So Cat, my younger daughter and mini-me, needed an umbrella for school. She said the one she's been carrying for the last four years is too babyish and too small. Who knew the Powerpuff Girls weren't cool anymore? And all her classes are outside in the 'learning villages' aka trailers, so when it rains all the children get soaked going from class to class. Thus the need for a small, compact umbrella that can fit neatly in the side pocket of her backpack.
The afternoon of the first day of school (last Monday), the girls and I went to the local grocery store to get, among other things, the umbrellas. They have this enticing display in the front entrance of cute, pricey, compact umbrellas. So for $12.99, Cat got her dream umbrella - kiwi green. Listen here, girl, you'd better not lose it! were my words to my daughter. I won't Mommy, was her solemn promise to me. We don't have the money to replace it! I warned. I know! She replied, annoyed.
Here we are. It is the following Monday, raining and the umbrella is now lost. Sam has no idea where it could be - of course. "I don't know" is his M.O. always and forever. Apparently Cat forgot to bring it last Friday and Sam had to run it up to the school, and then, because the front office never delivered the umbrella to Cat or had her come get it, he had to go retrieve it from the front office when he picked the kids up Friday afternoon. That's the last he saw of it.
The same Friday afternoon, Cat packed up to go to her friend's house for a sleepover party. Ooh, I need my umbrella! said Cat. Oh, no you don't! I said. Yes, Mommy, I won't take it in, I just need it in case it rains and we're carrying stuff in to Alana's house! DO NOT LEAVE IT AT HER HOUSE!!!!!! was my final warning. Well, she says she left it in Sam's truck (the nastiest, dirtiest vehicle you can imagine). I looked for it, it's not there, protests Sam. So off Cat went to school, with my old red umbrella. And I mean old. I bought it while I was at UNCC (c.1986). I hope it still works. And I hope she likes her new umbrella. It's vintage!
