Another Day in the Month of May

 Cold Open:

Her eyes shoot open wide at the repetitive sound of her cell phone's alarm. boo doo doo dee; boo doo doo dee; boo doo doo dee. Why does it always seem to take so long to lift her arm and shut it off? It's like her arm is frozen in the moment between sleep and awake. Stuck. Can't move. So heavy.

Finally, she moves to press snooze. Nine more minutes to finish the dream she was having about being in the world of Bridgerton. But instead, she spends most of that nine minutes thinking about her tasks for the day:

  • What is she teaching in English? Literature? Intervention?
  • Where does her daughter have to be after school? What time? 
  • Does her soccer team have enough players tonight?
  • How will she get the dripped trim paint off the tile flooring in the living room?
  • Any meetings today?
boo doo doo dee; boo doo doo dee; boo doo doo dee. The shower is running; her husband is awake. The sun is shining through the window reminding her that it is May. A quick calendar check turns up nothing this morning. Snooze again. Nine more minutes to finish the dream she was having about being in the world of Bridgerton. But instead, she spends six of those minutes worrying about her husband, her children, her friends, her family, the future, the world, raising kids in this world, and all the things.

Finally, she just gets up. Phone off. Potty. Teeth. Contacts. Hair. Wake up kids. Pick out clothes. Wake up kids again. Argue with daughter. Rush son. Can't find other shoe. Daughter throws a fit. Son reads devotional. Daughter still whining and crying for no seeable reason. She quits and heads downstairs.

Opening Credits:

A scrolling collage of smiling faces and joy. Of a clean house. Of fun. Of adventure. Pictures that depict the perfect TV family. A happy background song.

Scene 1:

She enters the kitchen and greets the dog, shouting behind her to hurry up. We are late. Allergy meds. Pack lunches. Fill water bottles. Yes, you need a jacket. Yes, wear gym shoes. Where is your backpack? A quick breakfast snack. To the car.

Scene 2:

She backs out of the driveway. Daughter screams, "I'm not buckled!" Son shouts, "I forgot my (fill in the blank)." Prays for the day. She turns up the music. Tries to drown out the literal and metaphorical noise. Traffic. Red lights. Trucks in the way. One, long, straight highway all the way there.

Scene 3:

Bad park job as per usual. Hurry out. Hurry in. Smartboard and computer on. Grab your stuff. Time to go. Drop off kids in the library. Hugs. Kisses. Be good. Be kind. Be brave. Ride the bus after school. Hurry back to the room. Finalize plans. Bell rings.

Scenes 4-13:

Students. Teach. Smile. Laugh. Encourage. Be everything. Fill all needs. Plan. Create. Sneak an M&M now and then. Grade. Question. Answer. Greet. Check in. Feel. 

Scene 14:

She backs out of the parking space. Daughter screams, "I'm not buckled!" Son shouts, "I forgot my (fill in the blank)." She turns up the music. Tries to drown out the literal and metaphorical noise. Traffic. Red lights. Trucks in the way. One, long, straight highway all the way there. Feels familiar.

Scene 15:

Unload the car. Feed the dog. What can she get done in an hour? Get changed for soccer. Make dinner. Eat it please. You have to eat. Does she have time to eat? Back in the car. Speed. Slow down. Try not to speed. Practice. Daughter cries. Son is hyper. Back to the car. Bedtime snack. Bedtime water. Bedtime story. Brush teeth. Pajamas. More water. No you cannot read another story. Stay in bed. Stop getting up. Don't make her say it again.

Scene 16:

Quiet house. But dishes. Load of laundry. Scrape the paint off the tile flooring. Make lunches for tomorrow. Sneak a cookie. Lock the doors. Lock the windows. Shut off the lights. Trudge upstairs. Potty. Teeth. Contacts. Collapse in bed.

Scene 17:

Her eyes remain open wide. Why does it always seem to take so long to fall asleep? It's like her mind is frozen in the moment between awake and sleep. Stuck. Can't rest. So heavy.

She tries to dream of mountain climbing, rainbows, fantastic adventures. But instead, she thinks about her tasks for the next day:

  • What is she teaching in English? Literature? Intervention?
  • Where does her family have to be after school? What time? 
  • Will the yard work get finished in time?
  • Any meetings tomorrow?
She remembers to pray. She lists the things for which she is thankful. She begins to drift away comforted by His provisions. 

The sun falls asleep later in the evening and the moon shines through the window reminding her that it is May.

As her eyes close, fade to black.

The names scroll.

Play that happy song.

Tag:

Her eyes shoot open wide at the repetitive sound of her cell phone's alarm. boo doo doo dee; boo doo doo dee; boo doo doo dee. Another day in the month of May.

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