"Mum!" Lydia shouted, running down the stairs. "Mum, hurry up, the concert starts in fifteen minutes!"
"Coming!" Evelyn called, grabbing her keys and jogging out of the kitchen.
She crossed her fingers before successfully starting the small car and pulling out of the narrow driveway the second Lydia's bum came into contact with the passenger's seat.
The tires squealed against the pavement as the car skidded around the corner, barely missing a lamp post. Ten minutes of reckless driving led to a screeching halt in front of the theater, where Lydia jumped out of the car.
"Love you hun, good luck!" Evelyn called as the car door slammed in her face.
She sighed, pulling out of the parking lot with a little more care and speeding down the highway towards home.

///

As Evelyn walked inside she heard screaming, and with an exasperated sigh she walked towards the shrill sound. Finding herself in the living room, she swooped up her wailing son, prying him away from his slightly older sister.
"Savannah!" She snapped. "Stop terrorizing your brother."
"But Mum!" The four-year old whined. "I didn't touch him!"
"Sure," Evelyn said, walking into the kitchen. "Dinner in ten."
She pulled out a box of mac 'n' cheese, too tired to fight with her children over a home cooked meal. Evelyn's son, Cooper, had fallen asleep on her chest by the time plates were placed in front of Savannah and Drew, who was ten. As they gobbled up the cheesy goodness Evelyn was able to wake her younger son and coax him into eating some mac 'n' cheese.

///

"Mum, I'm home!" Lydia yelled an hour later as she burst through the door and dumped her shopping bags on the bench in the hall. In search of food, the fifteen year old stormed into the kitchen. "What's dinner?"
"Mac 'n' cheese in the fridge," Evelyn murmured from where she was practically sleeping on the kitchen table.
"Again? Seriously, Mum?" She asked, raising an eyebrow as she pulled out the container.
"I'm tired, Savannah made Cooper cry again, and I'm not arguing with her about eating her vegetables today," Evelyn mumbled. "I just can't right now. Olivia refused to eat with the rest of us again."
"I guess I'll talk to her," Lydia said as she scraped the contents of the plastic container onto a plate and put it in the microwave.
"Please and thank you," Evelyn said, finally lifting her head.
"Anyway," Lydia continued, watching the plate spin around and around. "Isn't the mortgage payment due today?"
"Oh my God!" Evelyn suddenly snapped, standing up. "I completely forgot! I'll be back in twenty minutes, Lyd." As she ran out the door, she shouted, "Thank you!"

///

"Closed?! They can't be closed!" Evelyn hollered. "Wait..."
She squinted at the fine print on the bottom of the mortgage availability sign.
"A six day grace period? Hallelujah!" Evelyn screamed, running back to her car.

///

"Lydia, I'm back!" Evelyn called, setting her keys on the counter.
"Well?" Lydia asked as she put her plate in the sink.
"They were closed-"
"Crap."
"-but there's a six day grace period."
"Amen!"
Lydia gave Evelyn a quick hug before heading up the stairs, calling for her sister.