The text came in at 4:30 a.m. :
TWO HOUR DELAY
Several hours later . . .
“Mom, can you drive me to school?” asked Sam.
Charlie:
Drive? Drive? Did someone say, “Drive”?
Can I go? Can I come?
Please, please, PLEASE let me come!
“Charlie, you want to come?” I asked.
Charlie:
Yes, yes, YES I want to come!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
I get to go! I get to come!
Charlie nestled into Sam’s lap,
in the front seat of the car,
pressing his cold, black nose against the hard,
glass surface –
his favorite spot to view the outside world.
The temperature on the car thermometer read 7 degrees.
“Mom,” said Sam, “Charlie’s snot just froze to the window.”