by T.L. Tomljanovic
They don’t make eye contact during school pick-up.
Mrs. Toffitt calls again about the chair throwing. “We want Lennon here, but—” The words safe spaces and inclusivity buzz like bees into ear wax, stinging me from the inside.
Bell rings. Lennon stands still. Six-year-olds stream from the classroom breaking around him, like a rock in the river.
Holding hands, we walk to the car. Cranking Taylor Swift, I peel out of the parking lot, fishtailing past the moms. Screams and spilled Stanleys hit the pavement. In the rearview mirror, I see the circle break and my son laugh.
Pink Dolphins vs. Purple Elephants
My daughter picks a book about pink river dolphins from the kids’ section at our local library. The dolphin on the cover isn’t a bright bubble gum or a soft dusty rose. It’s grey. As my daughter sounds out consonants and vowels, we learn that the male Amazon river dolphin’s skin scars pink from fighting for mates. The pinker the dolphin, the more battle scars they possess. My daughter doesn’t like that. I don’t like it much either. She puts the book back on the shelf and we look for stories about purple elephants and green donkeys and make believe.
A Day in the Life Summed Up in Prime Day Panic Purchases
Pillows, queen size, two-pack so Grandma doesn’t have to bring her own “clean ones” next visit. Thirty percent off. Three stars. Add to cart.
Velvet hangers to replace the plastic toddler-sized slip’N’slides in tween’s closet. Four point five stars. Buy now.
Extra-large butter dish. Fits four sticks. Full price. Buy now.
Shapewear dupe. Perimenopausal belly is a bitch. Sixty percent off. Two stars. Save for later.
Undereye hydration masks. Full price. Past purchase. Subscribe & Save? Add to cart.
Ergonomic neck stretcher, forty-three percent off. Mixed reviews. Proceed to checkout. Place order. Order confirmed. Free shipping. Keep shopping?
