I clicked leave meeting abruptly. I couldn’t be late. Not again. Quick grabbed the cluster of keys – ugh, something sticky had hardened on the silver ring – and cloth mask from my fleece’s right pocket and ran to the car. I realized, too late, I had taken the baby’s rubber-duck-printed mask. She’ll be sad. I was sad. Not a good combination, but there was no time to swap or waste.
I positioned the three-by-two pink cardboard slip, the one with our last name inked in large block letters, on the dashboard. I noticed a thick blanket of dust had gathered at the corners of the cardstock. That too would have to do. They’d be waiting. Alongside a mid-sized refrigerator on the pavement outside of the building’s locked front doors. The team worked hard for the grant. Encouraged everyone to sign up.
