Shakespeare and Eczema Collide Head-On (Part II)

Another trip to Walgreen's for the cream

And application as the doctor said

Then off to have my weekend as designed

To have some peace: my unrelinquished dream.

Sunday and Monday come, and then, they go.

Then Tuesday and we all go back to work

But after school, Boy Two is doing worse.

His skin is his irreverent, constant foe.

His dad agrees to take him the next day

To see the doctor yet another time

If I can call and make an appointment

And I promise to call without delay.

At work, 6th period was soon to start

When my cell phone began to ring and ring.

I answer, and my husband's voice I hear

I interrupt his greeting: "I forgot."

So, here I think a side-note is in store,

Where I lament the trials of my fate:

To love, to tend, to work, to earn, to be,

The challenges I hope I’m cut out for.

Each time I try to call someone at school,

I always get distracted by my job,

I love my work, and phone calls slip my mind

I am embarrassed, feeling like a fool.

It is the constant challenge of my day

To balance all the roles I have to play

I'm mommy, wife, and teacher, and I say,

It’s difficult for all to go my way.

"I'll call at lunch. I promise," I reply,

"Then let you know the time you need to be

At daycare so that you can get the boy.

A time that works for you to get I’ll try.”

At lunch, I called the doctor, asked for when

My husband could arrive, present the boy

For inspection as to the unknown cause

Of red and clearly aggravated, skin.

"The doctor has a lot of kids today.

I do not think we can find you a spot

Unless you go to Long Beach after school

Because the office there may find a way."

My husband? Drive to Long Beach? That's a joke.

I think I'd rather walk there by myself.

"Perhaps you have a time tomorrow morn?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am." There’s just too many folk.

Lunch half-way through, and still I need to eat

And find a time to take the boy for care

It seems this battle simply can't be won

And I should lay down, humble in defeat.

But, no, as mother, failure is a crime

And so to urgent care it seems we must

Return for yet again his needs come first

As they may do from now till end of time.

The bell for end of school it rings alive.

I venture out, collect my oldest boy,

And organize while he plays iPad games.

We get picked up right at 4:45.

Collected by my man, we go to tear

The baby from his nearby baby jail

And then we drive 2 miles to the site

Of Owl Pediatric Urgent Care.

(To Be Continued...)