by Carol Taylor
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When Shari Didn’t Come Home
Mrs. Sorenson was worried. Little Shari had not come home from school. She was in the fifth grade and always walked the block and a half home with her older sister, Leanne, and her twin sister, Terri. The girls had waited for her after school but she didn’t show up so they walked home without her.
Mrs. Sorenson questioned each of her daughters about Shari. Terri was the only one who had any clues. “I saw her with Maryanne at recess,” she said. “Maybe she walked home with her.” But when Mrs. Sorenson asked Maryanne’s last name, Terri said it sounded like ‘Slim-kinny’ or something like that. Mrs. Sorenson frowned. She didn’t know anyone who had a name like that. There was nothing to do but wait. Now the whole family was concerned. Mother did her best to stay cheerful, certain that Shari would call soon.
An hour later, Shari did call and when she told her mom that she was over at Maryanne’s, she acted like she’d done nothing wrong. She knew her parents had told her never to go anywhere without telling them, and she had intended to call mom the moment she got to Maryanne’s. Then she’d been so excited to see Maryanne’s new pony that she forgot. But she did eventually call—wasn’t that all that mattered? But Mom didn’t see it that way and told her she was coming to pick her up immediately. Shari was so disappointed she was mad. Everybody at school had wanted to see Maryanne’s pony and when Maryanne had invited her first, she was on cloud nine. Now mom was spoiling it all.
Mom politely thanked Mrs. Slovensky (she couldn’t help smiling when she remembered how Terri had pronounced the difficult name) and took Shari straight home. Shari had sulked angrily all the way home. When dad got home, the story was repeated and the two of them decided that Shari would not be able to visit any friends for a month. Shari had gone to bed in tears.
The next morning, she was still in the dumps. Mom cheerfully told her to get ready for school, as she always did, and Shari made a face and kept slamming things and pouting. It was bad enough that they’d spoiled her day at Maryanne’s, now they’d spoiled a whole month! It was unfair! And wouldn’t you know it? Maryanne asked her twin sister over to see the pony the very next day and that goody-two-shoes asked permission first and got to go! Now Shari was really mad.
The Sorensen’s thought that Shari would get over her little tantrum and change back into the sweet little girl she usually was. But hearing Terri tell the whole family at dinner about the ‘adorable’ little pony and getting to ride her! Shari sulked even more. The unfairness of it all was eating away at her.
Mom and dad talked to her alone that night and explained again that anytime anyone breaks rules, there’s always a consequence. But Shari felt she had obeyed. She intended to call them and was just late doing it! How was that breaking the rules? Her parents sighed. How could they get through to her? Then dad had an idea.
Dad had gone to work that third day very thoughtful. When the girls got home from school he called and asked to speak to Shari. Expecting another lecture she answered in a sullen voice. Instead of a lecture, however, dad asked her what flavor ice cream she wanted him to bring home. Eyes dancing, she’d immediately shouted, “Rocky Road!” and all thought of her unfair punishment was forgotten.
“Did daddy say when he would be home?” Mom asked.
Grinning, Shari said, “Twenty minutes!” Mom smiled, looking at her now happy daughter, bribed from her sulks by a half gallon of ice cream.
The girls went off to play happily, anticipating their treat, while mom started dinner. Every few minutes the girls would rush to the window looking for daddy. “How long has it been?” Leanne asked excitedly.
“Only 10 minutes,” Mom laughed. “Don’t worry, he’ll be here soon enough.”
But he wasn’t. 20 minutes went by and then 30.
“Shouldn’t he be here by now?” Shari asked.
“Well,” said mom, trying not to sound worried, “Maybe he got stuck in traffic. I’m sure we don’t need to worry.”
But an hour later he still had not come. The girls forgot their games and sat by the window watching. Mom tried not to look concerned but she couldn’t help glance at the window from time to time. An hour and twenty minutes later the ringing phone made them all nearly jump out of their skins. Shari got to the phone first and heard a familiar voice. “Daddy!” she cried in delight and relief. “Where are you?”
“Let me talk to your mother,” was all he said, as the other girls visibly relaxed. He was OK!
When mom got off the phone she said, “Your dad started talking to an old friend in the ice cream store and just didn’t realize the time!”
The girls were stunned. Here they’d sat, worried and watching, and the entire time dad was fine! When he got home, he put the ice cream in the freezer and sat the girls down.
“Hey,” he said, cheerfully, “You guys weren’t worried about me, were you?” All three girls nodded vigorously.
“Gosh,” he said apologetically, “I’m sorry. As soon as Pete and I started talking I thought about calling you but then he had so many interesting things to say, I just forgot. But hey,” he said, all smiles, “I did call, didn’t I?” They all nodded, but somehow their little hearts weren’t happy.
“Did you like it when you were worried about me?” he asked them softly. They all shook their heads. He gathered all three girls into his arms. “That’s because you love me and don’t want anything bad to happen to me, huh?” Three nodding heads showed how glad they were that he understood. “You know,” he continued, lovingly, “It’s because we love you that we worry about you. And when we don’t know where you are, we worry. Remember that people don’t worry about people they don’t love.”
Then turning to Shari he said gently, “It’s no fun to worry about someone you love for even one hour, is it Shari?” She shook her head slowly. She understood now. And as he gave each of them a hug and a kiss, Shari whispered tearfully, “I’m sorry daddy. I won’t forget to call again.” And never did ice cream taste so good as it did that night with everybody safe at home!
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