Amy

On Sunday morning I cleaned the house in preparation for my sisters staying the night. Aunt Catherine still felt crummy. Uncle Jay mentioned he'd brought her breakfast in bed. After 30 years of marriage they still adore each other. I hope someone adores me like that someday. High School boys are so lame.

"Uncle Jay, I'm gonna head out. I'll catch an Uber to the LIRR."

"Nonsense! I'll drop you off at the train station on the way to the pharmacy." He put on his coat and jangled his car keys.

"Are you sure you don't mind?"

He gave me a dad look. "How many times do we hafta tell you you're like the daughter we never had."

"But you do have a daughter--Karen!"

Uncle Jerry pretended like he just remembered. "Oh yeah... I forgot about her...  Ever since she moved to Binghamton we hardly see her."

I kissed him on the cheek then snuggled into my mid length pink sherpa coat. "With Aunt C. being under the weather maybe we should postpone our sister visit."

"Don't you dare. According to your aunt we are still eating promptly at 3:00pm. She's ordering pizza, salad and calzones if that's ok."

"Okay? It's perfectly perfect!" On the weekends I allowed myself some carb indulgence.

We headed to the Lindenhurst train station. I'd be in Manhattan by ten o'clock. I'm not sure why Jo needs my help. It must be urgent. She's never asked for my help for anything. Oh, unless doing her chores counts.

I love trains. They are usually punctual and tidy. Trains never go off course--unless they get derailed. My stomach dropped.  Suddenly I got the sinking suspicion I was about to be derailed. Not off the tracks but something much much worse. In the past  mother might've proclaimed,, "You're being overly dramatic Amy." But not this time. Somehow she always knew the difference..

She'd ask, "Amy, do you know what time it is?"

I'd look at my phone. "Sure it's 9:07 PM."

She'd reply obtusely. "But Amy, do you know what time it is?" Then she quoted from the book of Esther, "Who knows but perhaps you were born for such a time as this?"

Perhaps? I never got it at the time but now?  I believe she meant the end times. I didn't want it to be the end times when she first told me.. I still don't. You can't always get what you want...

As I entered the train I got an eerie feeling. It wasn't from the faint smell of urine and stale beer either. I sat in a seat near the exit door. As the train began moving I realized I'd forgotten my wallet. When I switched bags to compliment my ensemble I'd remembered lipstick, a compact, a tampon, a chewy granola bar, my water canteen and my mother's journal to read in case I got bored... or needed to see into the future...

I could hear the conductor at the far end of the car, "Tickets please." Clickety, click click. Apparently the Long Island Rail Road still did things the old fashioned way. The conductor wore an old timey blue cap to match.

Frantic, I opened Mother's journal in hope of some timely advice.

Dearest youngest daughter, my darling Amy, only use your pillaging powers when it is absolutely necessary.

Mother, how do I know the necessary from the frivilace?

When you are doing it for the greater good or helping out someone in need.

Jo needed me. She sounded almost frantic in her text.

I whispered aloud, "I'd prefer the conductor not ask me for my ticket."

As the conductor approached my row I braced myself. He remarked, "Don't you look lovely this morning, miss." Then he continued into the next train car.

It worked and I didn't feel guilty. Uncle Jerry had retired from the LIRR and told me I could ride for free but I'd forgotten his pass along with my bank card and ID.

When I turned the page in my mother's journal there was this:

How to Know When it's Okay to Use Your Powers

It's an emergency
You are helping someone else.
it is for humanity's greater good.
It's not for selfish purposes (but for Kingdom advancement.)
It feels right. (Trust your instincts.)

My instincts? Sigh... they were all over the map.

Amy, I'd like to add: " take a pause"  Don't react to a situation RESPOND to it. In the word "response" is the word "pause." Before you act--take a pause. Does it still set well with you? Do it. Of course there are times where gut reactions are absolutely necessary but these are rare. You are rare. Don't use your power to manipulate but rather to facilitate.

Good advice Mom! What does facilitate mean? I'll google it.

You know you could't google things when you were little. I made you look things up in the dictionary.and our Encyclopedia Britannica. You'll find most Boomers have a set in their attics or basements. You might need them if the Internet goes out.

Heaven forbid mother! Bite your spiritual tongue!

Oh did I say if? I mean when the Internet goes out. I'd PREFER  you are ready.

Very funny mom...

When the train entered Penn Station I breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn't wait to breathe the stale underground air. However when I ascended the stairs I noticed the oddest thing. About half of the people were wearing facemasks like they do in Japan.

I tried stopping a few people to ask them why. Is there a gas leak? A flu outbreak? No one wearing a mask would stop. Finally I stopped at a coffee vendor and asked the man working.

"Mass hysteria is what it is. This morning's paper said the epidemic in China has shut down Italy and there's been several cases of the disease in the US. Mostly on the West Coast but there are three suspected cases in New York City."

I must have looked dumbfounded.

He joked, "Maybe I should start selling masks and toilet paper instead of coffee and bagels?"

"Toilet paper?" Now I was truly dumbfounded.

"Where do you live little girl? Under a rock? There's been a run on toilet paper. You can't find a single roll in all of Manhattan."

"Huh?"

"Look young lady, buy something already. This ain't no information booth."

"I'll take a coffee--regular."

He held out the coffee. "That'll be three bucks."

I remembered I forgot my wallet. "I don't have any money."

He barked briskly, "Then I don't have any coffee. Next!"

I wanted to say, "I prefer you give me coffee and a bagel but I didn't. Instead I nervously nibbled on my granola bar as I walked the ten blocks to Jo's newish apartment.

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