Charlie’s Room: Lucky Socks

Aunt Doris broke her hip and Marianne flew out to help her recover. So, it was just Isaac and Charlie at home. And here it was, Monday morning, and Isaac’s alarm hadn’t gone off. They weren’t late yet, but he had ten minutes to get Charlie to school. It was going to be a bit of a rush.

Charlie was eating dry cereal out of a baggie as Isaac drove around the last corner. “It looks like you’re going to be on time,” Isaac said. “We did it. I think we’re going to have a good day after all.”

“Yeah, I guess.   It’s Monday after all,” Charlie said.   “Oh no! I just remembered I have a history test today.” He frowned.

“You’ve been keeping up on your reading,” Isaac said, pulling up to the school. “You’ll be fine.”

“You don’t understand,” Charlie said. “I’m not wearing my lucky socks. Please go get them. I really, really need my lucky socks. Please, Dad?”

“I’m already late for work, Charlie. I’m sure you’ll do fine.” Isaac looked in his rear view mirror. The line of cars behind his was getting longer. “Hop out, Charlie. We’re holding up the line.”

Charlie’s eyes teared up. “Please, Dad,” he said.   “Mom would get them for me. I need them. Please?”

Isaac sighed.   What was ten more minutes? “What do they look like?” he asked.

“Thank you, Dad!   They’re light blue with green spots, and they’re at the top of my sock drawer. Thank you. Bye!”   Charlie beamed and hopped out of the car.

Isaac sighed again and battled his way against the flow of traffic. He got home, checking the time on the car’s clock. He needed to be at work in five minutes or he’d be late for the meeting. It was impossible. He got out of the car. He was here, so he might as well find the socks.

He opened a few drawers before he found Charlie’s sock drawer. The socks were right on top. Isaac smiled, picked them up, and closed the drawer. His phone rang.

“Hello, this is Isaac,” he said.

“Isaac, I’m glad I got a hold of you,” the office manager said. “I’m sorry this is such late notice, but go back to your car and go home for the morning. The building is being fumigated, so come back after lunch. The meeting’s been rescheduled to one. I’m really sorry I didn’t find out sooner.”

“That’s all right,” Isaac said. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“No problem,” the office manager said. “Well, I have to go. More phone calls to make. See you later. Bye.”

“Bye,” Isaac said.   He looked at the socks. It had to be a coincidence. Well, it sure made the morning easier. Now he needed to take the socks to Charlie.

He strode down the hall and opened the front door. There was a package there. It hadn’t been there a moment ago. He looked up and down the street. No one was there. He put the socks in his pocket, brought the package inside, and opened it.

It was the book he’d preordered, but it wasn’t supposed to be out for another day. He flipped it open. The author had signed it. He checked the name on the package to be certain they hadn’t mixed him up with someone else.

He set the book on his desk and went out to the car. There was more gas left in the tank than he’d remembered. Every light was green on the way back to the school. The office worker smiled at him when he came in to drop off the socks. She offered him a mint, and it was his favorite kind.

He held out the socks. “Charlie needs these for class today,” he said.

“I’ll make sure he gets them right away,” she said. She took the socks and reached for a pen. “Oh!” she said. “There’s my earring. I’ve been looking all over for it.”

Isaac smiled.   “I’m glad you found it. Thank you for your help,” he said. He headed out to the car. Was it fair to give Charlie an advantage on his test like socks that lucky? He’d have to talk to Charlie about the socks when he got home.