Absenteaminded

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

The microwave loudly announced it was finished with its signature repetitive shrieking.

“Oh crap, not again,” she mumbled, hurrying to silence the machine. Yanking the door open wide, she reached in with soapy hands towards the now-steaming mug sat in the centre of the turntable.

Her daughter, sat nearby with her phone in hand, cried out, “Careful Mum! Ain’t that hot?”

Mum laughed and placed the Minnie Mouse mug on the counter beside her. “Not for me.”

She took a long sip of tea and turned back to the sink, continuing to scrub the dirty plates from dinner. Her daughter, once past the imminent danger, went back to her phone.

There she sat, for the next half hour, as poor Mum rushed around the house. The laundry basket was full, so in goes a load. Floor was dirty, so the vacuum was out. Dog toys littering the living room, so there she was, on her hands and knees picking up after the little munchkins. They, of course, wouldn’t know how to put things away. They are dogs.

The daughter, late teens, walked in holding the mug in one hand and her phone in the other. Of course.

“Hey, Mum, your tea’s gone cold again.”

Mum exhaled frustratedly. She took the tea back to the microwave. For the third time that evening.

“Hey Mum,” said her daughter, eyes still fixated on her tiny screen. “You seem a little absenteaminded lately. Everything ok?”

Mum forced a smile. “Wonderful.”