Free Rent Me By The Hour by Leslie Harmison Page A

us work outside to feed our animals. Moments like this are what I live for; seeing my kids enjoying themselves and having no worries in the world.
     
    Jocelyn comes running from the red barn. “Mom why didn’t you tell me we have new baby chicks?”
     
    “Oh I’m sorry baby. I forgot.”
     
    “I need to name them all.”
     
    “Ok you do that.” I give her a tap on her butt as she skips back towards the incubator.
     
    We stay outside for a couple of hours playing with our animals. Weather in Texas can be very bipolar. One second it’s windy and raining and the next second it’s sunny and bright. So when it’s a beautiful day outside, we take advantage of the situation. Jocelyn and Jordan play tag then they gang up on me and chase me around. What more can a mother want? The gratifying feeling of seeing my kids healthy, happy, and safe; hearing their laughter comforts me. I may not now all the answers and I may make mistakes raising them, but I’ve tried my hardest to give them the best life. For years, I’ve given my kids my full undivided attention because I love them very much and they deserve more than what I’ve already given them. My world would be useless without them so I make sure my universe revolves around theirs. The way things are going at work, I can really retire in a year, giving me more time to spend with my kids. Since our house and both cars are paid for, I really do not have any big bills that I’m concerned about. I’ve saved enough money for us to live off of and for my kids to be financially ok if something was to ever happen to me. I’ve plan on giving my business to Carmen once I decide to get out of the business completely.
     
    The next morning, while sprawled out on my belly, I awake to my cellphone ringing. The phone has to be here somewhere. I’m blinding reaching for it on my nightstand, but can’t find it. Dammit, it’s on the floor. Using my stomach muscles, I stretch my arm out for my phone. And without checking I answer but I should have already known who it was going to be.
     
    “Hello.” My voice groggy. Thud. My silk sheets cause me to plummet on my floor. Ah. That hurts. I thought this carpet is supposed to be super soft.
     
    Victoria with her concerned motherly voice. “What was that noise?”
     
    “ I just fell.”
     
    “ You alright?”
     
    “ Eventually. What’s up?”
     
    “ Just wanted to make sure you guys are still coming today.”
     
    Still on all fours, I sit up, “What time is it?” I glance over at my clock. Dammit it’s too early, “Vic it’s eight in the damn morning.”
     
    “Yes I know. We’ve been up since six this morning. We’re up early because Matt had to go to Winnie to buy the crawfish and I needed to do some last touchups before people start coming.”
     
    “What time are people coming?”
     
    “Twelve.”
     
    Can I just please go back to bed? “We’ll be there at noon. I promise.”
     
    “Ok. See you guys.” Victoria hangs up.
     
    I drop my phone and try to get back on my bed. I’m flipping and turning, trying to get comfortable but it’s useless. I can’t go back to sleep. Might as well get up and check to see if anyone called my business phone. No missed calls so I creep downstairs so my babies won’t hear me. I look out my ceiling to floor kitchen window. It’s going to be a beautiful day today. I open the coffee container to make a pot. The delicious aroma of classic Colombian beans. This floor is making my feet cold. I guess since I put the air conditioner on sixty every night, it will make everything in the house frigid. I lost my house slippers again. Mufasa and Mulan probably have something to do with it. I wonder how much it would cost to add an elevator in our home. It will make it easier for me on days I am feeling lazy.
     
    My babies are still sleeping. They look so precious and innocent just like angels. After I take Mufasa and Mulan outside, I feed them, pour me a cup of coffee, set it on