"Tomorrow"

I was lying across my unmade bed and listening to my new cd, skillfully ignoring the stack of study books on my desk.

"Molly, there's somebody here to see you." Mom's voice drifted into my consciousness. I rolled over onto my back and opened my eyes.

"Send 'em up, Mom," I said, figuring it was Stella, my best friend.

A few seconds later there was a tap tap tap on my door. "Come in," I yelled. "It's open!" I reached over to turn down the volume on my stereo.

A familiar but unexpected visitor came through the door. I jumped up from my bed, self-consciously smoothing my disheveled hair.

"Well hi! Gee, uh, I didn't know you were coming," I stammered and stared at my surprise caller.

"Hi Molly. Sorry to interupt, but I hadn't heard from you in so long, and I wanted to touch base." The voice was warm and friendly.

"I reached over to straighten my bed and kicked yesterday's clothes underneath it. My visitor glanced around the room and I looked self-consciously at all the clutter as I scurried to clear off a space. "Here, sit on this chair," I said, flustered. I took a stack of cd's off the chair and put them on the rumpled bed.

"How have you been, Molly?"

"Umm, fine. Okay, I meant to check in with you but I've just been so busy lately. I just got done with finals, basketball tryouts were last week, and our choir is getting ready to go on tour," I said, rattling off my excuses.

"I know," came the answer, "And I'm proud of all you're involved in." Those eyes, so intense. I was unable to meet their gaze. "I have a job for you, Molly."

"That reminds me," I interrupted. "Remember that time you asked me to go to the nursing home and visit that lady -- whats-her-face -- after she fell and broke her hip? I didn't make it over there, but she died, so I guess it didn't matter. I really meant to, but something came up. I can't remember exactly what."

My caller sat quietly, just listening. I sat nervously, fidgeting with my new charm bracelet and wishing I'd known I was going to have a visitor.

I continued to hem and haw. "If your project could wait a few weeks, I'd have more time and be able to help you. But right now, with everything that's going on with school, I just don't know if I could find the time. "

"Molly, I need this done right now. It won't wait, and I was hoping you'd be able to help me."

"Honestly, I'd like to, but I'm on overload already. You understand, don't you?"

"Yes, I understand, but I have to be honest with you. Its disappointing, Molly, that everything else is more important than our daily chats. I miss talking to you, and I wish you had time to do my work. I'm afraid this time I'll have to choose someone else."

The tone of our conversation hadn't changed, but suddenly I felt very ashamed. "Soon, real soon, we'll have those times together again, I promise!" I said, trying to sound sincere.

My guest stood up to leave. As I stood to open the door, I found an arm around my shoulder. "I'm glad we had this talk, Molly."

"So am I. Thanks for coming by. I'll get back to you just as soon as I get a spare moment."

"Goodbye, Molly."

"Bye, God."

I sighed heavily. I'll have time for him tomorrow, I thought. I took my English book off the desk and began to study.


-The End