Ben's Busy Sunday (Sunday, Sept 28)

I was up really late working on the garbage disposal Saturday night. I don't feel like I got enough sleep, but I got up at 5:30 Sunday morning, anyway. I had things to do for my family.



Besides, I was hoping that if I got an early enough start, I'd have time to drop by Laurel's before I had to get to the lab.

But it didn't work out that way.



Isabel decided to join us for a family breakfast. It was nice in a way, but also a bit of a shock. She hasn't eaten a meal with us since . . . let's see . . . I guess it's been about two and a half weeks. It was a surprise, I suppose, but that was no reason for Sophia to react the way that she did.



She flat out pitched a fit and refused to eat at the same table with her mother. I didn't exactly know what to do. I thought about sending her to her room before she finished her breakfast, but honestly, I'm never 100% confident that she's eating well when I'm at work, so I settled for a stern reminder about respecting her elders.

Then I had to help Marcus with his potty. Dammitt! I thought we were past that stage, but I see now I was wrong. I wonder if this is normal. How old are kids when they stop having accidents? I don't even know. I'll have to look it up online. I am not cut out to be a mommy!

So, what with one thing and another, I barely made it to the lab on time to check my specimens. I didn't even have time to get Marcus dressed before I left.

My day did not improve.

My supervisor, Dr. Drummond, was at the lab catching up on some of her own work. So, she was present when I discovered that my experiment had failed.



I have no idea what went wrong, unless I took the samples out of their solutions too soon. Or too late? Nothing to do but make notes and try again. That's why we call it research.



Dr. Drummond stayed for several hours, assisting me with setting up new parameters for my next set of samples. It was kind of her to do so. We have had some differences in the past, but I respect her abilities as a scientist. And without her help, the work would have taken at least two days.



As it was, we were still wrapping up our work when the lab phone rang. For me. I felt my blood run cold. Isabel and Laurel were the only two people who I'd given the direct number to the lab. Neither of them would call except in case of an emergency . . . .