Madison peered out the window from the back seat of the car watching the rows of stores and people passing by as they sat in traffic. A little black dog ran by, followed by a much bigger dog, and she wondered if they were playing tag.
“Mom?”
“Yes Madison?” Madison was her name because she was born in 2004, and every girl born in 2006 was named Madison, or so it seemed.
“I want a hamster.”
Her mom sighed as she looked for parking.
“What brought this sudden idea on?”
Madison saw a boy she knew from school and waved, but he didn’t notice her. She wondered what the shovel was for.
“I saw that pet shop where they have all the black hamsters.”
“Honey, I’ve told you a million times that isn’t a pet shop. It’s an art gallery.”
“Then why do they have so many hamsters?” She frowned a bit. “And I don’t think you told me a million times.”
Her mother chuckled but tried to hide it. “You’re right.”
“It’s probably more like ten. I just forget.”
“Well, if you want we can stop there and look at the hamsters. Mommy needs to go anyway and pick up something she ordered. If only mommy could find a parking spot,” she added, more to herself or God or fate than to her daughter.
They drove in silence for a few minutes. “Did you think about it yet?”
“About what, honey?”
“The HAMSTER.”
A spot opened up ahead so she put on her turn signal as she waited for the car to get out.
“I don’t know. I think you’re allergic to them.”
“You think?” Madison didn’t remember ever hearing this before.
As she pulled up towards the spot another car jumped the medial strip and stole it from her.
“God Da-“ she started to say, then regained control of herself for Madison’s sake.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
She continued driving as Madison debated if she should ask about the hamster one more time.
This story, along with many others, all tie together in smaller, and sometimes larger ways. Feel free to read the collection by choosing “Stories of Connections” in the categories box to the right.
A Flash of Inspiration 