Flushed

This is what happens when I ignore my compulsiveness to put everything where it belongs.

Last night we celebrated a friend's 30th birthday. It was Carl's turn to play designated driver, so admittedly I celebrated a little bit more than he did. By the time we got home and relieved my sister of her babysitting duties, I was pretty beat and totally not following my typical nighttime routine. So shoes, clothes, jewelry, everything came off in the bathroom. Nothing was where it should've been.

CUT TO the next morning.

FADE IN:

INT. MASTER BATHROOM - DAY

CARL and EMMA are gathering dirty laundry. EMMA spies something shiny on the counter--her mother's wedding and engagement rings. She tries them on.

EMMA
(calling to MAMA, who is in the bedroom) Mommy, I wear your rings, OK?

MAMA
(replies from the bedroom, distracted)
Sure, honey, bring them in here, please.

EMMA sneezes. She reaches across the toilet for some toilet paper to wipe her nose with. After a good wipe, she puts the toilet paper in the toilet, accidentally dropping one of the rings into the bowl as she does.

CARL
C'mon, Emma, let's go. Other room, please.

CARL ushers EMMA into the bedroom with one hand and flushes the toilet with the other. EMMA goes to MAMA, next to the bed.

EMMA
Here, mommy. I dropped one.

MAMA
What do you mean you dropped one, honey?

EMMA
I dropped one in the potty.

MAMA looks up at CARL in alarm.

CARL spends the rest of the day fruitlessly disassembling the toilet and trying to fish MAMA's wedding band from the pipes.

MAMA buys some more wine.