Page 13 - FDCC Pandemic Book

Living in a Pandemic: A Collection of Stories on Coping, Resilience & Hope
The next thing I see is a naked toddler rushing past me toward the back door with a miniature Australian shepherd hot on his heels. They are both covered in mud. Every crevice, every inch of hair, every paw is caked in wet, brown mud.
Dante’s Tenth Circle
I t’s 55 degrees outside on a Tuesday January afternoon in sunny Scottsdale. I look up to admire a cloud formation when I am struck in the back of the head with a Minnesota Twins t-shirt soaked in mud. It feels heavy and cold while it slips onto my shoulders. I haven’t seen my hair stylist or worn anything other than yoga gear in nearly ten months, so my own vanity isn’t a concern. The next thing I see is a naked toddler rushing past me toward the back door with a miniature Australian shepherd hot on his heels. They are both covered in mud. Every crevice, every inch of hair, every paw is caked in wet, brown mud. Before I can grab either of them by the ear, they breach the doorway and are gleefully romping around the recently cleaned carpets in the living room. Where in the world did they find mud? It hasn’t rained in months, I wonder while my eyes scan the backyard perimeter for a puddle. Just as I start the mud hunt in earnest, my cell phone rings from my pants pocket. It is a client
calling for a case update. The muddy mess will just have to wait...
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Alison R. Christian
Christian, Dichter & Sluga, P.C. Phoenix, AZ