I woke up Tuesday morning with this idea in my head, then found that The Red Dress Club had a prompt for a story about a Detour. Do you think it fits?
Whoever told her it was a good idea to have children at a young age while she still had lots of energy grossly underestimated the amount of energy two children in diapers require. Not to mention the fact that “Mommy Brain” was a very real condition that would prevent her from concentrating on anything more complicated than whether she was out of size two diapers or size four.
After an hour, she felt much better. She reassured herself that both her children were sleeping exactly as she’d left them, and attacked the pile of mismatched and worn out shoes.
She promised herself she would only use the bubble when she absolutely needed it, but she found she needed it more and more. By the time her youngest left for Kindergarten, people were no longer remarking on what a young mother she was.
Denbora resolved to stop using the bubble altogether, and she succeeded till the day they brought their third baby home from the hospital. She wished she could have stayed in the hospital just one more day, where there were nurses to take care of her and the baby, but the insurance company saw no real need, and the doctors sent her home.
Every time the baby slept, she retreated into the bubble, pushed the button, and cried. Sometimes it was far more than an hour. Sometimes, although she didn’t mean to, she fell asleep. It was quiet in the bubble, and she was never, ever interrupted. But she knew that each time she stepped out, no matter how long it had been, everything outside would be exactly as she had left it.
Her daughter thought she was a miracle worker when she forgot to tell her mother about a costume she needed for school until it was the night before the play. Miraculously, the costume was complete in the morning in plenty of time for school.
At their youngest child’s high school graduation, more than one person mistook her for a grandmother. She was tired again, but she desperately wished she could turn back the clock, and return all those hours she had stolen from her own life.
This entry was posted in Short Stories and Samples and tagged #TRDC, Denbora, detour, stop time, The Red Dress Club. Bookmark the permalink.
Nice, sometimes I really think we do still from ourselves for others.
I love that your hubby left a comment! You should keep developing this story. It sounds promising.
Thanks Erica! My hubby is very supportive.
Sometimes the stories that hit in the waking hours turn out to be rather interesting bits!
How great is it that your husband chimed in here! Love that!
This was really interesting and as a Mom, definitely relatable.
And to answer you question- YES, it for sure fits the detour theme!
Thanks Galit! I was wondering if my foggy mind was trying to make a connection where there wasn’t one.
Which ages you faster – three kids or the bubble?
Cause that bubble is sounding pretty good right now!
It’s good that the bubble is fictional, because if it was real I’d be an old lady already!
And my oldest just turned 12… one more year and I’ll have a teenager… then I’m sure my aging will accellerate with or without the bubble!
Hmmm, I wouldn’t mind a bubble some days. And, yes, this definitely fits the detour theme. Good job on your first piece for TRDC.
I love the concept behind this story. I think every mother wishes she had a bubble once in a while!
I think all us Mommies agree we’d love to have a bubble sometimes.
Very interesting concept! Definitely fits the theme!