Slice of Life Story Challenge, Day 17 #sol19

No Saturday Reunion for me…

“Would you grab the thermometer?” asked my wife.  I’d just arrived home from work.  Friday afternoons usually had a way of projecting excitement and anticipation, but not this one.  I set down my laptop bag and surveyed the living room.  Two girls on the couch, one on the armchair.  This is isn’t good.

I stepped just to the inside of the kitchen and pulled open the drawer.  “Let’s go ahead and check all of them,” my wife suggested.  I grabbed the no-touch infrared digital forehead thermometer and gently pushed the drawer closed.  Now wielding the digital truth-teller, I approached my oldest daughter draped wearily in the armchair with her Harry Potter book.

100.9.

Next, I tiptoed through the colored blocks and miniature Scooby Doo figurines over to the couch to the second daughter.

99.9.

Sighing, now it was time to check the baby.

100.3.

I reported out these temperatures to my wife.  She nodded and coughed gently, blowing her nose quietly into a tissue.  Looks like I’m not going to Saturday Reunion, I thought.  Family comes first.

Author: Lanny Ball

For more than 29 years, Lanny has taught, coached, presented, staff developed, and consulted within the exciting and enigmatic world of literacy. With unyielding passion and belief in the possibility of workshop teaching, Lanny has worked to support students, teachers, and school administrators around the country in outgrowing themselves as both writers and readers. Working first as a classroom teacher, then as a coach and TCRWP Staff Developer, Lanny is now a literacy specialist, working and living in the great state of Connecticut. Outside of literacy, he enjoys raising his three ambitious young daughters with his wife, and playing the piano. Find him on this blog, as well as on Twitter @LannyBall. Lanny is also a former co-author of a blog dedicated to supporting writing teachers and coaches that maintain classroom writing workshops, twowritingteachers.org.

13 thoughts on “Slice of Life Story Challenge, Day 17 #sol19”

  1. Oh, oh! You have a way of describing things that’s very tender, even when they might be disastrous. I am so sorry for your girls. I hope the entire family recovers soon. “I tiptoed through the colored blocks and miniature Scooby Doo figurines over to the couch to the second daughter.” I love this sentence. Describes not only your place, but your way of doing things and the atmosphere in the house.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. I love the gentle way to steer us through the scene just as you must have surveyed, planned, and then acted. Hope all are on the mend. It was a great Saturday. I left mourning what I missed and celebrating what I saw. The highlight certainly was Jason Reynolds.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Man plans; God laughs. So sorry your family is sick. Hope they all improve quickly. I always feel so helpless when I’m caring for a sick child. TLC goes a long way, and I can see that you are a caring dad.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Sorry you missed your reunion and to hear your family is sick! I know this walking in feeling and could sense it in your writing. I especially loved the “weilding the truth-teller” description.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. This is such a real-life slice. The mix of emotions we experience. How life plans change in a moment’s notice. You described the setting perfectly as you purposely moved within it. The reunion was great and yes there will be many more. You made the right decision for sure. Hope the group is on the mend!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment