MAGIC PURSE

My husband Steven and our son Alex and I were having lunch with some friends at a local restaurant.

As the server handed us our menus I reached in my purse to get my reading glasses. As my hand swept the inside of my bag I felt a small container and pulled it out. I saw that it was an empty container of fish food. Surprised, but not really, I shrugged my shoulders placed it on the table and continued my search for my glasses.

Alex looked over at the container of fish food and leaned over to whisper, “Why do you have fish food in your purse?”

I stopped my search for a moment. “It’s empty.” I said as if this were enough of an explanation.

“Okay.” Alex said. “But why?”

“Because we needed more fish food and I wanted to be sure I got the right brand so I brought the empty container with me when I went to the pet store.”

Alex scooped up the empty container and looked over at our friends to see if they had noticed. “We got him his food three weeks ago.” He whispered before he dropped it back in my purse.

“Hey!” I whispered back, my hand still in my purse. “I’m trying to find my glasses! Quit throwing stuff back in!” I took the fish food container back out but placed it in my lap along with several balled up receipts, my checkbook, and some gift cards. “Oh, come on!” I said under my breath. “They’ve got to be in here.” I pulled out a small bottle of hand sanitizer, looked over at Alex and smiled as I put it on the table. “We’ll be using this in a minute.”

Alex just shook his head as he picked up his menu and leaned closer to me. “Do you want me to read you your choices?”

I stubbornly shook my head. “I know they’re in here.”

Steven looked over at the pile of things in my lap. “What are you doing?” He asked.

“I’m looking for my reading glasses.” I pulled out my sunglasses. “Darn it. I thought I had them this time!” I stuck them in my lap.

“Maybe you should clean that out when you get home.” Steven suggested.

I shook my head. “I like to think that it’s more like Mary Poppins’ carpetbag. I might not be sure what I’m going to find in here but I’m pretty sure I’ll be needing it.” I reached in the side pocket and felt another pair of glasses. “Here they are!” I put them on the table, took everything from my lap and dumped it back in my purse.

“Mary Poppins’ carpetbag.” Steven repeated as he shook his head and laughed.

“I’d watch out if I were you.” I warned. “I just might have my own measuring tape in here.”

“So you’re saying it would measure you at practically perfect in every way?” He asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Well, that’s a given.” I reminded him as I raised my eyebrows and looked over at him. “I’d be more worried about what it would say about you.” Alex was scanning his menu but shaking his head as he listened to Steven’s and my conversation.

Putting on my readers I picked up my menu and began checking out my choices. “I’m having a hard time deciding. Everything on the menu sound good.” I looked across the table at our friends who had graciously pretended they hadn’t overheard our whole conversation. “Have you decided what you’re going to have?”