Fundraising in a Polar Vortex

Nicole finished giving the babysitter instructions as Brian started the car. It was the coldest night of a polar vortex. In fact, they wondered if the fundraiser would be canceled, as schools were closed two days in a row. But since this was an adults-only event – and lots of money was at stake – it was decided that the show must go on. An annual fundraiser was for their son Cody’s school. But their first.

When Cody started kindergarten, they vowed to be as involved as possible, despite both having full-time jobs. Though this was something they both truly wanted to do, there was definitely a sense of “keeping up with the Joneses”. Whether the pressure was real or imagined didn’t matter. However, it was much more difficult when the competition consisted of so many stay-at-home mothers who made their privileged circumstance a full-time job. As much as they tried, it was impossible to keep up. They both had an agreement that if either one of them wanted to become a stay at home parent, they would support one another. But circumstances changed.

Nicole certainly couldn’t help but feel jealous at times. The mom cult didn’t exactly go out of their way not to rub it in. As involved as she was, there were too many events she simply couldn’t attend – especially during the school day itself.

Nicole and Brian were both teachers, so they were both fortunate to be done with work before their son got out. And of course, summers off. It could have been way worse. They knew so many working parents who worked long hours, often coming home after the nanny put the kids to bed. Many traveled for work. Sometimes on a weekly basis.

Brian came back inside, shaking the cold from his gloved hands.

“Ready when you are,” he said.

And with that, they said goodbye to Cody. They didn’t get a sitter very often. In fact, the last time they had one, Cody was two. He was glad to be super exited to have a babysitter. And it was clear he had a bit of a crush on her.

“Daddy, you’re cold!” Cody said as Brian hugged him.

“I think I turned into an icicle!”

“Have fun!” the sitter said – one of Nicole’s prized pupils. Brian wasn’t so lucky to get students like that. He wouldn’t trust any of his students with one of his pencil, let alone his child.

They headed out into the vortex, listening to their favorite true-crime podcast. The car still felt just as cold as it was when Brian first started it. They finally felt some warmth just as they pulled into the parking lot.

The night turned out to be a full blast, filled with ample drinks, games, dancing, and mostly entertaining conversation. For once, they both felt like they fit in. They couldn’t remember the last time where they had gone to a party and had this much fun.  To top it all off, they even won a raffle – a weekend getaway to an indoor waterpark. They couldn’t wait to tell Cody.

They stayed until the event came to an end. They had signed up for the clean-up crew. Which was a good thing. They both needed time to sober up a bit.

“Are you okay to drive?” she asked as they headed outside.

“I’m fine,” he said.

They drove home, continuing the podcast. When they pulled into the driveway, there were two minutes left. They waited for it to finish, then entered the house.

Nicole took her coat off right away. Brian did not. According to the sitter, everything went well. Cody gave her no problems, other than not eating much at dinner, but that was the status quo. Nicole paid the sitter and they both saw her out the door.

Nicole followed her upstairs, still wearing his coat. They both headed into Cody’s bedroom. He was sound asleep. They kissed him goodnight, then retreated to the hallway, where he acknowledged her with a nod.

“You can stay here if you want…”

“No, it’s okay.”

They both looked at one another with a long pause.

“Goodnight,” he finally said.

“Goodnight,” she said.

And with that, she headed down the hall to her bedroom and closed the door behind her, while he headed downstairs, out the door, and back into his car.

He headed to the single bedroom he was renting three blocks away. He was hoping to find a more stable place to live in the spring.