A MOTHERS DAY

A MOTHERS DAY. Jenny knew it was going to be one of those days as
soon as she woke, the kids were squabbling already she could hear them
in their rooms. Gillie her three year old was screaming out abuse at
Jackie her five year old sister over some minor thing. "Its mine." she
was screeching. 'Give it back and don't touch it," Jenny placed her
hands over her ears and tried to block out the piercing shrieks of her
high pitched voice, but to no avail. "Bloody hell," she exclaimed
throwing back the sheets and grabbing for her dressing gown. Why can't
they argue quietly." Jack her husband had left early for work, he
always got quietly out of bed without disturbing her to make himself a
pot of tea and leave. She had heard the front door close as he left the
house and with a sigh she had turned over hoping to have a few more
minutes of bliss before the day began, but the children were making
sure this would not be. Jenny hurried along the landing to the girls
room still half asleep, where the two girls were desperately trying to
pull the arms off a doll as she entered the room, a screaming tug of
war with each holding a arm and heaving. Jenny joined in on the
screaming match as she crossed to separate them. "For Christs sake give
her the doll," Jenny yelled at Jackie as she grabbed at the waving
legs. "But its mine," Jackie countered still holding tight. Jenny at
last managed to catch the dolls legs and yanked hard as the doll
finally gave up and the girls fell backward holding an arm apiece. "Now
it's broken," Jackie yelled, then started to cry as Gillie giggled.
"Right." Jenny said looking slightly amazed at the armless doll. "Into
the bathroom Gillie, wash thoroughly and don't be long, Jackie you stay
here until she has finished, don't you move." The crisis temporally
over, Jenny flung the remnants of the doll onto the bed and stormed out
of the room, she was not interested in any justice she just wanted
peace and quiet. She stopped on the landing trying to pull her wits
together, then suddenly she thought of Joey her seven year old son. "He
is very quiet this morning I wonder what he's up to." She murmured as
she continued along to her son's room. Opening the door she stood in a
state of shock, Joey had been painting quietly, there was paint
everywhere, on him, on the bed sheet and on the wall. Jenny swallowed
and eventually found her voice. 'Your dad will go berserk when he sees
that, you better be ready to explain when he gets home." She shouted.
Then forgetting that she had already sent Gillie to the bathroom she
ordered him there. Jenny went back to the bedroom with the intentions
of dressing but no sooner had she entered the door than she heard one
almighty scream. Rushing back along the landing she found Gillie
sitting in the bath and Joey busy turning the hot and cold waters on
and off. "Get out." she yelled at him. "Get downstairs and if possible
see if you can lay some dishes for the wheaties and for gods sake don't
touch anything else." Jenny hurried to put on a housecoat afraid to
leave her young son to long in a kitchen full of explosive temptations,
the girls seemed quiet now so venturing down she tentatively looked
round the corner of the door. Joey, still smothered with paint was sat
at the table with a dish laden with wheaties and the milk overflowing
onto the tablecloth. Jenny looked at the ceiling with exasperation and
grabbed for a dishcloth to mop up the mess on the table, the sink was
full of dirty dishes from last night's meal for she had been to tired
to bother. With a sigh she placed the plug and turned on the hot water
tap. "Might as well get started, now Joey hurry and finish your
breakfast Mrs Evans will be here soon to take you to school." Joey
grunted a reply as his sister Gillie came into the kitchen. 'Jackie's
getting dressed mum, she said. :We knew you were going to have a bath
so we have left the taps running to fill it ready for you." Jenny
choked out some sort of reply and dashed out into the hall, she reached
the bathroom just as the bath was on the verge of overflowing and gave
a sigh of relief as she turned the faucets off. "Jesus Christ " she
screamed for it suddenly dawned on her that she had left the kitchen
taps running downstairs. She made it just in time, the suds were
frothing out over the drainer and pans but luck had been with her,
franticly turning the taps off she then flopped down in a chair at the
table and rubbed her forehead. "I want a cup of tea and a headache
pill," she muttered. "Now Joey get upstairs to the bathroom and clean
yourself up, get dressed in your school clothes, get your school bag,
then get down here quick, can you manage to do that." Joey left sheep
like to carry out his mothers instructions while the two girls started
to argue and fight over the wheaties packet. "Bloody hell." Jenny
exclaimed grabbing the packet, for she was having visions of the packet
ripping and spreading wheaties all over the floor 'Ill do that, sit
quietly and eat it don't say a word." She at last managed to sit and
drink her cuppa; Joey came back down now all clean and smart in his
school uniform. He was just in time for a car horn sounded outside, Mrs
Evans had arrived for it was her turn this week to take the kids to
school, at least that was one worry off Jenny's mind, next week was
another time she didn't want to think about. He came and kissed his
mother on the cheek, apparently it wasn't manly to kiss her on the lips
but as he gave her a hug and whispered. "I love you mum," her heart
went out to him. Everything went reasonably smooth after that for a
short while. Jenny made the beds, vacuumed, cleared the dishes, mopped
the floor and cleaned up the bathroom. She ordered the two girls to get
clean dresses on sit and watch the telly then managed for a ten-minute
soak in a hot bath. Today, the shopping had to be done; she dreaded the
thought of it for last time it had turned into a living nightmare with
the two girls. Before they went she would give them a strong lecture.
