It’s a Bit Cold, No?

as reported by M. M. Tirion

Pulling out of my garage, the car’s thermometer registers lower and lower temperatures. As I near Leroy St, it steadies at 1F. Waiting at the traffic light I see a young mom, hatless, carrying a bundled baby towards downtown.  As the traffic light turns green, I turn onto Leroy St, turn on the emergency flashers, pull over to the side of the street as I open a window, and holler over the snow berm:

“Hi there! Need a ride?” 

The young mom replies “We’re just going to the doctor’s.” 

I repeat: “Ok! Need a lift?”  

This time she smiles and says sure, it’s only as far as Raymond St. (“That’s over a mile away!” I am thinking).  As she hops in, I don’t know whether to admire her grit or bemoan her folly, to walk with a baby in these temperatures.  

Driving down Leroy I venture: “It’s a bit cold today,” to which mom replies cheerfully “Yes, and I also overslept so we are running late!”  

“Is the doctor’s appointment for you or the baby?”

“It’s for the baby, her two-year check up.  She turned 2 yesterday!”

My husband and I cheer: “Hurrah! Congratulations!” while the baby claps along.

I venture one last query: “Don’t you have a car?”

She replies: “I can’t afford a car. I can only work every other week. The weeks when I have the baby I can’t work”

We arrive at her destination, and with a lot of thanks and cheer, we say goodbye.