The Worry List

by carolynholm

Dear Mommy,
My worry list is different than Molly’s was.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I would imagine it is. Molly had a very long list of concerns. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mommy,
Her list included some things that I’m not worried about. Like thunder and fireworks. 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I’m so glad they don’t frighten you. Your biggest worries seem to be people who wave their arms and people who shout. I’m so sorry you were abused when you were young.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mommy,
And then there’s the car.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Yes, riding in the car makes you anxious. That’s why we got you a Thunder Jacket. It seems to help on long drives!
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mommy,
Molly also told me to be very careful about children, strange dogs, unauthorized visitors, bicycles, strollers, hair dryers, hammers, skunks, raccoons, and skateboards. She forgot to mention the vacuum cleaner.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I think she had declared a truce with the vacuum by the time you came along.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mommy,
She was fine with Puffin, but he makes me anxious. He ambushes me.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You chase him out of the room sometimes. It evens out.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mommy, 
I think Molly was wrong when she told me to worry about strange dogs. I like meeting dogs! Except for the small rude ones.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Maybe you can solve a mystery for me. Some dogs set you off when you are half a block away from them. How can they signal rudeness from that far away?
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mommy,
Oh, that’s easy. I know them all from the messages along our walking route. I know the rude dogs from the nice ones.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Dogs have amazing noses.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mommy,
Molly told me we are all doomed. 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Don’t take everything Molly told you to heart. She was whip-smart and wise, but she was a glass-half-empty girl.
Love, Carolyn

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