Stress Amanda Style

Chapter 1

Amanda woke that morning with her fists clenched so tightly that her hands had become numb and she had to shake them alive again!

Not to mention the weeping that accompanied it! Where was this all coming from?! She pondered it as she made her way to the shower and began her morning routine.

A little while later she came out of her room and went to get the boys but Dotty had gotten them up and they were downstairs eating breakfast when she came into the kitchen and kissed her mother.

"Morning, Mother. Morning, boys," she said as she went to get her coffee.

Phillip said, "I can't wait until we go to that museum today, Mom! They said they have new stuff on dinosaurs! It sounds awsome!"

Jamie sighed. "Wish my class was doing that. All we're doing is watching movies in gym class.."

Amanda pulled her mother aside and whispered, "Was I supposed to talk to the boys about-?!"

Dotty shook her head and whispered back, "No, dear. Joe had that talk with them the last time he was here, remember? Are you all right? You look a little down."

Amanda looked at her watch and said, "Oops! Gotta go. Can I have kisses from my two favorite guys?"

Just then, the school bus was honking and the boys flew out the door with their books shouting goodbyes and left.

Dotty looked at Amanda and shook her head. "Honey, they'll be home this afternoon! Don't fret so."

Amanda shrugged, "What? I'm fine." Looking at her watch again, she said, "But I may be late if I don't leave now- bye, Mother."

Kissing her, she got her purse and keys and left. She was getting off her exit to go into D.C. when she got a flat! Pulling off the road, she got out and went to the back of the car to get the spare and the tools she needed, but they were gone!

"Damn! What happened to them?!" She emptied out countless sports things that the boys had left in the car, but still no auto necessities!

Putting back everything, she slammed the back of the stationwagon and grabbed her purse and keys and locked up the car. Only thing left to do was to walk to a gas station and get some help-only it was at least a mile from where she was!

Sighing, she began her journey and suddenly a downpour occurred! She groaned! Of course she left the umbrella back at the car! Going back quickly, she went to the glove compartment and found nothing!

She screamed, "Are you kidding me right now?! Of all the stupid assinine-!"

A car showed up as she was lamenting her fate! The man exclaimed, "Need some help, m'aam? "

Amanda yelled because the rain was so loud! "Yes, please! Can you bring me to that gas station? My tire blew and I don't have my spare! "

The man rolled his eyes but nodded and opened the passenger door for her as she locked up her car once more and got in.

As he drove, she said, "I'm sorry. I usually have things in my car, but I guess my family took them out for some reason. They're always doing things like that and not telling me. Once, the boys put in some cleats and their red uniforms in the washer when I already had a white tablecloth in and they broke the washer and ruined my tablecloth. Do you have children? "

The man pulled into the gas station and simply said, "Talk to Pete. He'll fix you right up. Good luck, lady. And by the way, if I had kids like that, they'd be dead by now! I wouldn't put up with that crap! Know what I mean?!"

Amanda was stunned as she got out and the man peeled out! What an awful thing to say! Shaking her head, she made her way to the garage where a few men were huddled under some cars and she yelled out because of the noise, "Is Pete here?!"

A big lumbering man came out from underneath a car just a few feet from her. Getting up, he said, "I'm Pete, lady. Whad'ya want? "

Amanda quickly told her tale of her flat and he groaned and called out to one of his guys, "Hey, Tony! Get over here! "

Tony came over and he seemed more caring until Pete mentioned the flat and then he said, "Geez, lady! What is it with you broads not having a spare when you need one? I've got five cars I'm workin' on ahead of you! I can't be going out now! Why can't your hubby do that? "

Amanda shook her head and sighed. This wasn't going to be a good day after all! She said to Pete, "May I use a phone to call a cab? I'm late for work. "

Pete groaned, "Women! Okay, use the one in my office there. And leave a dime, would'ja? Gotta get paid somehow for my time!"

Amanda shook her head sadly as she went in and called a cab. They told her because of the weather, it would be at least an hour until someone could get her! She told them the address, and hung up and then called the Agency to let them know.

Mrs. Marston talked to her and said, "You're kidding? Well, they're all wondering right now where you are. Let me connect you with Mr. Melrose.."

When he got on, Amanda said, "I'm so sorry sir, but everything seemed to happen at once."

As she went on about her morning, Billy handed the phone to Lee saying, "She's your problem. Go get her!"

Lee put the phone to his ear and then heard sobbing! Then he heard a man yelling, "C'mon, lady! Don't do that! You're gettin' my papers all wet!" Lee then yelled into the phone saying, "Amanda! Amanda! Calm down ! Put that guy on the phone! "

The man got on and Lee said, "She's a friend of mine. Tell me the address and I'll be there. And did you upset her?!

It was Pete on the line." No, mister! She was on my phone talkin' and all of a sudden, just started blubberin' like a baby! How do you shut her off?!"

Lee sighed. It wasn't like Amanda at all! "Tell her to go wash her face and then get her some coffee and tell her Lee will be there soon. Thanks! "

Hanging up, he sighed and Billy said, "What the hell is going on?! Is Amanda okay?"

Lee groaned and left saying, "Not by a long shot! "

TBC