Ginny waved to the boys as they climbed into their neighbor Chris’s jeep.  “Go straight to school guys.  No smoothie stops.”  She grinned and closed the front door.  “Find your shoes, Ali, we don’t want to be late for dance class.  Where are you, kiddo?” 

A blonde, four-year-old raced through the room, her arms out by her sides.  “I’m flying.  I’m flying.”  She raced from one side of the room to the other. 

Ginny took a deep breath.  The child had more energy than the electric company.

“Watch me fly.  Watch me fly,” Ali sang.

“Yes, yes, you are so very fast, but if we want to eat a bagel before your class, we need to go now.”  As Ali darted by, Ginny grabbed her by the arm.  “I got ya little airplane.”

Ali tapped her chin.  “Yeah, I’m an airplane.  I go way, way up high.” 

Ginny picked her up and put her on the counter.  Ali squirmed as Ginny attempted to put shoes on her.  Ali could be a handful at times, but mostly, she was a complete pleasure.     

It had been a total surprise when Ginny found out she was pregnant with Ali.  She already had a twelve-year-old son and a fourteen-year-old son.  She had accepted the fact that her life would be filled with baseball, slimy pets and dirty sneakers.  It was a complete shock to find herself buying tiny pink blankets.   

Ali’s birth had been completely painless, and she hardly ever cried or fussed.  Ali possessed a unique spirit.  She was agreeable and loving to everyone.   She was not self-centered like most four-year-olds, and had no problems sharing with other children.  She was never demanding and slept peacefully at night.  Ginny and Brian thanked their lucky stars every day and laughed about the possibility that Ali saving all her trouble up for her teenage years. 

            The entire family felt a close bond with Ali.  The boys were very protective of her and enjoyed doting on her.  Brian gave her a big hug each and every night when he returned from work.  Even the two Golden Retrievers usually rested by her side, wherever she was.  Sometimes when someone was having a bad day, Ali seemed to sense it.  She would give extra hugs and stay near that person for moral support.  Just the sight of Ali made everyone in the family thankful for the small blessings in their lives. 

Ginny kissed her on the cheek.  At the moment, she was thankful that she had finally gotten the shoes tied on those constantly wiggling feet.    

“I know a secret,” Ali whispered, her sapphire eyes sparkling. 

Ginny put the tip of her nose to the tip of Ali’s nose.  “Yea, Kiddo.  What is it?”

“I’m not really an airplane.” Ali giggled. “I’m an angel.”  She grinned to show tiny, white, perfect teeth.  Then she covered her mouth with both hands.

“Yes, you definitely are.”  Ginny picked her up, twirled her around, and placed her on the floor.  “And, you’re going to be a hungry angel if we don’t get you some chow before your class.”  Ginny put Ali’s jacket on her and then her own.  “It’s raining today.  We’d better button you up.  I don’t want you to get a cold.”

“I won’t, Mommy.”

Ginny held Ali’s hand as they walked to the car.  Her tiny hand was so warm.   Ginny did think she was an angel.  She loved her more than words could say. 

“Busses carry lots of kids, don’t they?”Ali remarked.

“Yes, dear.”

“Kids that need to grow up someday and do important stuff someday.”

Ginny met her eyes.  “Yeah, why ya askin’?”  She belted her into the car seat.

“Just thinking about the bus and all the kids, and how I gotta do the good thing.”

“Honey, what are you talking about?  The boys ride with Chris now.” 

“I know,” Ali said.  “It’s another bus I’m thinkin’ about.” 

Ginny shook her head in confusion and drove carefully through the rain to the café.  They exited the car and ran through the down pour to the entrance of the restaurant.  Ginny looked at Ali in her pink, Barbie raincoat.  “Wow, it’s really coming down.  You’re soaked?”

“No, I’m okay,” Ali replied happily.

They entered the café. 

“ Oh, cookies,” Ali squealed as she spotted them in a clear display case.  “I want a cookie.  I want a cookie.” She darted over to the case and pressed her nose against the glass.

Ginny hung up the wet coats and hurried over to her.  “If you eat a good breakfast, I’ll buy you one for later.  You can have it after your dance class.”  She tilted her head sideways and tried to look serious. “After.”

“Okay, Mommy.”  Ali looked at the tiles on the floor.  “Hopscotch,” she exclaimed as she began jumping from tile to tile.

Several customers laughed.  Ginny chuckled.  “Mommy’s getting in line.  Come and stand with me.”  Ali hopped over to her.  The line was long.  She counted the heads of the people in front of her.  There were at least seven.  She groaned and checked her watch.

“What’s wrong?”  Ali asked.

“Oh, nothing, Honey.  It’s just that there are a lot of people here, and I don’t want to be late.  I think you guys begin tap today.”

 Ali hopped forward and backwards.  “We need to be here,” she said without looking up.

“You think so?”  Ginny asked her.

“Yup.  Don’t forget my cookie--chocolate chip.”   

Ginny tried to be calm, but the long line was moving so slowly.  She tapped her foot.  Ali continued to hop around with a few ballet moves mixed in.  Ginny felt relieved when she finally ordered.  She paid quickly and carefully carried her tray away from the counter.  Her heart sank when she saw that there were no seats. 

