The house phone rang so rarely now that she and Michael both had cellphones she almost didn’t recognize the sound. She sleepily picked up the receiver and mumbled “hello?” It was the phone call no mother ever wanted to receive. She had started throwing on clothes haphazardly – not bothering to take the time she normally did to ensure not a hair was out of place, nor a wrinkle showing. “Michael –for god’s sake Michael – wake up!” she shouted while flittering about their bedroom throwing every light on. He grunted and then jerked awake. “Linus just called, we need to get to the hospital right away!” “Wha…?” he inquired sleepily. She responded by chucking a pair of jeans and an old sweatshirt at him and ran downstairs to find her car keys. Normally she would have Michael drive at night. Not only was her eyesight not the greatest, but she firmly believed it was the chivalrous thing to do.
