1. The List of Lists
Before Saturday errands, Mum wrote a list for each family member. Dad had groceries, the children had library books, and she had the pharmacy.
At noon everyone met at home and reported success. Then they discovered there was no bread.
Dad checked his list; it said groceries but gave no items.
“I bought groceries,” he said, showing tomatoes and cereal.
Mum looked at her own master list. It said MAKE DAD’S LIST, with bread underneath.
“You didn’t finish the list,” he said.
“You didn’t ask what to buy,” she replied.
The children offered to go for bread.
“Write it down,” everyone said together.
2. The Missing Glove
On a cold morning, Ava searched for her son’s missing glove. They checked the hall, the car and the school bag.
He insisted he’d put both gloves on the radiator. His little sister found one there and proudly handed it over.
The other was still missing. At school, the teacher noticed a glove sticking out of the boy’s coat sleeve.
“I put it there so I wouldn’t lose it,” he said.
Ava looked at the bare hand he’d been holding up all morning.
“And then you forgot you saved it.”
He nodded.
“The system worked. I just forgot to check the system.”
3. The Grocery Receipt
Grandpa returned from the shop with six bags and no milk.
“It was on the list,” his daughter said.
He unfolded the receipt and pointed to a line marked MILK. They checked every bag.
No carton. She called the shop; the cashier had put it in the fridge behind the counter because Grandpa had left it there while paying.
He went back to collect it and returned with milk and a loaf.
“We didn’t need bread,” she said.
“I know. I was worried I’d come home carrying only the thing I forgot the first time.”
4. The Pharmacy Number
At the pharmacy, Malik took a ticket and sat down. When his number appeared, he stood up.
An older woman beside him pointed out that he had taken a ticket for prescription collection, but he only needed shampoo. He checked the signs and moved to the ordinary queue.
Ten minutes later, the prescription counter called his number again.
“They really want to serve you,” the woman said.
Malik bought shampoo at the till and waved to the counter on his way out. The pharmacist smiled.
“Next time,” she called, “choose the queue before choosing the number.”
5. The School Pickup
Dad arrived at school pickup fifteen minutes early and found a long line of parents. He joined it.
The line moved slowly toward a table where volunteers were selling tickets for the school play. He bought two because he didn’t want to hold everyone up.
Then he found the pickup gate around the corner, with no line at all. His daughter asked why he had play tickets.
“I stood in the wrong queue,” he said.
“That’s okay,” she replied.
“I’m in the play.”
“Are you?”
“Yes. I wrote it on the notice you signed yesterday.”