in there much of anything this morning."



"Mary needs to please people. She's afraid to discipline her class because she thinks her pupils will hate her if she tries. It's sad in a way, because they come into my class knowing nothing about math. Well, Mary wouldn't listen to any advice we'd try to give her so she'll just have to learn on her own."

"I just hope she learns before the principal has a talk with her. Last time we had a meeting with him, he didn't seem too happy with her work."



Just then, Sarah Bradley, the school secretary, came in.



"There's a call for you, Lynn. Maude Johnson wants to talk to you, said it was urgent."



I hurried to the office, wondering what Maude wanted.



"Lynn, I'm at the hospital emergency room. Your mother wasn't feeling well and I brought her here. I hope I did the right thing, but she was so pale and her lips were beginning to turn blue. I was really scared, let me tell you, but Dr. Jefferson had me sit here and wait. He even had one of the nurses get me a cup of coffee. I didn't want to tell him I don't drink coffee, makes my nerves jumpy, you know, but Lynn, he's with your mother now and I think it would be a good idea if you came here as soon as you can. She really looked sick to me."



Without waiting to hear all of Maude's explanations, I turned to Sarah and told her I had to leave right away. I was pretty sure she had heard most of the conversation anyway, Maude spoke so loudly on the phone. As I hurried to my car, I heard Stephanie call out my name.



"Wait, Lynn, I'll go with you."



Taking my keys from my shaking hands, she pushed me into the passenger side of the car, slid behind the wheel and we were on our way to the hospital.



"Don't you have a class to teach?"



I hoped Stephanie couldn't hear how unfriendly my voice sounded.



"My mother died a few years ago. I know what it's like to get a phone call telling you to hurry to the emergency room. It's the last place you want to be alone. Sarah will get someone to take over my class. Here we are. Just go in and I'll find a place to park the car."



Maude was sitting near the nurses' desk when I walked in.



"Lynn, I'm so glad to see you. I hope I did the right thing in bringing your mother here. She didn't seem too happy about it, said quite a few nasty things to me."



I could see the tears begin to form in Maude's eyes. I knew how sharp my mother's tongue could be when she was afraid and I was sorry for her best friend. Putting my arms around her shoulders, I did my best to comfort her while my eyes roamed the room, hoping to find the doctor who was treating my mother. At that moment, a dark-haired man walked up to me.