WAIT A MINUTE

I grabbed my car keys off the counter-top and tore the shopping list off the pad. “I’m going grocery shopping!” I called out. “Last chance if you need something!”

“Wait!” Alex called and came out of his room.

“What did you want to add?” I went over to the drawer to get a pen.

“Let me think about this for a minute.” Alex went over to the pantry and began looking through it.

“Oh, come on!” I cried. “Now you want to check what’s missing? The list has been sitting here for a week!” I tossed the pen back in the drawer.

“I’ll be quick.” He opened the refrigerator.

“Oh my gosh.” I sighed as I leaned against the counter. “You’re reminding me of my Mother!”

Alex looked over at me, his eyebrows furrowed. “How?”

“None of us could get out of the house without my Mom, who was always on the phone, holding up a wait-a-minute finger.” I shook my head with the memory. “You had to stand there while she finished her call, then when she hung up she asked where you were going. Once you told her she’d always say, ‘Be careful it’s slippery out.’” I started to laugh. “Didn’t matter if it was a dry sunny day in the middle of the summer it was always, ‘Be careful it’s slippery out.’”

“Well, she was worried about you.” Alex closed the refrigerator and went to the freezer.

“The catch phrase didn’t bother me.” I cleared my throat until Alex looked over at me. When he did I didn’t have a happy look on my face. “It was the wait-a-minute finger and having to stand there waiting until she was finished with her call that drove me crazy!”

Alex slowly closed the freezer door. “Okay, so I’m going to say I can’t think of anything right now.”

“Awesome.” I tossed the keys up in the air and caught them with one hand. “Then I’m headed to the grocery store. I’ll be back in about an hour.” I opened the front door then looked back at him. “If you remember anything else you want just text me.” I was on the front porch and Alex was standing in the doorway.

“Okay. I’ll lock the door for you.” He was watching me as I walked to the car.

“You can try to text me but remember I don’t always check my phone at the store so you have a fifty-fifty shot.” I clicked the key fob to unlock the car. Looking back at the house I could see that he was still standing in the doorway.

“Did you remember something you wanted me to put on the list?” I called.

“No, I just wanted to tell you to be careful it’s slippery out!”

I couldn’t help but laugh as he waved and closed the door.