On Saturdays, Carol, her husband Rob, and their son Jamie run errands and have a snack.
As the day progresses, everything goes exactly as Carol predicted. Until they arrive at a fabric store where Carol is looking for supplies to build Jamie’s Halloween costume, only to find hidden secrets buried deep in her family’s past. She is left to try and unravel the layers of grief she didn’t know she was carrying.
Like any other Saturday morning, we started the day with my husband, Rob, and our six-year-old son, Jamie, running errands and grocery shopping. Little did I know, however, that everything I thought I knew about my life would be challenged at the end.
We were in the car wash when Jamie shouted from the back seat, “Mommy.” “Can I have some ice cream?”
“If you’re a good boy at the grocery store, then yes, we can get ice cream on the way home,” my husband replied.
Jamie smiled at his father, his face lighting up.
I asked him, “Are you sure about your Halloween costume?”
Halloween was a few weeks away and as usual, I planned to make his outfit myself. This time, however, Jamie considered several options before deciding on a costume.
After talking about becoming a tree, a spider, an ocean, a wizard, and finally a ghost, he seemed to like the idea.
One morning he said, “It’s fine, Mom,” as I added milk to his breakfast. Like I’m a benevolent spirit.
None that scare me.”
I think my son was okay with being a ghost until this morning.
I could only hope she would remember it when we got to the fabric store.
“Yes,” he said. “Ghost. Should I go see Casper?”
Rob laughed beside me.
“Yes,” I replied, laughing at my young man.
Jamie behaved himself and after washing the car we went shopping together. I knew him; if ice cream was promised, he wouldn’t stop until he got it.
As we walked down the aisles, Rob continued to add products to our cart and discuss the dishes he wanted me to make.
He said, “Grilled fish tonight, Carol.”
“That’s the way to go.
Everything went smoothly, even for Jamie, who was humming the entire time.
“One more stop, buddy,” I addressed him.
“And then it’s time for ice cream.
When we arrived at the fabric store, I browsed the aisles trying to pick the perfect fabric for my son’s ghost costume.
Every few minutes Rob was nervously checking his phone and texting someone. I chalked it up to my husband’s weakness—sports gambling was just one of his many weaknesses—and the baseball game later that day.
As I was about to check the measurements I had written down, I noticed the sales lady approach us and grab my phone.
Rob paled as he stared at her, which was strange in itself. And then it got even weirder.
When my son spotted the woman at the end of our row of clothes, he leaped forward and propelled himself faster than I could imagine with my little legs. He stopped in front of the woman and gave her a wide, innocent-looking look.
He seriously asked, “Are you my mom?”
Face pale, the salesman’s eyes darted around before settling on an equally astonished Rob.
Confused and taken aback by Jamie’s innocent question, the fabric shop scene unfolds as a surreal moment for Carol. At that moment, buried mysteries from her past seemed to surface unexpectedly, casting shadows on the idyllic Saturday trip she had envisioned. The shock on Rob’s face hinted at a deeper story that Carol realized she needed to unravel, even if it meant confronting uncomfortable truths.
As they left the fabric store, Carol couldn’t shake the feeling that Jamie’s question had a deeper meaning. It set off a wave of emotions and questions about her family’s history, which she had pushed aside for too long. The tranquility of their routine Saturday errands was disrupted by this unexpected encounter, leaving Carol with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension about what lay ahead.
Carol reflected on the day’s events and understood that sometimes, even in the midst of ordinary activities, life can bring profound moments of revelation. She knew she could no longer ignore the hidden secrets – she demanded to be revealed and understood. With determination, she prepared to delve into her family’s past, ready to face all the truths that lay ahead and find the closure she needed.
In the days that follow, Carol embarks on a journey of self-discovery and family exploration, guided by Jamie’s innocent question and the disturbing reactions it elicits. It was a journey that challenged her perceptions, but ultimately led to a deeper understanding of herself and those close to her.
As they returned home on Saturday night, Carol decided to face the complexities of her family’s past with courage and openness. Whatever revelations awaited her, she knew they were necessary for her own growth and for the harmony of her family. An incident at the fabric store was the catalyst for change, forcing her to confront the shadows of her past and find healing in the truths that emerge.