WORKING MOM

by Marie Delado Travis

I'm up at 5:00 am, just to steady my nerves, mug of Instant Coffee jangling in my hand. In an hour, I'll gently nudge my year old son, "Charlie, Carlitos ... Hey, little guy, time to get ready." And the marathon begins -- undress, bathe, change, dress, feed, BURP!   Then finishing touch, bundle him up in his Sears Best blue snow suit, so plush and furry that his tiny arms jut out as if he's been crucified.

Impatiently ringing for the elevator now, because if I'm not down at 7:00 am on the dot, Margaret, my morning ride, will leave me stranded on top of the steep hill, slipping and sliding my way down over ice patches to the bus stop, brief case, diaper bag, Eskimo baby on cross.

Oh no, missed her again!  I see the fumes from her car's tail pipe, as she takes the curve. I'll be late now for sure, I mutter, as we trudge teary-eyed, chafed and with noses dripping, up another hill, to the fancy apartment building where he is cared for, along with nine other babies, by a former Rockette.  With so many babies under her care, those kids may not learn great values, but what a chorus line, I babble, thinking of the time.

Pampers, check, Wipes, check, bottles, baby food, bobo ... it's all here. Ah yes, and how could I forget?  Your monthly check, pal (I wonder sometimes, do you work for me or do I work for you?)

Kiss kiss, baby.  Bye bye.  Be good, mommy's out the door.  An hour and a half on the Manhattan express bus, all the while knowing that it begins again in reverse at 5:00 pm. Can't count on my afternoon ride either.  Pattie's in the hospital with a nervous breakdown.

"Ahh, good!  Elevator's still here," I gloat, when we arrive home that evening. "Thank God!  I saved TWO minutes!"

On my way up to the 15th floor, I hear what I’ve just told myself and decide then and there that it's time to pack up the kid and move in with my parents in Puerto Rico.

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MARIE DELGADO TRAVIS is an award-winning writer.  She writes poetry and prose in English and Spanish.  Her poem, "The Window" recently won Second Prize in the international Tom Howard Poetry Contest (over 1,600 entries received).  See Marie's website. E-mail Marie.