Okay, so we were lazy yesterday and decided to run to Jimmy John’s for lunch rather than scrounge around the house for something to eat. We gathered up the orders and hopped in the car leaving the kids behind.

“Oh, you’re going to this Jimmy John’s. I thought you would want to go to the other one.”

“I still might if I can’t find a parking space downtown.”

And then it materialized. A space about a block and a half away from our destination. I pulled in rather than backing into the space to parallel park the correct way but there was plenty of room when I backed up.

“Look at that! A space and there’s even time left on the meter.” She reached into her purse.

“Don’t worry about it. We can make it in ten minutes, no problem.”

“Oookaay,” she responded with disbelief.

The air was brisk and she reminded me that we would have to walk uphill to get back to the car. The I saw her, dressed in official blue, carrying her handheld device for printing tickets and walking back toward our car.

“Uh-oh. I hope I’m right.”

“Look! Two more empty spaces right in front of Jimmy John’s.”

“Yeah, but they don’t have money on the meter. Plus we got some exercise.”

“Wouldn’t that be funny if you ended up having to pay for a ticket because you didn’t want to put more money in the meter.”

“Yeah,” I said with no cheer in my voice.

We placed our orders and I shifted from one foot to the other as they made our order.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure?”

“I guess my competitive spirit woke up. I want to beat her back to the car.”

I grabbed the sandwiches under my arm with a quick “thank you”and rushed out the door. I saw the light change at the corner and realized we’d at least have to wait for traffic to clear. I hoped it wouldn’t take too long. As we approached a couple of cars went through, but we hit the crosswalk in stride, breathing a little heavier in the crisp air.

And there she was. She had turned on the side street and was just finishing with a ticket for another car.

“We’re safe now,” I announced.

“Why?”

“She’s behind us, on the other street,” I answered as I looked back over my shoulder to see her following.

“And with two minutes to spare on the meter. I told you so.”

“We are so out of shape,” she panted.

“Yeah, but what a rush!”