Barriers

Milton sat down at the computer.  He was just about ready to continue on his novel.

He opened Word and placed his hands on the keys.

Just when he was about to write something, the phone rang.  He was going to ignore the phone call, but the Caller ID had an important name on it.  It was his dad.

“Hey son!” The father said.  “Do you think you could get me some groceries?  I would get them myself, but you know…. I have a bad back….”

“Sure.” Milton said with a smile.  “Just tell me what you need, and I’ll get it for you.”

And that’s what Milton’s father did.  Milton went to the store, got the groceries and delivered them to his father.

After that, Milton returned to his home.  He got in the chair and placed his hands on the keys.  After typing a sentence or two, another interruption.  His wife opened the door.

“I’m home!” The wife announced.  “Milton honey, let’s go out to eat, okay?”

Milton quietly sighed.  “We could make something here, couldn’t we?”

The wife shook her head.  “I’m tired.  I’m not in the mood to cook tonight.”

At that, it was settled.  Milton put on his coat and they drove to a sit down restaurant.

After that, Milton returned to the computer.  I am going to make progress tonight, he said to himself with determination.

Two more paragraphs and the doorbell rang.  It was his wife’s sister.  She brought her two little ones over, since her husband was working late.  One was a boy and the other was a girl.  Now Milton knew that he wouldn’t get a single thing typed while they were around.  The twins were two, and were very loud and hyper.

After they stayed a while, the sister left with the twins.  Milton’s face lit up.  Story time….

He bolted to the computer and continued writing his novel.  No sooner than he finished a few more sentences, he heard his wife calling him:  “Milton honey?  Come to bed with me!”

Milton let out a quiet sigh of defeat.  With all these barriers, how is he ever going to get his book done?  Milton wasn’t about to lose his opportunity.  He set his cell phone alarm to 4:00 a.m.  That would guarantee some progress before he had to get ready for work.  He adjusted his glasses and stared back at the computer screen.  I’ll be back, he told the screen with a whisper.  Don’t you worry….

Milton then made his way upstairs, glancing at the computer screen one more time before he reached the landing….

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©2012  K. L. Walker