Patchwork - June 23, 2010

by Donna Smith Ammons

“Donna Ammons, please report to the Service Desk.”

These words make me cringe. If something is important enough to interrupt my weekly journey through Walmart...then it must be serious.

Several weeks ago, I was pushing my buggy up and down the aisles of our friendly Walmart, when the intercom system clicked on and the inevitable happened.

“Donna Ammons, please report to the service desk.”

I quickly turned my buggy around and raced down the aisle toward the front of the building. PaPaw had been in the hospital and we’d been keeping a real close watch on him since he’s been home. When I first heard the page, I immediately thought that I was needed at my parents’ Natchitoches Highway home.

I dodged shoppers, skirted around aisles on two wheels and propelled my buggy toward the Service Desk as quickly as possible without causing bodily injury to anyone.

I arrived and noticed that the man who had paged me was not there. And then it dawned on me...that voice sounded all-too familiar. I turned around and here came Allen in hot pursuit. A big grin was plastered across his face and already he was chuckling to beat the band.

I’d been had.....again. Allen likes catching me off guard and has been the culprit in many escapades that find me racing to the Service Desk. I can be totally unaware that he is anywhere nearby....or I can be shopping with his wife and know he is in the vicinity.

It doesn’t matter.... I usually fall hook, line and sinker for his practical joke.

He always gets a big laugh out of my race to the front. By now I should expect his tom-foolery and be wary of any page when the four of us are together.

One day, I’m going to repay him...and we’ll see who has the last laugh!! I’m putting you on notice, Big Al......beware.