The Smell of Roses

Jackie looked at the clock, ten mins till five. Her three children sat quietly on the couch, all ready to go with Jackie's mother for the weekend. She had not wanted to send the children to her mother's but there was no one else to watch them. She could not take care of them - not THIS weekend. Absently, she pulled her youngest daughter's finger from inside of the child's nose. washed it for the millionth time with a nearby wash cloth and admonished the child. " Lori! THAT is nasty, " she scolded. Sarah, her eldest leaned forward as the younger child's face darkened threatening a nasty squall before her grandmother got there. " I will let you sleep with Wookie", Sarah offered," If you don't cry and keep your finger out of your nose. Wookie doesnot like boogers." Lori's face brightened, the clouds of being in trouble banished by the promise of something deeply desired. Wookie was Sarah's alone- bright pink stuffed creature of uncertain origin, definately something from outer space. He had two spring based antennae and a shock of lime green faux fur for hair. Lori held out both hands for the prize but Sarah, five years older, held Wookie back- just slightly beyond Lori's reach. " Please?" the younger child ventured. Sarah shook her head and once again there were emotional clouds on the face of the younger child as she pondered her confusion. " You HAVE to say you promise" offered Eve , the middle child, as she looked up from her book. She shut the book dramatically , and announced " What a baby! ANYONE would have known that." Three years younger than Sarah, Eve was seven -and read three full grades above her class. She climbed down off the couch and headed for the bathroom. "Don't go far " shouted her mother . " Yes , Moth-er!" came the annoyed reply. Normally , Jackie would have challenged that but she wanted the day to go perfectly, at the very least , calmly until her mother got there. She did not want her mother to have a reason not to take the girls this weekend. Eve trudged back to the couch, plopped on it , rolling her eyes before returning to her book. Seven going on thirty, maybe. Come on , Moth-er, Jackie willed mentally.

It was not long until the burgandy Ford sedan pulled into the driveway. " Grandma's here! Grandma's here !" Lori sang out , forgetting about Wookie for the moment. " Don' t worry , Ma" said Sarah , " I will watch out for her so she is not a bother" indicating Lori as she spoke. " You are always my good girl, Jackie smiled, cupping her oldest daughter's face as she slid her hand down. Eve rolled her eyes one more time, then reached for her suitcase. " I am ready" she announced to her grandmother. " Why , so you are. But then my smart girl ALWAYS has her head on straight. Turning to her own daughter, she said firmly, " They will be back by six on Sunday. " Jackie nodded, kissed her three daughters and watched as the car rolled off down the road, avoiding rope skippers, jack players and bicyclists as she went.

She had forty eight hours. That might not be enough time- but it WAS all of the time that she had. Allowing that her mother might arrive BEFORE six on Sunday, it was better to say forty hours. Not as nice as forty eight, but that allowed for car turn arounds , tearful phone calls to her cell , and outer world emergancies. It would be a shame if someone else's car accident spoiled her plans. Planning as she walked up the stairs, turned to the right into the bathroom . Taps on, the smell of roses filled the bathroom. She loved the smell of roses and had even bought the complete line when her Avon lady had come to her door. It was her signature scent. Taps off , candles lit, she slid into the foamy water. The temperature THIS time was perfect. Good sign. Jackie believed in signs.

Half an hour later , she was dressed in a full skirted deep pink wrap dress. Pressing little ceramic rose earrings with diamond centers into her pierced ears, she gave herself a final look.
An American Beauty jewelry roll lay on her dusty rose satin duvet. She picked it up and placed it inside of her black patent leather shoulder bag. Then she walked out of her bedroom , down the stairs, into the kitchen , checking that the stove was off as she went, out of the backdoor and into the garage where her white Civic sat waiting. She raised the garage door from her seat after snapping her seatbelt. The door raised dramatically. " Ladies and Gentlemen," an unseen voice seemed to say , "Presenting Jackie!" . Like her daughter Eve, she liked to be dramatic. It was hard to be dramatically effective in a neighborhood ruled by baby poop and Girl Scouts. She had thirty nine hours remaining, with a margin for safety. She gunned the car, avoiding roller skaters, basketball players and skateboard riders as she went.( to be continuted)