Juggle
“…and then we are meeting with the new client tomorrow for lunch at twelve. You can make it, right? If you can’t, you really need to let me know.”
Mike adjusted the cell phone pressed to his ear. “Yeah, I can make it. I’ll definitely be there.” With his left hand, he typed an email to his boss with an overview of last month’s financials. With his right hand, he stirred the pot of noodles. “What time?”
“Twelve. Mike, if you can’t – “
“Dave, I will be there. I promise.”
“Good. This project won’t take off unless you’re fully on board.”
“I’m fully committed. Believe me. I’m looking forward to the day I can quit my job and work full time with you.”
“I don’t know how you juggle everything, man. Sometimes it’s like – “
“Oh, Dave, hey I gotta go. The house phone is ringing.”
Mike raced into the living room and grabbed the house phone just as the answering machine message was ending.
“Hello, Mike speaking.”
“Hey,” his wife said. “Max’s teachers have asked to meet with us at six instead of seven. You can still make it, right?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
“Good. What’s Mandy doing? Is she happy that you’re working at home today?”
“Yeah, I think so. We’ll see how she feels after she tries my cooking. Speaking of which, I can hear the smoke alarm. Gotta go!”
Mike raced back into the kitchen, hearing his cell phone ring and feeling it vibrate in his pocket. Water poured over the sides of the pot and smoke rose from the burner. As he turned off the heat and swatted at the smoke, he could see thirty new emails had come in on his laptop.
“Dad? Are you ok?” Mandy appeared in the doorway, clutching a doll.
“Everything is peachy, my dear. Lunch is just about ready.”
“Dad…after lunch can we play?”
Mike closed his laptop and silenced his phone. “Of course we can play.”
—-
328 words for Trifecta using the third definition of the word ‘juggle’.
3: to handle or deal with usually several things (as obligations) at one time so as to satisfy often competing requirements
it’s a truth that I am no longer in the 60s and 70s. Nice to see the side of men needing to juggle family and work things. And, love that the important came first – the child wanting to play.
Cool story – and I love the ending. (I have to confess, when I’m working from home and on-the-clock, I’m not good about putting it aside.)
I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. The fast pace and constant juggling of tasks was captured really well with the short bursts of dialogue. Loved the ending – shame more people can’t do this.
Ah, that ending is great! (: It’s good to know he has his priorities in the right order.
Go Mike…before you have a triple bypass by the age of 40
Wonderful ending. My brother-in-law is like this. He works out of his house. Dialog is vivid and real..
My husband says its impossible to work from home when the kids are there. Great post.
Love the dialogue and characters, but having a hard time suspending disbelief – lol
Putting the most important first… the never ending battle in life to multi task – you wrote it well.
Sounds like a guy doing a pretty good job of the juggling! Nice that he stops the juggling when he needs to; he’s got his priorities straight, clearly.
You captured the realness of a juggled life.
Frankly, I was a little nervous with his juggling until I realized he was a professional.loved the quick pace! Go dads!!!
Glad with all of the things he is juggling, he makes time for his daughter. It made me nervous that he was juggling too much, I remember the feeling, I love retirement.
Katie atBankerchick Scratchings
Well done. I like how he chooses to end the phone calls above all else. One way to juggle!
Wow!Loved everything about this piece!He juggles with so many roles & activities & that comes out beautifully-one can sense the urgency & the alacrity with which he rushes from one job to the other.Loved the ending so much-he definitely knows what comes first on his list of priorities-great job:-)