Mother's Day

Caprice is coloring, as she often is.

She knows it's Mothers Day–her class made cards together for their moms on Friday–but Mom's been too busy to celebrate. And so, sitting in the staff room of the aquarium, Caprice colors.

Mom comes in to hug her or bring her a small snack in between tours, but it's a very busy day, with lots of kids and their moms visiting. How lucky they are, Caprice thinks, to be able to spend the day with not only their moms, but hers as well!

The door opens just as Caprice puts the finishing touches on her picture, hastily signing it from her to Mom.

"Caprice! I'm sorry I'm late, this last group was moving really slow! How are you doing? Tired, hungry?"

Mom wraps Caprice in a hug, and Caprice returns it as strong as she's able. "Nuh uh, I'm allllll good! Look, I made something for you!"

Mom loosens her grasp on Caprice to let her show off her picture. Caprice turns around to quickly grab it from the table and proudly presents it to her mom. It's a picture of the two of them together, underneath that giiiiiant underwater tunnel that she likes so much! She worked really hard on it, but her mom… is starting to cry? Oh no! Before Caprice has the chance to apologize though, Mom smiles and turns to her.

"You know, Caprice… would you mind helping me with this next tour? I… I've been kind of tired the last couple and have forgotten some important facts I'm supposed to share with everyone, and you know all the words better than I do at this point! I could use a little helper to pick up the slack."

Caprice couldn't believe what she was hearing! She was sad to hear that her Mom was struggling so much, but to have a chance to help, and walk around the aquarium no less…!

"Yeah! Of course! You can count on me, Mom!"

"I know! Thank you, Caprice."

"Not those, they make Mom's nose all runny!"

"What? But they're some of her fa– oh, huh, they have a different name on the tag. Nice catch!"

Dad would be hopeless without her, Millie thinks to herself. Dad puts the bouquet back and continues to skim. It's been a busy morning for the two of them, starting at the bookstore to pick up a couple novels that Mom had talked about wanting to read, and then to to the crafts store to get some empty notebooks and a nice pen. Dad offered to get Millie lunch after they finish grabbing the flowers, but Millie refused. She'd rather eat with Mom, even if the food there wasn't that good.

"They're over here, Dad!" She was eager to get a move on, worried that if they took too long to get everything Mom would think they forgot about her. That'd be bad on any day, but on Mother's Day especially.

"Ah, right you are! ...Hm. You know, her room is all white, maybe she'd appreciate something with a little more color?"

"But these are her favorite!"

"I know, but... ah, it's a special occasion, let's get two! Give me just a minute."

Millie wanted to groan in frustration, but she knew better. They were doing a lot for Mom this year, but Millie missed the Mother's Days they had before. Dad waking up early so they could make Mom breakfast together, then spending the whole day going out to the park or a movie... things felt so much nicer, even though they were doing less.

Millie understood, at least vaguely, that this would be the last time they'd be celebrating together, and the fact that Mom's been stuck in a boring room alone all day hurts her like nothing else.

Dad eventually stops scanning the flowers, though doesn't lean in to pick a bouquet. "Actually, how about you pick? I always get her the same old thing, I'm sure she's gotta be tired of them by now."

What?! After all that, and he didn't even pick anything! She wants to yell. But she knows better. Before she can fully process that feeling though, her Dad turns on his heel towards the front of the small flower shop.

"Hey, Mills, I'm gonna go pay for these so we can get out of here. I'll throw in an extra... $90 is the most expensive, right...? I'll throw that on top so pick out whatever you like! Just make sure it's colorful!"

As Dad scampers to the front of the store, muttering to himself about the time, Millie's stance softens. He's better at hiding things than she is, until he isn't.

She turns to the row of flowers–gravitating towards the red ones–as her dad hurriedly explains the situation to the cashier.