Work!

The sound of the grandfather clock insinuated itself into the room. Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. It intoned the passage of every second and hammered the reminder that a deadline approached while every other task waited in a snaking queue that grew with each tick of the tock.

Vivian finally threw her body into the back in the upholstered arm chair. Her fingers ran through her hair as she contemplated the myriad of tasks still awaiting her attention and the most immediate and pressing one before her.

If only he had left me some money, she rued. If only I'd been smart enough to put something away. If only I'd been far-sighted enough to push having a career so that this grind wouldn't be facing me now. Yeah. If only a lot of things.

Her fingers slipped through her locks again. She sighed heavily.

And it still needs to be delivered! Good grief. This will never end!?

Well it's gonna have to. Davia gets home from school in two hours and then I need to start being role model so she can learn to manage her life like I don't manage mine.

Vivian looked back at the project. No change. It was still miles from being ready for delivery. No delivery, no pay. No pay; no groceries; no paid bills; no buying burgers at the local fast food; no movies; no pet food; no lawn service; no laundry detergent!

She considered her best friend Tyla.

Why couldn't I be like Tyla? She has it all. The house, the car, the money, the husband, the great job if she wants it, someone to take care of her every whim. She doesn't have to think about a thing. She doesn't have to worry and budget and slave.

She doesn't have to do anything, according to her, except go to the spa and work out four times a week. And then there's keeping me up to date on what happened on the soaps. Oh yes, and of course there's the planning the color of her nails and shopping for the right shade.

And of course, there's always calling me to ask what she should do about anything!

It's a good thing I'm her best friend. If I weren't, she'd be up Hell Creek with no paddle and no compass. Not that she'd know what to do with either! God, that woman couldn't work her way out of a barn door without someone to help. And to think she's four years younger than me!

Hmmmmm. Tyla's had everything, EVERYTHING, given to her all of her life. She's never had to think about anything. She's never had to think.

She's never had to work or worry. She doesn't know how. Bob essentially does it all for her. He started when her parents left off doing it - after the wedding.

When Bob is gone, what in high Heaven will she do to take care of herself and the kids? How will she even begin to figure it out?

Me, on the other hand, I've had to do it all. Marriage, manage, funeral, insurance (or, rather, lack of it), dealing with in-laws, parenting, coping, reasoning, budgeting, learning to make do or just make. Venturing into things I've never done before and coming out with a reasonable standing compared to my seasoned competition. Making creative an extreme event.

With all of this training, I know how to get by in ANY situation.

Maybe I'm the lucky one.

Vivian shook her head. Time to focus again. The constant drone of the clock insisted. Her fingers dove back toward the keyboard. No matter what her thoughts about Life, Tyla, or any of the other things, the deadline was still top priority.