Keep the Coffee Comimg

Today is cloudy and it will rain again. We have been inundated with rain, but the last two days have been so lovely I guess I shouldn’t complain. Besides, April showers bring May flowers.

When I was in the eighth grade, we took advantage of Sister Hildegard. She was quite old, and we were too much for her to handle. I remember one kid who dumped a little of his milk into the basket every few days. He’d show Sister Hildegard, and she’d let him leave to clean the basket. He was always gone a few hours. She never noticed. I had a friend who found learning difficult. During a test she’d call me out loud from the other side of the room and ask for help. I’d write some of the answers on a small piece of paper and then ask Sister Hildegard if I could get up to throw the trash away. On the way to the basket I’d drop the answers on my friend’s desk. I know it was cheating, but I always thought it didn’t count if I was helping my friend. I saw my friend a few years back at a reunion. I hadn’t seen her for years. She gave me a hug and told people I had helped her graduate from the eighth grade.

Sister Hildegard used to go crazy sometimes. She’d scream at us and say that when we graduated she’d write on the board in huge letters, “Thank God they are gone.” She always mentioned us and the devil in the same sentence as kindred spirits. Sister Hildegard always liked me. I was never mean.

Nala stole an egg yesterday. I had put it on the counter. I was right there beside the counter, but I didn’t see her. When I went to grab the eggs to cook them, I noticed one was missing. Nala went out the dog door, her tell when she has stolen food. I looked and watched her go into the yard. I could see the shape of the egg in her mouth. I wonder if she ate the shell.

Today I will clean. I will water plants and change my bed. I will put my clean clothes away. I will not get dressed, my concession to slothness.