A Moment to Remember

Flash Fiction

A Moment to Remember

“What happened!” said mom walking into the kitchen.

Jeremy looked, it really was a big mess. “I didn’t do it.”

Suddenly he found himself wondering how he walked into the kitchen and didn’t even see it. It was big! Spilled stuff, a dish broken, and a cracker box emptied. Yet he came in, and got a glass, and then, the milk. How did he miss this mess! He looked up at his mother, still standing there, and not happy.

The not happy made sense. It was a mess, but the not happy look was at him. “Mom, honestly, I didn’t do this! I didn’t see it coming in because I was thinking too hard. If I had done it, I would have cleaned it up before you saw it!”

“What?!! ”

Oops, thought Jeremy. That wasn’t the best way to say that. Quickly he added, “I meant I’d clean it up, and after it was clean then tell you!” this helped, but was apparently still not the right thing to say. She was squinting, her way of sorting out information.

Jeremy tried again. “I’ll help clean it up. Maybe the cat did it or maybe a mouse again…” the not happy look still there. He started picking things up. Suddenly he heard giggling.

He looked up, there was Mom trying not to laugh, and failing. She exploded!

“Mom!” he yelled, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” she finally said. “I made the mess! I dropped the glass. But I had to wake Dad up or he’d be late for his conference so I ran out. I didn’t know you were even up. She laughed some more.

“No wonder I can’t figure things out,” Jeremy said, “my parents are crazy…”

Mom broke up laughing again! That day was long remembered, by Jeremy…