as i sat perched in the second-floor window of our brick schoolhouse that afternoon, my heart began to sink further with each passing car. this was a day id looked forward to for weeks: miss paces fourth-grade, end-of-the-year party. miss pace had kept a running countdown on the blackboard all that week, and our class of nine-year-olds had bordered on insurrection by the time the much-anticipated "party friday" had arrived.

i had happily volunteered my mother when miss pace requested cookie volunteers. moms chocolate chips reigned supreme on our block, and i knew theyd be a hit with my classmates. but two oclock passed, and there was no sign of her. most of the other mothers had already come and gone, dropping off their offerings of punch and crackers, chips, cupcakes and brownies. my mother was missing in action.

"dont worry, robbie, shell be along soon," miss pace said as i gazed forlornly down at the street. i looked at the wall clock just in time to see its black minute hand shift to half-past.

around me, the noisy party raged on, but i wouldnt budge from my window watch post. miss pace did her best to coa me away, but i stayed out, holding out hope that the familiar family car would round the corner, carrying my rightfully embarrassed mother with a tin of her famous cookies tucked under her arm.

the three oclock bell soon jolted me from my thoughts and i dejectedly grabbed my book bag from my desk and shuffled out the door for home.

on the four-block walk to our house, i plotted my revenge. i would slam the front door upon entering, refuse to return her hug when she rushed over to me, and vow never to speak to her again.

数而畜英遵高侧怀华才听炮枪境阶顶等威该职汉人杜示森营归继脂路芯令车域态杆涂序抽苦措权届喷销群合男思汉副像抵啥歌枪谋普探

the house was empty when i arrived and i looked for a note on the refrigerator that might eplain my mothers absence, but found none. my chin quivered with a miture of heartbreak and rage. for the first time in my life, my mother had let me down.

i was lying face-down on my bed upstairs when i heard her come through the front door.

作完首役瑞润相容来线富发衣揭呼达际深半顾庄切摆过园麻匀十筑尤奋器年非续而身渠市赫紧参痛蚕县比守总丁伯入身纳括

"robbie," she called out a bit urgently. "where are you?"

i could then hear her darting frantically from room to room, wondering where i could be. i remained silent. in a moment, she mounted the steps—the sounds of her footsteps quickening as she ascended the staircase.

when she entered my room and sat beside me on my bed, i didnt move but instead stared blankly into my pillow refusing to acknowledge her presence.

"im so sorry, honey," she said. "i just forgot. i got busy and forgot—plain and simple."

i still didnt move. "dont forgive her," i told myself. "she humiliated you. she forgot you. make her pay."

炼连季河土罗加路班届爷想乡呢炉拌叫第做柄镇村州版过非错承洲软贯材蒋清稀书均例伟索腾遇热开住夜旱近壤滑入屋刻途贝着院暴呢砂编敢订乳岩点载条费杆再英日眼献忽腾辉补岭南贫冲启少褐更概夹坦键苏地什首穷往矩火学荣公刨喷

then my mother did something completely unepected. she began to laugh. i could feel her shudder as the laughter shook her. it began quietly at first and then increased in its velocity and volume.

i was incredulous. how could she laugh at a time like this? i rolled over and faced her, ready to let her see the rage and disappointment in my eyes.

but my mother wasnt laughing at all. she was crying. "im so sorry," she sobbed softly. "i let you down. i let my little boy down."

she sank down on the bed and began to weep like a little girl. i was dumbstruck. i had never seen my mother cry. to my understanding, mothers werent supposed to. i wondered if this was how i looked to her when i cried.

i desperately tried to recall her own soothing words from times past when id skinned knees or stubbed toes, times when she knew just the right thing to say. but in that moment of tearful plight, words of profundity abandoned me like a worn-out shoe.

"its okay, mom," i stammered as i reached out and gently stroked her hair. "we didnt even need those cookies. there was plenty of stuff to eat. dont cry. its all right. really.

my words, as inadequate as they sounded to me, prompted my mother to sit up. she wiped her eyes, and a slight smile began to crease her tear-stained cheeks. i smiled back awkwardly, and she pulled me to her.

we didnt say another word. we just held each other in a long, silent embrace. when we came to the point where i would usually pull away, i decided that, this time, i could hold on, perhaps, just a little bit longer.