Chapter 62: Beeper Queen

Why did my mom's change in behavior bother me, when she never paid attention to me to begin with?

One night I was making my lunch for school the next day, knowing I couldn't rely on Miriam to do it.

Not only was she not even not thinking about that, she wasn't taking into consideration how stupid it was of her to once again put her condiments on a shelf she was incapable of reaching.

"Miriam was trying to reach her tobasco and she knocked a shelf down..again!"

"For crying out loud! How many times have I told you not to put it up so high, Miriam? Here, step aside, and let a man show you how to do it."

"AHHH! My Back!"

Not that Bob and I have the best relationship either, but at least he keeps a roof over our head. Watching him laying on the couch with a bruised back meant no safety cushion if something went wrong at the Beeper Emporium.

Unfortunately, Bob just happened to be having an important meeting the next day. Not that I wasn't flattered he chose me to fill in over Miriam, but sometimes I wonder if he ever went to school. Where the heck does he think I go during the day?

After seeing he couldn't think of a replacement for himself, Miriam said she'd be happy to fill in for him. It almost made me want to play hookey for him.

"You? Go to the meeting? That has got to be the stupidest idea I've ever heard!"

"The girl's right, Miriam. Those guys are sharks."

After realizing she was his only choice, Bob gave into the idea of letting her take his place. Did that stop his worrying? Pttss… are you crazy?

"That meeting should have ended hours ago!"

"Don't look at me, I told you it was a dumb idea."

I'll say one thing. She definitely surprised us. After describing her 'fun' day to us, it ended with her saying she convinced Bob's clients to triple their order of beepers.

For the first time, I was seeing Miriam as someone to look up to. She was dressing up for work, offering me rides to school…making my lunch!

The idea of doing my homework with her in her room (spending quality time together) actually sounded exciting!

Nothing good ever lasts though. Sure it started with us sharing fun things about our lives. Bob's business attitude soon rubbed off on her though. That meant me going back to feeling neglected (even with a ride to school) and an empty lunchbox in the cafeteria.

I contemplated at the bridge with a dripping ice cream cone in my hand, which Miriam was the best one to have around…

Zoned out and lazy

Busy and neglectful

Arnold then found me with the sorrowful look on my face, convincing me to spill my emotions to her…after I spilled my ice cream all over him.

I was skeptical about interrupting her commercial, but I was too anxious to put it off another day.

"I need you for a minute mom."

"You need me for a minute mom? Well I'm sorry Helga, but this is just not a good time! We're gonna be back on in five minutes and THEY need me. So, whatever it is, it's just gonna have to wait until later."

After walking down the road, feeling I was just going to have to accept the new way things were, Miriam pulled up behind me. I don't know what made her change her mind, but she went from feeling work was the most important thing in the world, to making sure she was always there for me.

Here we both are at home now. While she's convincing Bob it's finally time for him to go back to work, I'm sitting here wondering how likely she is to follow though on always being there for me.