At last dressed, hair brushed, she was ready, a last minute check in
the mirror and she went downstairs. The girls were sitting on beanbags
watching some kids show, it looked like a load of mind boggling rubbish
but at least it kept them quiet, she was now hyped up and ready for
battle. "Ok girls, switch the telly off lets go, and for gods sake
behave yourselves." There had been a bit of a struggle opening the
garage door, it was a tilt door and when Jenny tried to lift it she
found it stuck tight. In exasperation she had given it a hefty kick not
realising that she had soft-shoes on and yelped as she bruised her toe
but at least the door opened. With the two girls safely strapped in she
had hobbled round to the driver's side and much to her surprise the
motor had started on the first turn. Glancing at her watch Jenny saw
she was running late so as the ring road was quiet she speeded up a
little to make up time not noticing the police parked in a side road.
'Shit," she exclaimed a few minutes later as she saw the blue flashing
light in her mirror. A short blast on the siren indicated for her to
pull over to the side shoulder where she switched off the engine and
watched as the policeman got out of his car and walk towards her. 'Coo,
there's a policeman coming mummy, is he going to lock you up," Gillie
remarked innocently as Jackie giggled. Jenny turned in the seat to
glare at them. "Just shut up and be quiet, " she scowled. Then turned
to give the police officer a flashing innocent smile as she lowered the
window. "Going a little fast madam," he grunted as he pulled a pad from
his pocket. Jenny tried to put a bewildered expression on her face.
"Was I officer I didn't realise," she purred sweetly, with her best
smile, but this didn't work there was no getting away with it, the cop
must have gotten out of bed the wrong side that morning. "Slow down in
future." he growled as he handed her a ticket and walked away back to
his car. "Bastard," she muttered as she shoved the ticket into her bag,
ground her teeth, glared into the mirror at his retreating back and
started the motor. The shopping centre car park was nearly full, it
seemed to Jenny as if everyone had decided to shop at the same time and
it took her ten minutes before she saw two vacant spaces. A car driven
by an old lady had been following her around also trying to park so she
turned round in the seat and gestured with two fingers to let the lady
know that there was two spaces here. It wasn't until after she had
parked and got the children out and the old lady had remarked as to
what a rude young lady she was that she realised she had
unintentionally given her the two finger sign. Gillie was dumped in a
trolley seat and Jackie helped push it so with list in hand Jenny
started round the aisles. Jackie, head down pushed on the trolley while
Gillie was totally engrossed in grabbing everything that came in reach
off the shelves and throwing it into the basket. Jenny spent a good
part of the time retrieving items and relocating them on the shelves
until exasperated she slapped her on the wrist and ordered her to stop
just as the old lady she had met in the car park passed by giving a
grunt of disapproval. At last the trolley was loaded, it seemed to be a
lot this time Jenny mused as she stopped to examine a knock down price
area. She became lost in thought as she sifted through the items not
noticing that Jackie; head still down had carried on round the corner
with the trolley. She heard a crash and a shout that brought her back
to reality and realised that the two girls had gone ahead and hurried
after them. Reaching the end of the aisle she turned the corner and
stopped to stare at a scene of utter confusion with dismay. The old
lady that had passed by previously was sat on the floor amidst a
jumbled pile of cornflakes cartons, she did not look very happy, but
Gillie still sitting in the trolley seat was shrieking with laughter.
Two shop assistants were trying to help the woman to her feet while
Jackie stood by a look of apprehension on her face. Apparently Jackie
head down had pushed into the old ladies ample bottom with the trolley
to propel her head first into a massive display pyramid of cartons,
they were scattered everywhere and by the look on the managers face as
he approached he was not very pleased. Jenny hurried forward to assist
the old lady to her feet but she was angrily rejected as she muttered
something about unruly kids. The woman stood and glared at Jackie with
a look of malice, Jackie had a frightened expression on her face
fearful of what she had done. Then her bladder took over and she wet
her pants, this made Gillie who was still sat in the trolley go further
into hysterics, she laughed and pointed at her sister yelling out at
the top of her voice. "Look mum, Jackie's peed herself." The manager
stared aghast at the puddle on the floor as one of the assistants ran
to fetch a mop and bucket. At last he managed to find his voice and he
looked at Jenny and croaked. "Are these your children madam," Jenny,
flushed with embarrassment and nodded confirmation as the manager
glanced at her loaded trolley. "I presume that you have completed your
shopping and are ready to leave, " he asked a touch of anger in his
voice "If so come to the checkout here I will see you through more
quickly, it will save you hanging about with the children." The manager
run her goods through as quickly as he could as she loaded them on the
belt, they were paid for and she received her change. 'Thankyou," he
said with a forced grin, then added sarcastically. "Do come again."
