Lawson and Nora-Kate – libarary

Just Thinking Lawson and Nora-Kate

A Visit to the Library

By Liz Alley

Iwas at war with my two-year-old grandson’s car seat, the car seat was winning. His sister, Nora-Kate, five going on twenty, was rattling off instructions as she observed my ineptness from her perch in the back seat. “Honey” she said “You have to mash that button.” I was mashing the button with all my might but the thing was stuck. Nora-Kate continued a steady stream of “helpful insight “ while Lawson looked at me like “Come on woman, get with it.” It had been a hectic morning and a fruit basket turnover of a night. Nora-Kate, who has been spending the night with me since she was a baby, was now learning to share me with her brother, Lawson. The night before was his first time spending the night with Honey Bee (that would be me) at the Beehive (that would be my house). I thought for sure I’d be taking him home before bed because that boy loves his mama and wants nothing more than to be wherever she is. However, I think because his sister was with him, he didn’t utter a peep about wanting to go home. It was either that or because I gave him whatever he wanted. I ended up on the sofa, not wanting to be far from my bed which the children had promptly taken over in their sleep. When I’d left this morning, I was feeling so accomplished at getting them both dressed, hair and teeth brushed, diaper bag ready, and not forgetting my purse. That feeling soon dissipated when I realized I’d forgotten to change out of my house shoes and into my sandals. We were headed to the library to watch a juggling show. It was in the parking lot that I went to war with the car seat. For a moment I considered the pruning shears I keep in my car to clip flowers from roadsides. I figured I could slowly hack away at the belt of the car seat and free Lawson. Finally, I got Nora-Kate out and while she pulled the belt, I pushed the button and Lawson was freed. I smiled at Lawson, “No, Honey” he said with disgust. Alrighty then. love of all that is Holy “ I thought to myself “couldn’t the person who noticed the door just shut it?” But no, so I gathered up my grands and off we went to shut the door. “Lawson” I said “do you want to close the door for Honey?” Lawson loves to close any door. He had, in fact, been closing doors that I didn’t want closed all morning. He looked at me hard and said “No Honey.” “Things are going so well,” I thought. Back inside, we settled down again and just as the show was about to start, NoraKate had to go to the bathroom. I gathered up all the “stuff” again which included a diaper bag the size of New Jersey, my purse, Lawson and Nora-Kate and out we went to find the bathroom. Lawson and I stood outside Nora-Kate’s stall as she did her business while singing “Breadwinner” by Kacey Musgraves at the top of her lungs. When she emerged, she danced her way to the sink to wash her hands. Lawson decided he wanted to wash his as well. I lifted him up and handed him the soap. “No Honey” he said, deadpan.

Once we were seated in the library and the show was about to start, the librarian announced that there was a gold Honda CRV in the parking lot with the door open. “Oh for the We got back inside for the third time just as the juggler was asking for volunteers. Nora-Kate had no idea what she was volunteering for, but her hand shot up like a rocket. She did a little jiggle dance just in case the guy didn’t notice her. He did, as there was no way he couldn’t, but he didn’t choose her. No matter, she shimmied her way to the floor, like she was doing the twist. That girl doesn’t have a shy bone in her body. The Performer juggled his way into the hearts of the kids. Everyone was clapping and I noticed Lawson clapping too. When he looked at me, I prepared myself for a big smile but he noted my clapping hands and said “No Honey, which made me laugh. Later that evening, after Nora-Kate cried to stay and Lawson did not. After I was driving down the dark road in blessed silence and looking forward to the blessed silence that awaited me at home, I was overcome with missing them. I’m not sure which is sweeter, seeing them come or watching them go.

Liz Alley was born and raised in Rabun County in the city of Tiger. She loves to write. She is an interior designer specializing in repurposing the broken, tarnished, chipped, faded, worn and weathered into pieces that are precious again. She is the mother of two daughters and has three grandchildren. She divides her time between her home in Newnan and Rabun County.