Four Feet More

Today, Jeff decided to give me a much needed “lock-down,” during which I could hole up in the bedroom and finally begin reading Harry Potter. I made some tea, shut the door, turned the lock, and settled in for some quite me time. I cracked open the book and began reading Chapter 1. My solitude was quickly broken by Eamon pounding on the door and Vika singing into her karaoke machine in the next room. So, I put down the book, grabbed some earplugs, shoved them into my ears and began reading once again. I was able to enter into the story and read undisturbed for over an hour and a half.

Then, through the muffle of the earplugs, I heard a rumble downstairs that was great enough to shake the house. This was closely followed by another. Somewhat alarmed, I put down my book and looked to the clock. 5:45 pm. Surely Jeff should have come up and got me by now. If something was wrong, he would call up and let me know. I listened intently for a few moments but heard nothing else, so I went back to the chapter I was reading. However, it soon became apparent that the house was too quiet. Feeling a bit unsettled, I decided to break my lock-down and see what was going on.

When I opened the bedroom door, one of our cats went scurrying down the stairs. That’s strange, I thought… the cats aren’t allowed upstairs... Sure enough, the child-gate on the stairs (meant only for our cats) was open. “Hello,” I called. “Are you guys there?”

Silence.

At this point, I began to get a little nervous, but figured Jeff and the kids had probably gone outside. I looked out the window at his car, which was still parked in the driveway, and knew they couldn’t be far. When I went downstairs, both the front door and the back door were unlocked. We don’t live in a bad neighborhood, but our town is certainly not one in which you leave your doors unlocked. However, still thinking that Jeff and the kids were close by, this didn't concern me too much.

I checked the backyard first – nothing. Then I went out front and looked. Still nothing. I called for Jeff and the kids… no response. I checked the garage to see if they were working on a project in there. Again, nothing.

Now I was really getting nervous. Why would both doors be left unlocked, when Jeff and the kids were nowhere near the house? And what were those two rumbling noises I had heard about 15 minutes ago?

Feeling slightly panicked, I called Jeff’s cell phone to see where they were. The phone began ringing in the next room, so I knew he had not taken it with him – very unusual. Anxiety mounting, I decided to jump in the car and drive around looking for them. Maybe they had gone to the park a few blocks away? It was a 15-minute walk, but Jeff could have decided to go on foot instead of by bike.

I drove around the corner and down the block. I rounded another corner and took a side street. Then, in the distance, I thought I spotted a coral-colored shirt like the one Vika was wearing. Could it be them? As I drove closer, I spotted a little boy in dark blue T-shirt, and finally, I was able to make out Jeff’s form, walking with the kids. Vika and Eamon were skipping along happily, and Jeff was carrying a brown box. I pulled up to the curb across the street from them and rolled down the window.

“Hi Mama!” shouted Eamon. “What are you doing here?” asked Vika. Jeff smiled at me with a puzzled look and said, “What ’cha doin’ Jen?”

“Looking for you!” I responded. “Oh.” He said. “We’re out looking for dandelions!”

Dandelions. That’s what was in the box.

“You couldn’t have told me, or left a note?” I asked.

“Oh…. Sorry.” He said.

Sorry, indeed.

So, I drove back home (Jeff and the kids wisely decided to walk), muttering all the while about unthinking husbands and clueless children.

Later this evening, as I sat down to dinner (with a heaping side of dandelion greens), it occurred to me that I still don't know what caused the shaking and rumbling noises.

I guess I should just be thankful that it wasn't Death Eaters snatching Jeff and the children.