Sitting in the dark

She sits in the dark movie theater. It's dingy and small. On screen, images of a dog, trying to get back to his person pass before her eyes. Next to her, sits her oldest born. Between the two, sits the large bag of popcorn. It's the only size available at the counter out front. The pickings were slim, an assortment of candy, one size of popcorn, soda, bottled water and nachos. The kids behind the counter were not much older than the girl that sat beside her.

They sat there for the length of the movie. Mother and daughter. Oblivious to their surroundings. They walked out hand in hand, happy to have spent some time alone. Time together. Time not shared with the other beings who inhabit their space. Time enjoy each others company. Time to be mother and daughter. And in that span of time, their surroundings didn't matter. All that mattered was that they were together.

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Walking in the door she asked "what's wrong?" before she even had time to set the popcorn bag down. She knew, just walking in the door that not all was right. She didn't expect the others to be home, and even if their errands were finished quicker than the movie, she didn't expect the neatly packaged birthday gift to be sitting on the counter. Surely, he couldn't have forgotten his one job today? Instead, in that short span of time, the universe decided to conspire against them. The van, which was supposed to transport middle to her party, and the man and youngest on errands, wouldn't start. It's dead. They're hoping, a trip to pick up a new battery in the morning is all it will take to fix it.

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If this is how the year is going to start, 2009 can go suck it!