Free 40 Something - Safety by Shannon Peel Page B

need
me?”
    “I am young and
strong. Stronger than your daddy. I love you so much. I wish you
could be with me all the time. I love you. I love you. I love you
to the Moon.”
    “I love you to
the Moon and back.”
    “I love you to
Mars.”
    We laugh and
laugh, trying to out do each other with who loves whom more.
    Then I give her
my gift. It’s a book made up of photos of us together from the day
she was born until the last time I saw her. I’ve written little
messages in the pages about how wonderful she is. My memories of
her. How much I love her. How I miss her. We share those memories
together, her on my lap and me holding her as she turns each page
of our lives together.
    “Time’s
up.”
    I hadn’t even
noticed the social worker come in. I was so engrossed in my time
with Evelyn.
    “An hour
already? She just got here a minute ago.”
    “It’s been an
hour. Come on Evelyn.” The social worker says.
    “I don’t want
to go.” She grips my neck and I grip her in a hug. “I want to stay
with mommy.”
    “Evelyn.” A
male voice.
    We both look up
at the man standing in the doorway, like he owns this whole place
and everyone in it, expecting to be obeyed without question.
    “Father.”
    “Time to go.
Your Mother has seen you.”
    Evelyn doesn’t
move. I can feel her body stiffen. Tears start falling down her
face, big ones. Her bottom lip is huge and trembling.
    “Evelyn.
Please. Sweetheart. I have to be somewhere.”
    “Another hour
Father, please. Please. I just want to see Mother for a little
while longer.”
    I’ve never seen
my ex-husband falter in negotiations with anyone. Not his business
rivals, not his associates, not his friends, not his children, not
his grandchildren. It’s his way or no way. You take what he gives
you and you are to be grateful that he even noticed you. The man
does not have a heart.
    “Evelyn.”
    “Daddy,
please.”
    “Oh all right.
I’ll go run a few errands and when I come back you’ll be ready to
go?”
    “Yes daddy.
Thank you daddy.”
    She jumps off
my knee and runs to him hugging him and the man’s eyes actually
have tears in them. I’m astounded.
     

 
Justine
     
    Harper came
home from school waiving an invitation to his best friend, Jack’s,
10 th birthday party. Every year this kid's mom goes
all out. The lady is Martha Stewart on steroids. My kid's are
lucky if I remember to pick up the cake on the way to whatever
venue I booked for the party. This woman transforms her home into
party central and makes the whole thing an experience.
    For the kid's
6th birthday she made these pop up pirate invitations. She made
them. The kids were supposed to dress up like pirates. That’s
right, a fucking costume. It wasn't good enough to just show up
with a gift, I had to figure out a costume for the event. Worse,
I'm expected to stay because it's a big person event too. I'm not
one for socializing and thankfully costumes were optional for
adults.
    As soon as we
get there she hands Harper an old looking aged piece of paper. It’s
a letter written, in calligraphy, that says:
    Blackbeard the
Pirate has stolen Captain Jack's treasure and he needs your help to
find it. Meet him on his ship. It is below the tavern where the
world's best chili is made. On the way you will need to find a few
things to help Captain Jack battle Blackbeard.
    Great. A
treasure hunt. No, correction. A scavenger hunt.
    Harper drags me
down the stairs to the basement where a ship has been constructed
out of large cardboard boxes. The floor is covered in blue tarps
secured down with large stones and there is even a mermaid swimming
in the water. To get onto the ship Harper had to walk the plank. A
balance beam made out of wood and about a foot off the ground.
    This is not a
birthday party. It is a theatre production.
    “Wow. Can you
believe this party?” Christine leans over and whispers in my ear.
“I thought last years Thomas the Train party was over the top.
Kathleen out did herself