I'll Take a Rain Check

The dreaded phone call came at five-something a.m. Please, please, please let it just be a delay. But no. School was closed. I snapped my phone shut, cutting off the cheerful recorded message. Hmmmmph! Tossing the covers back, I bolted out of bed and peeked through the drapes.

It was only raining but Main Street was a mess. Okay, I see the logic, but that didn’t change the fact that I had five conference calls and two offsite meetings scheduled that day, plus numerous bordering-on-late action items that I knew would have to wait until my third shift.

Grandma had been pressed into service each of the two nights previously, to spare me from dragging my trio to back-to-back den meetings. With a tinge of guilt, I asked her again to come over.

“That’s what Grandmas are for,” she said. “What time to you need me?”

I went out to shovel the slush to prepare for her arrival and my departure. Boy, this has been a tough season, I lamented as I sloshed through my driveway. I hate winter! Water had started leaking through my boots. “Q@#%* rain!” I cursed aloud, as I realized my jacket wasn’t completely waterproof.

Fortunately there were no little ears nearby as my kids have been known to repeat select phrases far out of context. They were snug and cozy in the house, having been up (ironically) since the crack of dawn – gleefully watching cartoons in their jammies, ensconced on the couch with pillows, blankies, and the muffins I’d made the night before.

“Because, boys, Mommy has work to do!” was my reply when they asked me, as they did every single time we had a “weather day,” why I don’t like school closings.

I could not remember when we last had a full week of school. Oh, maybe it was back in October sometime when my kids were serially sick, necessitating that at least one of them was home with me for the majority of the week.

The banging on the window interrupted my reverie. I looked up to see my oldest pantomiming with his empty cup that he needed refill.

“Get it yourself or wait!” I sang forcefully, a smile frozen over my clenched teeth.

I turned my attention back to the job at hand. I needed to find the silver lining. Thank God I didn’t have to do this yesterday! I’d had an 8:30 a.m. meeting in Cambridge. At least I won’t need to worry about childcare during the now-nonexistent week between school and camp. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and amiably rescheduled my midday meeting. And who would blame me for skipping that 5 p.m. call since most people are preparing to conclude business at that time?

With both my attitude and schedule lightened and with Grandma’s help, I made it through my work day, only occasionally counting the hours until bedtime.

Finally, 8:00 and my turn to be gleeful. “Time for bed, boys – Mommy’s tired!”

Soon I was parked on the couch with my laptop, answering email, juggling my calendar, re-checking weather.com, and…dozing off. Since my work would be there the next day but the weather wouldn’t, I took a rain check.

The mother of three sons, Caroline Poser lives with her family in Groton. She works full-time as a software marketing professional and moonlights as an author. For more information: www.CarolinePoser.com