Are You Ready?

Someone was knocking at the door. She wasn't expecting them so soon. She hadn't prepared and was not quite ready yet. She still needed more time. No one was ready.

"Are you ready?", the stranger asked.

"Not yet, just one more thing", was her reply. "I'll be out in a minute."

She closed the door quietly and went to her son's bedroom. He was still sound asleep. She picked up a few stray dirty clothes, straightened the various pieces of artwork and writing on the desk and leaned over him.

"Wake up, child, it's time. I have to get going, " she whispered.

"Oh, mom, not yet. Give me just five more minutes", came his sleepy reply.

She kissed him on the cheek and quietly left the room. Again came the knocking.

"Are you ready yet?"

"Not yet, just one more thing."

On her way through the house she noticed she should have vacuumed yesterday.

She made her way to her oldest daughter's bedroom where, she too, was still fast asleep. She looked around, thinking, way too much pink in her for such a tomboy. She pushed the chair up to the desk, turned the computer off and leaned over to her ear.

"Come on, sweetie, I've got to go. Wake up and give me some goodbye hugs and kisses."

Her daughter sighed deeply and managed a slight pucker. She gave her a kiss and pulled the blanket up around her chin.

"Behave yourself while I am gone, child", she whispered.

Again came a knock on the door.

"Are you ready yet?"

"Not yet, just one more thing."

She made her way to the baby's room. There were toys everywhere. She thought to herself, I should have picked those up yesterday. The baby was still snuggled in all nice and cozy. Leaning over the child she whispered, "be good, little one. Momma has to go bye-bye now."

The child opened her eyes and asked, "me bye-bye, too?"

"No babygirl, you have to stay here with Daddy. He will take good care of you while Momma is gone. You be a big girl and take care of Daddy, too, okay?"

"I love Daddy, bye-bye Momma."

As she left the child to sleep she heard the knocking again.

"Are you ready yet?"

"Not yet, just one more thing."

She walked quietly to the room she shared with her husband. She noticed her craft project that she had never finished and realized she should have taken care of it yesterday. She stood beside the bed watching him sleep so peacefully. She touched him gently and he startled awake.

"Oh, honey, is it time for you to leave already?" he asked.

"Yes, my love, it is time. I have to go", she replied.

"But I'm going to miss you so badly when you are gone."

"I know, sweetheart. I will miss you, too. Just remember Sam has soccer practice on Wednesday's, Becky has dance class on Friday's and Jenna can't get to sleep without her little pink bunny. Everything will be fine."

She kissed him gently on the lips and gave his cheek a loving stroke. "I love you."

"Love you, too, baby."

As she walked out of the room she heard the knocking again.

"Are you ready yet?"

"Yes, I am ready."

As she stood in the doorway trembling the stranger reached out his boney, pulseless hand. And when she took his hand in hers, she felt her entire body go cold.