Let's Play

"Wow, it's raining cats and dogs out there!  Sort of ruins the weekend mood, don't you think?"

"Mmmm?"  I was lost, deep within a dark mountain of paperwork.  We were short on staff and long on bookings at the office.  I was trying to juggle several accounts at once, pushing myself hard, in hopes of landing a promotion at the next performance review.  I had been up all night, with no end in sight.

"I said that I was going to slather my naked body in ranch dressing," David said from somewhere behind me.

"Sounds good." I really had no idea what he said. I hugged myself, rubbing my arms to get my cold blood circulating.

"Emily." 

I looked up at the sound of my name, to find David's face kissably close.  He touched my icy cheek, his breath warming my skin.

"You're always working,"  he said, his voice seductive. "Let's play."

"Oh, babe," I groaned, despondent. "I really need to get this done."

David just smiled as he left the room.  I tried to reimmerse myself in balance sheets once more. My eyes strayed several times to the window, the gray of the rain echoing my mood.   I sighed heavily in the silence. 

The sudden blare of the music startled me, and I turned around in my chair.  David was striking a pose in the doorway as the song "You Can Leave Your Hat On" played.  I stared.  My sweetheart was wearing my hot pink boa, a pair of electric blue platform shoes, and his old cowboy hat.

Nothing else.

The laughter burst forth from somewhere in my center, the warmth blooming and spreading throughout my body.  Tears fell from my eyes as the laughter expanded through my pores and brightened the dull of the day.  Jazz hands raised, my beloved danced wobbily toward me, encircling me with that hot pink boa and shimmying in for a kiss. 

"You win," I giggled, as he pulled me close.  "Let's play."




 


The prompt is 'juggle'--3: to handle or deal with usually several things (as obligations) at one time so as to satisfy often competing requirements




This week we’re honoring the genius of Dr. Suess, who was born on March 2, 1904.  Our two Seussical offerings are an image and a line from one of his books. Happy writing!

“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues.”
Dr. Seuss, from The Lorax

And because a birthday celebration should include everyone, if you don’t find either of these offerings inspiring, use your favorite Dr. Seuss quote or story as inspiration — just leave us a note letting us know what you chose!   I was torn, but ultimately I went with The Cat in the Hat, and their rainy day shenanigans.