Limited Utility

"Do you want some help?" a man called from his car. I tossed the hair out of my eyes and opened my mouth to politely refuse. Then I looked at the mounds of snow before me - I wasn't even able to tell where the sidewalk was, frankly, despite two shoveling trips overnight - and returned my gaze to the man.

"Yes, please," I answered softly, lip edging out in a pitiful pout. He climbed out of his car, tugged the snowblower out of his trunk and began to make short work of my impossible project.

"You can go inside," he offered, head covered by a hat with furry flaps over the ears. Staring at his yards compared to my inches, I nodded and trudged slowly toward the house. Once warm, I started to feel better about being mostly useless and tipped him generously before he took his leave.

*****

"Not dead!" I yipped, prancing out of my closet and through the bathroom as quickly as I could move on my tiptoes. "Not dead, not dead!" Sprout glared at me, for I'd chased him away from his evening treat before he'd finished killing it.

"Well, how long does it take to murder a mouse?" I asked, broom in hand - hand on hip, as I scolded him. "If you're going to do something, I wish you'd just do it!"

So I stayed up late, wincing at every pounce I heard upstairs. And, this morning, I picked the creature up off the stairs and disposed of the body.

*****

Back in the closet, not quite 24 hours after I'd seen the mouse, I was smoothing skirts and tugging at sleeves as I examined my body, clad in business clothes. I have shirts that go under sweaters, not jackets. I have soft, casual pants, not sharply tailored trousers. So I huffed with displeasure and glared into the mirror.

It's not that I don't own suits. I have a lovely navy with scalloped hems, rich brown that falls in sharp creases, deep gray wool-blend that's nearly fuzzy, a black nubby fabric and another that's more sleek. Each of them was slipped around my shoulders or over my hips while I turned and made faces at my reflection.

"I only need three," I stomped my foot after whining. I had one outfit packed - my favorite gray pants, a new black jacket and a pale purple blouse. "Could do this on the travel day," I mused, looking at a different pair of gray bottoms, a darker shade top and a cream and gray stripey jacket. Then I stared at the lavender dress and ruffled black jacket. It rested next to olive pants, taupe top and brown blazer. I had a pretty black skirt that flutters around my knees and could pair it with a shell in white and jacket in pale gray. I shrugged and threw them all in the suitcase. If I'm checking a bag, I may as well make it worthwhile.

*****

I'm off on another trip for a few days. And, as is typical when I fly, Nick (the PowerBook) stays home. Stay hopeful for me if it's not too much trouble - I'd like this particular exchange to go rather well.