Jenny felt as if she had been given the bums rush as she crossed the
parking area to her car. Jackie was sobbing and Gillie was still
giggling but she felt flushed embarrassed and angry but sighed with
relief to see that the old lady had left ahead of her. "Bloody hell."
She mumbled as she literally threw her shopping bags into the boot. "It
gets worse everytime." The children settled she fumbled for her car
keys and turned them in the ignition. The engine whirred and whined but
would not fire, it seemed like a flat battery. "Shit," she said out
loud, which made Jackie in the back seat start crying again and Gillie
start giggling. "No, mum." Jackie snivelled. "I've only peed" Jenny
threw the car door open with frustration not noticing the vehicle
pulling into the empty space beside her. There was a screeching and
squeal of tortured metal and she watched horrified as her door buckled
and scaped the wing of a brand new car. The altercation that followed
was fast and very abusive; the children in the rear had stopped
giggling and crying and were now silent as their wide eyes shifted from
the man to their mother as they argued. He even used some swear words
that Jenny had never heard before but eventually they exchanged licence
details and when he had calmed down he helped with a jump lead to start
her car. Jenny gave a sigh of relief when she pulled into the home
driveway, the door on her side was tied up with string to keep it
closed, but at least she was home, she looked at her watch and realised
that the shopping trip had taken longer than usual. Of course the
garage door was stuck again but she refrained from kicking it her toe
still smarting as a reminder of an earlier confrontation. "The bloody
thing can stay in the drive." She mumbled as she unloaded the shopping.
"Jack will go into orbit when he sees it, tough shit." She growled.
Later she sat quietly drinking a much-needed cup of tea, the girls were
sat quiet watching their rubbish again, the washing machine was
rumbling and the dinner was prepared, it only had to be cooked. A car
horn sounded and a few minutes later Joey rushed in, he was dishevelled
and dirty, his shirt was torn and there was still traces of paint from
his mornings painting still on him. "What happened with the car mum."
He questioned cheerfully. Jenny just looked at him, not responding with
an answer but seeing the filthy state he was she demanded. "You, get
upstairs to the bathroom and clean yourself up, a hot bath, clean
clothes, put your dirty clothes in the basket, you do this before you
do anything else." She ordered. "But mum," he started to say. 'No buts
or anything else, just go and do as your told." Jenny cut him off
abruptly. Joey left feeling a little subdued. After another cuppa and
two headache pills Jenny started to cook the dinner, Joey had returned
scrubbed clean and fresh and was now sat in the lounge watching telly
with the girls. Jack would be home soon and she was dreading the
thought of how she was going to explain the smashed door on her car.
All sort of excuses ran through her mind but it was no good she would
have to tell the truth that she had opened the door carelessly for it
would come out in the end. It was dark when Jack arrived and she heard
the door slam as he entered. She expected him to ask about it but he
obviously had not seen it in the dark. "Hi honey," he exclaimed as he
came into the kitchen. 'Why have you left the car in the drive I've had
to park in the road," he asked. Jenny smiled at him sweetly. That
garage door, it's stuck again and I couldn't open it, you bloody try."
She snapped. Okay, okay, Ill do it after dinner." He replied sensing
her mood. Dinner over, the children surprised her by offering to wash
the dishes; this was an unexpected turn of events for this didn't
happen often. It would be supervised though for she had visions of
broken plates all over the floor. "Ill make coffee," she said as Jack
went out to organise the vehicles then a few minutes later she heard
him shout, and he came back in. "What the hell did you do to the door,
its buckled to hell, surely you can be more careful with nothing to do
all day but look after the kids and do a bit of shopping." If looks
were lethal Jack would have dropped dead in the doorway, but he
survived and seeing the malignant expression on her face as she stared
at him he decided to say no more and turned to go out mumbling to
himself. Later, the atmosphere had cleared, the children had retired to
bed with very little trouble and her headache had cleared. She had told
Jack about her experience in the supermarket and how Jackie had knocked
the old lady into the pyramid of packets, at this he had laughed Then
she explained about the catastrophe with the car door and told him
about the new swear words she had learnt and how embarrassed she had
been. 'Oh well," she thought as she curled up on the settee close to
her husband to watch her favourite t.v. show. "Tomorrow is another day,
maybe it will be better." Of course this was wishful thinking.
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