The Day

“Oh what to wear, what should I wear?”

She hadn’t seen him in six weeks – the longest they had ever been apart since marriage. She wanted to look good, especially good, when she picked him up at the airport with young Billy and Cindy -.the longest the kids had ever been separated from their father as well.

She didn’t like these overseas trips Kodak made him take though….he always returned somewhat distant, different, despite the jewelry for her and toys for the kids.

The black and white polka dot skirt. Yes. She had lost weight and this was new. Something fresh, something bright, something appealing. That with the white embroidered blouse. And black heels.

Yikes, look at the time! Must get ready and gather the kids. Where were they anyway?

She peered out the living room window. There was Billy riding his bike. Good. Cindy….? Oh that’s right, down the road at a friend’s house.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the phone.

“Hello, Doris?”

“Yes…”

“Hi it’s Joan. Cindy’s been bitten by our dog. Shall I drive her home?”

“Bitten? Drive? Uh, OK…. I guess so…..”

What was THAT about, she wondered as she hung up, but she went on cleaning the kitchen.

In a few minutes a car pulled into the driveway and she walked to the front door with dish towel in hand.

Standing at the front door, she released the dish towel upon seeing Cindy in the front seat with a blood soaked towel to her mouth. 

Raw hamburger is how she would later describe it.

She could barely dial the phone.

“Dad – can you pick Bill up from the airport this afternoon? I’m not coming. Cindy’s been bitten by a dog and I’m taking her to the emergency room.” 

They waited for two hours in the emergency room for the doctor to finish dinner, but when he did come, he asked Cindy if she could talk. She was so scared she pushed past the pain and said past the swelling of the raw hamburger that was now her lips, “Ye…I ca….taw….”

“Mrs Webb, the swelling is so bad I can’t see the damage here. We’re going to have to wait until it subsides before we know what to do. In the meantime, I’ll put a bandaid on it.”

 

They walked out of the emergency room to see her husband and her father and young son Billy, all in the waiting room. Cindy ran into her father’s arms as he pulled out a pair of huge fuzzy white llama fur slippers she would later keep until they were shreds.

“You came!” she cried. 

Jasmin Webb