Carol walked in the door and was instantly attacked by her two children. "Mommy, Mommy," they both cried out, laughing and jumping up for hugs. Billy and Sonya were seven and eight, respectively, and always excited when Carol walked in the door at night. She had been doing the single mom thing since they could barely walk, and the two of them never failed to make her smile.
She looked apprehensively around the house. Summer vacation had started just this week, and to save money, she had taken the children out of after school day care for the summer and hired a baby sitter. Besides, at home they could spend a little time during the day with their friends, and she didn't have to get them up and ready every morning.
Lisa entered the kitchen from the basement door, carrying a basket of laundry. She saw Carol greeting the kids and flashed a smile. "I think a couple kids are happy to see you," she laughed.
"Well, all and all, how did your first week go?" Carol asked.
Lisa smiled, "Pretty well. They are great kids, and I'm glad I was able to find a job so close to home until school starts up in the fall"
Lisa and her parents had moved in three houses down about a year ago. Carol had met Mary, Lisa's mother, last fall, at the local election center. They had both volunteered their time, worked the same afternoon voting shift, and became friends. When Carol had mentioned her childcare plans for the summer, Mary suggested that Carol talk to Lisa. Carol liked Lisa right away. She was polite, and the kids seemed to get along with her from the first time Lisa came by to talk over the job. Lisa seemed very "in charge" and sure of herself, a trait Carol always admired. It is also a trait Carol had always seemed to have to fight to maintain. Carol ran a small office for a living, and control never seemed to come easy for her, so when she saw self-confidence in other people, she felt a lot of admiration. Since her divorce several years ago, she felt like a lot always rode on her shoulders.
"Let me grab my checkbook from upstairs and I'll pay you for the week," Carol said.
Lisa glanced at her watch. "Actually, I need to be at my summer theater class early tonight. I have to do a line read through before the others show up. Why don't I just pick it up from you next week?"
"That's fine," Carol replied. "Or, you can stop by tomorrow and get it. Just don't make it too early. The kids are off to their dad's for the weekend, and I plan on sleeping in a little," she laughed.
Lisa bounded out the door and smiled goodbye to the kids.
Carol started out her quiet weekend with two of her favorite things. A hot cup of coffee, and the weekend paper. She was just getting into her second cup when the doorbell chimed. Tightening her robe a little, she peeked through the window into the smiling face of Lisa.
"Want a cup of coffee?" Carol asked.
"Sounds good to me," Lisa said, plopping her backpack on a chair and sitting down.
Mary poured a cup of coffee and set it down in front of Lisa. "So, how was your rehearsal last night?"
Lisa sighed. "Wouldn't you know it? My first lead part in a play, and it had to be a romantic drama."
"That's sounds like it would fun. What's the problem?" replied Carol.
"I've got a scene with the male lead that I read through six or seven times last night. The guy is a real jerk, and the director says my kiss at the end looks too "forced." I think if he had to kiss the jerk he would understand why it looks forced."
Carol and Lisa both laughed.
Lisa reached into her backpack and pulled out a thick script, tossing it on the table. "The latest and greatest play for the college fall theater"