When the Big Bad comes knocking

Part One
I sneak onto school campus early, the super secret church members only back way, to pick up Thumper from carpool, because I have a sick BamBam prostrate in my car and want to minimize the time in the car and the direct correlation of risk of unpleasant deposits in Big Red.

I am first out of the gate. At the red light, Bambam is moaning. Thumper is yacking my ear off and I watch as a UPS truck almost clips a police officer's car as he makes a right hand turn.

Suddenly blue lights are flashing and I'm thinking, "Surely he's not going to pull the UPS guy over for something so trivial"

But then the sirens don't go on. And he puts the pedal to the medal and I see his face as he flashes by my car window. Cold. Set. Grim.

"Mommy? Why are the police officer's lights flashing but the siren isin't?"

"It's called silent running baby. It means he's responding to a crime in progress. He doesn't want the bad guys to know he's coming."

"I'm scared mommy. Are the bad guys near us?"

"No Sweetie...that's why he's driving AWAY from us" (please....far far far far away)

I don't have a good feeling

Part Two

First Alert News....20 minutes later

I'm home from carpool. BamBam is now prostrate in his bed. Thumper is on the computer playing a game and I'm watching RayRay's variety show when breaking news cuts in.

A woman has come home to find her husband dead. Gun in his pocket. Trauma to his chest. Address? High end neighborhood less than a half a mile from the school.

I really don't have a good feeling.


Part Three

I supervise homework and fix dinner and go online one last time to check my messages at work. And the last email is from the boys headmaster at school.

"The father of ****** was found dead this afternoon by his wife. Please keep **** and his sister **** and brother ***** in your thoughts and prayers."

The Big Bad isin't knocking at my door.

He just sent a wake-up call.

I'm off to snuggle with my kids until they fall asleep.

Life's short.