Knife to the heart

I was driving J to school this morning, and we were late enough (imagine that) to get stuck behind the local kindergarten bus. Normally this sets my teeth on edge, because living in EBF Central Maryland means your main road down to the highway has few side streets, and no neighborhoods (besides mine) where kids can congregate. All the houses are perched roadside, and behind them is farmland. That means the buses must stop at every stinking driveway down 94 until they make an appointed turn. Luckily this bus always turns about halfway down, so there is only 5 minutes of stop and go.

Today I chose not to grouse, but instead to Look On The Brighter Side, and chirped, "Hey! Just think. That will be you next year!" as I pointed to the bus.

J was quiet for a moment. "I don't think a full day of school will be fun."

I felt my blood pressure spring upwards, and wondered what I should say. Instead of flogging her with overly optimistic platitudes, I tried, "Why do you think that?"

"Because you don't get to see your Mommy all day."

DAMN.