Where's My Ma'am?
by Donna L Martin
The woman stamped her feet against the cold and tugged the car door again. It was most decidedly frozen and the ironic thing about it all was the bottle of de-icer staring back at her from the front seat. As she headed back inside for a bucket of warm water she thought to herself, "It's not going to matter if I'm late. No one is holding their breath just waiting for me to show up."
On the other side of town the man put the last ornaments on the Christmas tree. Delicious aromas taunted him from the kitchen as his wife prepared the holiday meal. Suddenly a small voice caught his attention.
"Daddy, I hope my ma'am is gonna be here soon."
"It's okay Hailey. She's on her way and will be here in a little bit."
"But I miss her, Daddy!"
After much tugging and a little bit of prayer, the ice finally loosened its grip on the car door enough for the woman to climb in and start up the engine. She was going to be late but didn't think it would matter much. A sharp beeping sound announced an incoming text and tears sprung to her eyes as she read the words someone special was waiting anxiously for her arrival. For a moment self-pity had allowed her to think being late didn't matter but here was proof it did, if only for one small child. Twenty minutes later as the woman pulled into the driveway, she could see a nose pressed against the window pane impatiently searching for a familiar car. Oh, what a wonderful holiday this was going to be.
Stepping into the hallway, the woman could hear a high pitched squeal as she closed the door.
"Ma'am, ma'am, you're here!"
***Okay, you're turn. What do you think happened next?***
