HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
 Holly Winter Living The Life Of Holly May 10, 2003 The phone rang. “Hello.” I managed. “Hi it’s me. I need a favor…” A voice. Whose voice was that? “Hi.” I said. Where was I? “Holly. You ok?” That voice again. Who was that? “Yeah. I’m sleeping.” Maybe they would hang up. I always hang up when people say that they’re sleeping. “Oh. Sorry. You awake now? My god girl, it is ten o’clock.” Who… who… who… “I was up at six. I wrote for a while. But. I needed a nap. Who is this?” “It’s Shelby. What’s wrong? Are you Ok?” I know. I shouldn’t get mad. I have been on medical leave now for six months while the doctors toy with the medication for my Epilepsy. Why do my friends always act surprised when I am un-well? “I think that I have contracted some kind of degenerative slug disease.” “You have been really tired. It’s just part of the medication.” “I’m just so tired all the time. It want some time off for good behavior. Do you think that the doctors are going to schedule in some ‘well days’ anytime soon?” “Hey. I need a favor. But. Now I feel bad asking for it.” “Ok. Bye.” “Could you go to the library for me and pick up some supplies, and deliver them to the school where I volunteer?” “Nope. Sorry. This disease has me stuck in bed and I can’t get up.” She sighed. “I really, really need this.” “I can’t wake up.” I said, closing my eyes. “My eyes are closed on the matter.” “Ok. How about if you pick up the books for me, and I can drive by your apartment?” Yeah. I know. But. Maybe Slug Woman would feel better if she moved around a bit. “Ok. I will get them and meet you at I25 and Colorado. The Albertson’s parking lot.” “Perfect. Thanks. How about 1:15?” Oh. Man. That only gave me three hours and fifteen minutes to get that errand done. I got out of bed for the second time that day and moved around. It didn’t help. I couldn’t shake the sleepies. Ok. Fine. Then I would just work with them. I showered, dressed and applied make up. I know. But. I thought that maybe I could fake myself out, you know, look like I was awake and thereby actually WAKE UP. I drove to the library. The three minute parking space that Shelby had promised would be available was not available. My Slug brain could think of nothing but to drive around the block again. Great. Still taken. I drove around one more time. Great. I had to parallel park. Not it’s not so easy doing it in slow motion. “Hi. I’m Shelby Colt, here to pick up my books for the school.” I said, as instructed. “Hi Shelby. Just a moment.” Librarian said, disappearing into the back. “Was that Colt, with a C?” “Yes. It is.” I smiled. I sort of figured that they wouldn’t be there. He called the manager. “You aren’t Shelby.” She worried. “I know.” I wanted to tell her that I was Slug Woman, there to steal books to give to poor children. You know. I could be some kind of super hero in disguise. But. You know. It would have upset her. “I need to deliver the books to Shelby by 1:15.” “Oh. Dear. I don’t have her books ready. Do you mind waiting?” I was ushered into the main children’s library. “You can’t wait back here. There are books back here.” Um. There are books up here, too. Then the manager gave Slug Woman a lesson on how Shelby was going to put each child’s name on each book, before the books were handed out. “Do you need me to write this down?” She asked. “No. Thanks. I think I can relay that. But. Thanks for offering.” I drove across two detours and four highways to find Shelby at the parking lot. I know. But she was doing this reading gig on her lunch break. We arrived at the same time. “This was so easy! What perfect timing! Thanks so much!” She gushed. “I’ll buy lunch on Sunday.” The whole errand had taken me the whole three hours and fifteen minutes so far, and I wasn’t even close to being back home in bed yet. Yeah. So easy. I climbed back into my car and reminded myself how fortunate I was that nobody was trying to pay me for my time. I locked the doors, reclined the driver’s seat as far back as it would go, and closed my eyes. It isn’t easy being a Super Slug Woman for your friends. ------------ About the author: Holly Winter is a teacher and a writer and a flight attendant living in Denver, Colorado, USA. She can be reached at her website or email: Holly@livingthelifeofholly.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
