Ten.One Thousand, Four Hundred & Fifty-Three

1. I actually do need to get up.

2. I leave early so that I have time to find the hat. I drive slowly down 29. She said by a cement drain thing before you get to Nickel & Nickel.

3. Found it! I get out of the car and walk down the shoulder and pick up the hat. I turn it over. Another kid’s name. I laugh. Well, at least I’ll make someone else happy today.

4. I decide to close the lid. There is enough room in here. I lean back into the water and let myself float. I close my eyes and breathe.

5. The hour goes by so fast.

6. Epsom salt crust behind my ears and under my chin because I didn’t fully rinse my braids.

7. I tell her how I told someone else that this season has been good for all of us because it’s made us feel more connected to this play in which we now live. I feel better about everything.

8. At the stop sign, I see he’s sent me a picture. It’s my son kneeling and one of his teammates kneeling with him, their arms around each other’s shoulders.

9. Season over. I wish it would have ended differently.

10. What will we do now?