I
finally do it.
I
finally break down and order the Back-to-School pizza for dinner.
I’m
lazy, I’ll admit it.
I’ve
been working myself into exhaustion at school and after school.
I
am in the building from 7:00 a.m. sometimes until 4:30 p.m. and beyond.
Today
I spend work time chasing yellow jackets because the windows have no screens.
So
I go out after school and buy expandable screens for the windows.
Four
of them.
Eighteen
inches tall.
Thirty
bucks.
Yup.
Thirty
smackeroos for four expandable screens.
Thank
goodness they are on sale 50% off.
Tomorrow
– no more bees, at least in my room.
Suddenly
while leaving the hardware store, I hear my stomach grumble.
I
ate half a sandwich at 11:00 a.m. and it’s now almost 5:00 p.m.
I
call in a pizza.
I
don’t like to do that because once that pizza is in front of me, I’m going to
eat it.
All
of it.
But
I have work to do when I get home.
More
school work to do.
Even
cooking pasta will waste too much precious time.
I
call and place the order, somewhat guiltily but while salivating.
Half
pepper and onion.
Half
Hawaiian.
Just
a small one, thanks.
Ten
minutes.
I
set my cell phone timer for nine minutes and pull out of the lot.
I
drive slowly, not too slowly, but speed-limit slowly.
I
actually do 35 mph in the 35 mph zone on Elm Street.
Usually
I drive 41 mph.
I
don’t know why.
Elm
Street begs for 41 mph.
By
the time I arrive, the screens are rattling around on the front seat and the
timer is singing.
Once
I get the pizza in my hand, I balance the toasty box on the cool screens.
My
house is within spitting distance of the pizza parlor.
I
can see my driveway from the front window of the restaurant.
I
am home within seconds, holding the pizza in one hand and my huge bag of work
stuff in the other.
I
leave the screens in the car.
I
take time out to wash my hands and open a freezing cold beer.
I
inhale the pizza.
Then
I get to work on the stuff I dragged home.
Another
four hours of work.
I’m
so tired I’m not sure I can even break down the pizza box for recycling.
But
I did break down and order the pizza.
The
Back-to-School pizza.
And
it’s delicious.
