We were seated fairly quickly, ordered quickly, and soon we were eating. I looked at Oscar and his 90% finished apple juice and said, "Whoa, Buddy, slow down." Not five minutes later he said, "Mom, I'm too full; I'm gonna throw up." And there it is. The moment where every mom has to decide. Could this actually happen? Yes it could. Then what am I going to do about it? Your mind plays though 38 scenarios in 3.2 seconds. I finally came to the conclusion that I could shuffle Oscar quickly to the bathroom--men's? No women's--safer, and if he does throw up while I'm not there maybe a woman in the bathroom would help him. I get Oscar situated--groaning--in the stall, and race back to the table. "Everyone okay?" Henry is happily munching bits of french fry, and actually, so is Lily. I manage to snarf down a fajita--cold at this point--and tell Lily I have to run back to check on Oscar. She says, "Mom, I have to go poop NOW." I plead with her that I can't possibly leave Henry alone at the table. She can't be persuaded, and she's getting more insistent. Decision time. Again. I explain the situation to some girls next to me and ask if they wouldn't mind looking out for Henry for a few minutes. Meanwhile in the bathroom Oscar has decided he actually just had to go to the bathroom. And Lily doesn't have to go at all. I try to hurry them along, which always makes them slower. Eventually, we get back to the table where Henry is screaming with women from at least two different tables hovering around him. Soon Henry realizes that all is right with the world now that I have returned, and goes back to eating his french fries. Check please!
Soon Steve the Server comes to the table with boxes and says, "The girls next to you took care of your bill. They're friends of mine. So I guess it's on us tonight." He smiled.
I could have cried.
Sweet girls next to me, how could you have known that it was a cruddy day? A cruddy week? A cruddy month? How could you have known that my husband has been out of town two weekends in a row? How could you have known that last night I got a nasty email from my former landlord? How could you have known that I had to have my car towed today because I think it's beyond fixing? How could you have known that November 2nd was my father-in-law's birthday, the first one he wasn't here to celebrate? How could you have known we just moved a month ago and leaving my old friends and neighborhood has been so much harder than I thought it would be? I know you didn't know any of that. But Someone did. So thanks to Them. And thanks to you.
2 comments:
I did just about cry. That was sooo sweet. I know you told this to me last night but I'm glad you made it through. Can't wait to see you later in the morning!
What a wonderful experience. I can totally picture myself in your shoes. Bless those people who helped and were so kind. And yes, your neighborhood misses you, too.
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