Ali seemed to read her mind.  “There’s a table over there,” she pointed. 

Ginny spotted the table.  There were three empty chairs, but one was occupied by a woman, wearing gym shorts and a tank top.  She appeared very wet.  “Someone is already sitting there.” 

Ali rushed over to the table.  “Come on, Mommy.  This is where we should sit.” 

Ginny hurried behind her.  “Ali, no.”

The woman looked up and smiled.  “Please, have a seat.  I’m about finished.”

Ginny approached the table.  “I’m sorry.  I don’t want to interrupt your breakfast.”

“No.  That’s fine,” the woman said. 

Ali sat down right next to the woman.  “What’s your name?”

“I’m Sally.”  She looked at Ginny.  “I mean, Mrs. Seymour.”

“That’s right,” Ali nodded. 

Ginny placed the food in front of Ali and pointed.  The three of them ate in silence for a few moments.  Ali stared at the woman, her eyes never leaving her profile.  Ginny was beginning to get embarrassed.  “How’s your breakfast, Ali?” 

Ali didn’t seem to hear her. 

Ginny reached across the table and touched her arm. 

Ali remained focused on the woman.  “Why are you running in the rain?”

“I like to run every day.  It makes me feel good to get some exercise,” she answered.

“You shouldn’t run in the rain,” Ali told her.  She put her egg and cheese bagel down and faced her mother.  “Can I have my cookie now?”

“Eat your breakfast and finish your milk.  The cookie is for after dance class, remember?” 

Ali nodded and took a sip of her milk. 

The woman crumbled up her trash as she finished eating. 

“You can’t go,” Ali said in a small frightened voice.  “It’s not safe for you to run in the rain,” she paused.  “You might get hurt.  They might get hurt.”

The woman stood up.  “I’ll be just fine, don’t you worry.”

“No, no, you can’t go,” Ali cried. 

Ginny touched Ali’s hand.  “Honey, it’s just drizzling now.  She’ll be all right.”

Mrs. Seymour took her garbage to the trash can. 

Ali stood up in her chair and purposely knocked over her milk.  “No.  No.  She can’t.”  The white liquid quickly covered her food and seeped all over the table.

“Oh, crap.”  Ginny exclaimed.  “Calm down, Ali.  Calm down, right now.  Don’t move, it’s headed for your dress.  I’ll get some napkins.”  She hurried over to the counter. 

 Mrs. Seymour returned to the table to help out.  She lifted the bag of cookies and began moving Ginny’s food out of the way. 

Ali grabbed her wrist.  “Please, don’t run home,” she pleaded.  “I have to stop you.”

Mrs. Seymour pressed her lips together.  “I run in all kinds of weather.  It’s no biggie.”

Ali squeezed Ms. Seymour’s wrist, closed her eyes, and then squeezed again.      

Mrs. Seymour’s eyes flickered and her body jerked.  She saw herself lying on the sidewalk, unconscious as the rain beat down upon her lifeless body.   Blood seeped from her nose and ears.  An overturned school bus lay inches away, and she could hear the children screaming.  The horn of the bus blared nonstop and the sounds of siren’s approaching stung her ears.  She gasped, her lungs suddenly void of air.  The vivid images caused her heartbeat to become erratic.  Her knees weakened and her body swayed.  She tried to focus on Ali’s beautiful face.  Suddenly she watched as her tiny eyes opened.  The images disappeared, and she drank in the heavenly sapphire eyes that met hers.  She could not move. 

Ginny returned to the table with her hands full of napkins.  “What has gotten into you, Miss Ali?  I’ve never seen you act this way.”  She sopped up the spilled milk, shaking her head and mumbling about the cost of good dance lessons. 

“I ne, ne,  I need to sit down,” Mrs. Seymour stuttered, as Ali released her.  She unsteadily melted into her chair.  “I won’t run home.  I won’t.”

“I’m sorry,” Ali said to her mother, while she retrieved the bag of cookies from Mrs. Seymour’s trembling hand.    

Ginny got nose to nose with her.  “It’s okay, kiddo.  But, don’t do it again.  Got it?”

“I got it.”  Ali grinned.  “And all the kids will be okay.” Her face lit up. 

Ginny scrutinized her.  “Did I miss something?”

Ali inched a chocolate chip cookie slowly out of the bag. “Nope.” She pointed a small finger at Mrs. Seymour.  “Can we give her a ride home?” 

Ginny checked her watch and looked at Mrs. Seymour.  She appeared to be in a daze.  Her skin was ghostly pale, and it was still pouring. 

Ginny inhaled and exhaled deeply, and studied the oddly troubled woman.  “Yes.  Let’s definitely do that.  Some things are just more important than dancing,” she admitted with a smile.

“Like cookies,” Ali shouted with glee, her eyes wide as she held up a chocolate chip cookie. 

“Yeah, like cookies,” Ginny agreed, giving her daughter a great big hug! 

THE END

Copyright 2009 Shelly Gail Morris