I'll Tell You Why

The following story is the reason I have started this Big Law Blah Blog:

T'was the Wednesday before Christmas and all through the house,
not a child saw Daddy, not even his spouse.

He told us, "Don't worry, today is the day.
The deal is closing -hip hip hooray."

Two children in school, so I'll finish some shopping.
With the two toddlers with me, there was lots of stopping.

With me in my ponytail I got to the task.
This year it's on me every doll, book, and flask.

When I finished in line at the big Dollar Store,
I said to myself, "there must be something more."

But there wasn't, how 'bout that, I have extra time!
I called up my hubby, "Hi, lunch on my dime?"

So away to the firm I drove in a flash,
Threw open the door and yelled, "hop in fast!"

The mini van circled the parking lot slowly,
We'd just started talking about where we'd be going.

When what to my wondering ears did I hear?
A ringing cell phone heading up towards his ear.

"That's ok," he said plainly. "I'll have her turn 'round."
Then to me, "yes, it's as bad as it sounds."

"I'll have to go back now, they say this is it.
I guess I'll skip lunch," and our girls start a fit.

More rapid than gunshots, I heard in my brain,
My mind calling out every mean word and crass name.

Oh "darnit," and "dangit," and "hangit, it figures."
Oh "fetcher," and "flipper," and "sucker, dumb signatures."

Then just like that, he ran out of sight,
So much for lunch. I can't eat a bite.

This is a true story, and it's not even the whole story. Later that afternoon, Dad called and told the kids the deal was closed, and he would be coming home "early" (aka before bedtime) and we should all be ready to go out to dinner to celebrate the end of this horrid deal that took away all of his time with the family for the past two weeks.

It was 5:30 and still no sign of Daddy, so I called and he told me how there were all these loose ends to tie up and things he had to do, so he wouldn't be home until after 7:00. He ended the phone call with a sigh, and added "I miss you, I love you."

I decided to order a pizza to be delivered instead of a dinner out. The kids thought it was a fun dinner, but still missed Daddy and we all lamented the nature of his job. He does what he has to do, when it has to be done. I suppose there are a lot of jobs out there like that, but this one is particularly frustrating because the lifestyle and prestige you think you are getting going into the job is just not there once you're in it.