when Mom said,
"I'm tired, and it's getting late.
I think I'll go to bed."
She went to the kitchen
to make sandwiches
for the next day's lunches,
rinsed out the popcorn bowls,
took meat out of the freezer
for supper the following evening,
checked the cereal box levels,
filled the sugar container,
put spoons and bowls on the table
and started the coffee pot
for brewing the next morning.
She then. . .
put some wet clothes into the dryer,
put a load of clothes into the wash,
ironed a shirt,
and secured a loose button.
She picked up the newspapers
strewn on the floor,
picked up the game pieces
left on the table
and put the telephone book
back into the drawer.
She watered the plants,
emptied a wastebasket
and hung up a towel to dry.
She yawned and stretched
and headed for the bedroom.
She stopped by the desk
and wrote a note to the teacher,
counted out some cash
for the field trip,
and pulled a textbook
out from hiding under the chair.
She signed a birthday card for a friend,
addressed and stamped the envelope
and wrote a quick note
for the grocery store.
She put both near her purse.
Mom then creamed her face,
put on moisturizer,
brushed and flossed her teeth
and trimmed her nails.
Hubby called. . .
"I thought you were going to bed,"
"I'm on my way," she said.
She put some water
into the dog's dish
and put the cat outside,
then made sure the doors were locked.
She looked in on each of the kids
and turned out a bedside lamp,
hung up a shirt,
threw some dirty socks in the hamper,
and had a brief conversation
with the one up still doing homework.
In her own room. . .
she set the alarm,
laid out clothing for the next day,
straightened up the shoe rack.
She added three things to her list
of things to do for tomorrow.
About that time,
the hubby turned off the TV
and announced to no one in particular,
"I'm going to bed,"
and he did.
