The pain in my side lets me know that I need stop. I’ve been pushing a stroller full of babies and lugging this big suitcase, for God knows how many blocks, almost running, feeling like the devil is after me. I’m on a mission…to get to train station. Somehow as I stumbled down the road, I managed to look over my shoulder several times to make sure I wasn’t being followed. The only thing following me are ghosts…
I stop, take a deep breath, trying to get my heart to slow down. I take the babies out of the stroller and let them stretch their legs. I tell them I have a surprise and reveal that we’re going on the choo-choo train. Their little eyes light up, they clap their hands and jump up and down, crying out “Nina, Boo and Mom go on the choo-choo train!” Just then a big fat tabby cat comes slinking out of some bushes, making the babies squeal even louder. “Look Mom! Kitty cat! Kitty cat, Mom!” They squat down, calling the cat to them, and the cat obliges. I watch the babies laugh and pet him and I’m filled with something I’ve rarely experience. This is the way things should be…
They want to take the cat with us. I tell them that he belongs to some other little girls and they would cry if we took him. They hug the cat once more, telling him they have to go… they’re going on the choo-choo train! I put the heavy suit case in the stroller and let the babies walk for a bit, letting them enjoy the fresh air and wonderful sunshine. They chatter and giggle. Once again I get that feeling…This is the way things should be…
We turn the corner onto Main street and everything bursts to life with the sounds and colors of the city waking, the shops opening. Real life being lived, in real ways. Delicious smells from the bakery make you weak in the knees. A fat round lady, in a starched white apron, sees us drooling in the window and comes out with a tray of the most beautiful cookies you’ve ever seen in your life. She offers them to us and my face turns bright red as I ask how much they cost. She tells me they’re not for sale… these cookies are for friends… We all choose cookies with yummy pink icing and I thank her with all my heart. Don’t cry, Neoma…The babies tell her we’re going on the choo-choo train. She pulls out two plastic bags from some secret pocket, fills it with more pink icing cookies, gives one each to the babies, telling them they will need them on the long choo-choo train ride…Just the way it should be…
As we walk along, munching away, we pass by a Goodwill store and in the window there are two stuffed kitty cats… one pink, one purple. The babies spot them right about the same time I do. They squeal with mouths full of cookies. Inside the store, I screw up my courage to ask the nice lady how much those stuffed kitties might be. By looking at us, she deduces we have little money and sells them to me for fifty cents. “Sank you Mom!” the babies giggle, hugging and kissing me.
It’s time to head to the train station. I load the babies back into the stroller with the kitty cats they’ve named Kitty cat and Kitty cat…Just the way it should be…
Next -> Don’t Look Back
Tags: cent, drooling, Goodwill store, kitty cat, Main street, pain