“Okay guys, I’ll pick you up after school!”

Linda’s three kids waved without turning around, running towards the heavy double-doors at the entrance to their school, backpacks bouncing with each step. She smiled and enjoyed the moment – if only for a moment – before her mind started churning with the “to do’s” for the day.

She had to start with some grocery shopping. Not only did they need food to feed the family, but she had a dinner party that weekend. She had been selected by the Chamber of Commerce that year to host the annual Silent Auction – where local businesses would donate items to be sold – all proceeds going to charity. Linda’s home was definitely large enough to hold the event, and as a former chef, she planned to add to what the caterer was bringing with her own winning recipes.

Once that was done, she needed to clean the house

…just because I’ve got money doesn’t mean I can’t clean my own house…

and the pool, and get things ready for the different soccer practices/dance recitals/doctor’s appointments that were going on this afternoon.

Crap – she’d almost forgotten. It was her turn to provide after-game munchies for the soccer team. That was today. She’d need to add stuff to the list and get home asap to whip something up. The kids loved her snacks the best of all the moms, and she didn’t want to disappoint anyone. With a sigh, she drove towards her house. Help was coming in ten minutes, and she needed to be there to answer the door when it did.

As expected, the doorbell rang, and she answered with a bright smile.

“Hello, Jack!”

The young man on the other side didn’t return her greeting with much more than a weak nod and a grunt. He shoved a crumpled paper bag into her left hand with his own as he shook her hand with his right. The money slipped from her palm into his effortlessly, as if he were the maître d’ at the most expensive restaurant in town, rather than a drug dealer making his weekly delivery. He turned on his heel and stalked down her well-landscaped garden path, like a vampire trying to escape the sunlight of her cheery soccer-mom attitude.

She closed the door and heaved a sigh, looking down at the bag.

Help had arrived!