Crossing Yesterday

Class lasted only an hour and a half.  By 4 o’clock, she’d answered all her student’s emails, wrapped up the grading of their weekend assignment and was ready to call it a day, when her cell phone rang.

“Jorja, do you think you could run over here and help me get something out of the attic?  I thought of something I needed to give you this weekend, but I can’t get it myself.”

“Hey, mom.  Sure.  I just finished my classwork, and really don’t have anything else I need to do.  I’ll be there in about a half hour.”

She did need to check on her anyway.  She’d been gone all weekend, and when she talked to Maureen this morning, she’d said that Stella hadn’t been able to come Saturday.  Jorja knew there would be things to see about when she got there. 

Although her mom was healing physically, there were still gaps in what she could do.  Cleaning kitchens and bathrooms were two of those things. 

That’s why Stella was supposed to come.  I really have got to have a talk with her.

Jorja was at her mom’s in less than a half hour and already deep in conversation and cleaning, when she remembered what Maureen had said when she called.

“Mom, what did you want me to get out of the attic?”

“Oh, yeah.  That was why I called.  When you get to the top of the stairs, there’s a cardboard box way over to the left.  It’s got “LETTERS” wrote on it in black magic marker.  Get that box and bring it down.”