"I'd like to order some balloons, please," I tell the clerk at the register at our neighborhood variety store.
The woman behind the counter is probably in her 70s and speaks with a thick Scandinavian accent. She smiles over her glasses as she passes me an order form and a pen.
I scrawl out the list: 2 white, 2 red, 2 teal and 1 Mylar Thomas the Train. Henry will be delighted with this burst of birthday color for his party tomorrow. I pass the paper back across the counter and the clerk takes a look.
"This is for tomorrow?" she asks.
"Yes."
"Well, tomorrow is Friday."
"Yes," I acknowledge, wondering if the small store might have trouble filling my order during the holiday rush.
"You do know what's happening tomorrow?" she says. "They say the world is coming to an end. Tomorrow."
"Oh, I heard that, too, but it also happens to be the day my little boy turns 3 and we're just going to hope the apocalypse holds off until the evening -- after his party. I guess I'm an optimist."
The woman nods and lets go of a small grin and snickers, as if she doesn't really believe the ominous prediction.
"Well, it's supposed to happen at 6 a.m. but we'll still plan to have your balloons ready by noon."
"Thank you."
I hand her my credit card.
"And if Jesus is coming back tomorrow, balloons will be just the thing for the occasion," I say.
"Yes," says the woman. "I think you're right."
The woman behind the counter is probably in her 70s and speaks with a thick Scandinavian accent. She smiles over her glasses as she passes me an order form and a pen.
I scrawl out the list: 2 white, 2 red, 2 teal and 1 Mylar Thomas the Train. Henry will be delighted with this burst of birthday color for his party tomorrow. I pass the paper back across the counter and the clerk takes a look.
"This is for tomorrow?" she asks.
"Yes."
"Well, tomorrow is Friday."
"Yes," I acknowledge, wondering if the small store might have trouble filling my order during the holiday rush.
"You do know what's happening tomorrow?" she says. "They say the world is coming to an end. Tomorrow."
"Oh, I heard that, too, but it also happens to be the day my little boy turns 3 and we're just going to hope the apocalypse holds off until the evening -- after his party. I guess I'm an optimist."
The woman nods and lets go of a small grin and snickers, as if she doesn't really believe the ominous prediction.
"Well, it's supposed to happen at 6 a.m. but we'll still plan to have your balloons ready by noon."
"Thank you."
I hand her my credit card.
"And if Jesus is coming back tomorrow, balloons will be just the thing for the occasion," I say.
"Yes," says the woman. "I think you're right."
:) What a cute exchange! And happy birthday to Henry!
ReplyDeletehappy birthday henry! oh he would have a little tag a long if we were together right now.. micah loves thomas ("to-pa") too! bless him! as well as you at 6 am.. ;) that was cute.. balloons will be used in celebration no matter what :)
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