OFFLINE

I was sitting on the couch playing Solitaire on my phone when the ‘low battery’ notification appeared on my screen. “Okay. That’s it! I’m done!” I tossed my phone across the couch and watched as it landed on a pillow.

“What’s wrong?” my son Alex asked as he came out of the kitchen with his coffee mug in his hand.

I looked over at the clock. “Oh, my gosh! It’s almost noon!” I shook my head. “I’ve been sitting on the couch playing Solitaire all morning!” I looked down at my pajamas. “I haven’t even gotten dressed yet!”

Alex shook his head. “It’s Saturday. You deserve some down time.” He took a sip of coffee and moved my phone off the pillow before sitting down.

I looked out the window. “It’s a beautiful fall day and I’m wasting it.”

“Haven’t we talked about this before?” He looked over his mug as he took another sip.

“I know.” I sighed as I raised one hand up. “Hi. My name is Kathy and I’m a phone addict.”

Alex laughed as he picked up my phone. “Do you want me to put this in the other room to charge?”

“I guess so.” I watched as he put his mug down on the coffee table and took my phone into the other room.

A few moments later he came and sat on the couch again. “I’m telling you. You’re going to be so relieved to get your life back and stop looking at your phone all day.”

“It’s only on the weekends.” I corrected him. “It’s not like I’m on my phone when I’m at work!”

“But as soon as you get home…”

I cut him off before he could finish his sentence. “Okay fine! I’ll try for the weekend.”

“Good for you!” Alex stood up. “Do you want to go for a walk?”

I looked out the window then back at him. “What’s the weather for the next few hours?” I looked around for my phone. “Wait. How am I going to check the weather without my phone?”

“I know of a way.” He walked over to the front door, opened it, and stepped outside. “It’s beautiful out.” He called back to me.

“Very funny.” I said as I got up and headed for my room. “I just need to take a quick shower and I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”

“Great.” He walked over to the coffee table, picked up his coffee mug, and headed for the kitchen.

Both of us froze when we heard a phone ringing in the next room.

I looked over at Alex. “Maybe it’s your phone.”

“Okay.” He continued into the kitchen.

“Aren’t you going to answer it?” I called after him.

“They’ll leave a message if it’s important.” He called back.

The phone was still ringing. “What if it’s my phone?” I said to myself.

Alex came around the corner and saw me. “It’s killing you isn’t it?” He started to laugh.

“I can do this.” I said feeling a bit shaky as I took a deep breath and headed to my room again. “It’s just for the weekend.”

“I’m proud of you!” Alex called after me.

“We’ll see if I can make it.” I said under my breath as I closed my bedroom door.