Denise James': Baby Blair: The Things We Do
The Things We Do
By: Denise James
"Geez, covert ops never trained me for anything like this. I was a fool to think I was ready." James Ellison mumbled to himself as he made his way through the packed isles of the local Wal-Mart.
"Excuse me ma-am, but is this the line for the television?" He asked hopefully, yet dreading her answer.
The older woman nodded her head and pointed to the rear of the store. The line seemed to stretch on forever and Jim overheard someone say that they only had 400 of the 19 inch color televisions to go around. Gritting his teeth, he made his way to the end of the line that looked to be somewhere around the infants department.
"Great planning Ellison! You should have been here at 4:30 instead of 5:30. Man, I am not doing this again next year. Santa is just going to have to pick up things earlier. So what if I have to pay more? At least I'll be in my bed and not suffering through all of this madness."
The police detective finally reached the end of the line and just as he had thought, it was in the infants and toddlers department. While he waited, he spied several racks of little boys clothes. He picked though various sizes and styles until he found a pair of Blue's Clues overalls in little Blair's size. Smiling, when he noted that they were on clearance, he dropped them into his cart and began picking through the next rack. Dear ole' dad was in bargain mode.
"Attention sales associates...the time now is 6:00am, cut the plastic....I repeat, cut the plastic."
Associates began cutting away the black plastic covering that protected the special sale items, freeing them to the shopping frenzied customers.
Slowly, the line he was in began to move, and the shoppers ahead of him were stuffing anything they could grab into their baskets.
Thirty min. later found James Ellison nearing the front of the line. He was somewhat dismayed when he discovered that the associates were handing out vouchers instead of television sets. "What's this?" He asked, his voice showing his irritation.
The sales clerk stared at him and took a deep breath, preparing for the speech that she had been delivering all morning. "Take this voucher to the checkouts. You must have your sales reciept and your voucher in order to pick up your television."
"Excuse me?"
"You'll have to drive around to the back of the store to pick up your television."
"Oh for crying out loud!" Jim snatched the voucher from the young sales clerk. "I suppose I have to get in line for the VCR too?"
The young woman smiled sheepishly and pointed to yet another impossibly long line.
With an audiable huff, Ellison followed the others to the end of the VCR line. If he wasn't getting such a great deal on the electronics, he wouldn't have gotten up so early, nor would he have been hearded through the store like a prized steer. But he remembered his little one tucked safely in bed at Simon's and Joan's and the whispered request to Santa for his own Television and VCR so he could watch his precious Stargate anytime he wanted to without bothering daddy. The thought was sweet. So how could he not sacrafice a few hours of sleep to ensure that his son would get the gifts he desired this Chirstmas?
Thirty mins, two pails of lego's, and Toot's the talking Train later, Jim was finally checking out. "Maybe I'll get out of here before everyone starts rushing to pick up their TV's." But again the Detective would be wrong as he soon found when he noticed the cars lined up in front of the store. "Well..there goes plans for breakfast."
*****''
Again Jim Ellison questioned his own sanity after waiting yet another hour in his car to pick up the television and VCR. His stomach growled loudly as he made his way up the stairs of 852 Prospect, hefting the television onto a thigh as he he worked the key into the lock that protected his loft. The Christmas goody was quickly stashed as were the VCR, Toots the Train, and the Lego's. Knowing that he still had a few hours before Joan brought Blair back home, the exauhsted shopper collapsed on his bed. He closed his eyes; the sounds of hurried bargain hunters still echoed in his ears.
A slow smile stretched its way across his otherwise relaxed features as sweet visions filled his mind. The visions were not of sugar plums, but of baby Blair on Christmas morning. His impossibly blue twinkling eyes, bouncing chestnut curls, the little dimples that sat high on rosey little cheeks when he smiled, and the excited chatter and giggles that filled the loft.
This Christmas would be perfect with or without the gifts. As long as he had his little Blair, Jim Ellison knew that his life would be blessed. Suddenly some of the joy slipped away as a hint of sadness crept in. He thought of how much Carolyn was missing out on. The small joys that made up the best days of his life. The innocent questions about life and "why, why, why." The excitement over the simplest of things. Jim wondered how she could turn her back on the joys of parenthood, but then he remembered and decided that it was a memory best saved for another time.
He turned his thoughts back to his son and imagined the joys and wonder that Christmas morning would bring before drifting off to sleep.
To be continued on another day....
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