Lois sighed as she opened the kitchen window, allowing the smoke to escape. It was just as well that Clark was in Kansas right now; she didn't want to put up with his teasing when he found out about this latest mishap. Then again, if she hadn't shooed him away to go spend time with Martha today, he'd have been there to make her a cup of tea; or at least warn her that the kettle didn't already have water in it. She lifted the ruined kettle off the stove, frowning at the large, ugly hole burned into the bottom.
He hadn't argued when she suggested he go alone. It was clear from his expression that he'd wanted her to come with him, but he didn't press. It was their first Mother's Day since they'd gotten the results of Dr. Klein's tests. Martha deserved to be celebrated today, and Clark deserved to celebrate with her. Lois didn't want to bring everyone down.
Voices drifted in through the window as she set about throwing away the kettle and scrubbing the top of the stove. Apparently, some young couple was having an argument outside.
"...of all the bone-headed...total nincompoop..." A few of the woman's words were loud enough for Lois to make them out.
"But she'll love it!" The man protested.
The voices became indistinct again, until finally the woman began to shriek. "...dare ring that bell! Don't you dare!"
Lois nearly jumped out of her skin when the doorbell suddenly rang. Sounds of a scuffle were barely audible as she made her way to the door. Lois opened it, finding herself staring into the panicked face of a bespectacled brunette...and the backside of the man she had in a headlock.
"Oh!" The young woman exclaimed. There was something vaguely familiar about her, but Lois couldn't quite put her finger on why. "Uh, hi, Ms Lane. We're just...uh..."
"Happy Mo--mph dmph!" The young man suddenly found himself shouting into the woman's shirt.
"My, uh, colleague has severe hiccups," the woman explained, grinning nervously while her companion seemed to struggle. "This is a, uh, ancient folk remedy!" Her eyes followed Lois's to the bouquet in the man's flailing hand. "We're going door to door, giving flowers to...uh...married women with...jobs."
Lois blinked. She craned her neck to try to get a better look at the young man now agitatedly holding out the flowers, but the young woman turned slightly so that Lois couldn't get a good look at his face. "Married women with jobs?" Lois echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh...yes!" The woman managed to snatch the flowers from her colleague's hand without losing her grip on his head. "People often don't realize just how much work is involved in jobs...and, uh, marriage, so we just want to let you know that we appreciate you. Um...in a generic, appreciative sort of way." She handed Lois the flowers.
"Wm mv ym!!!" The young man exclaimed.
"Well, thank you..." Lois took the bouquet, a smile threatening to creep onto her face.
"We'd better get going now," the woman continued, still clutching the man's head to her shirt. "So many more doors to knock on. You understand."
Lois nodded sagely, glancing at the all-too-familiar, sleigh-like vehicle poorly concealed behind some shrubs across the street. "Yes, I think I do."
***
Clark stepped into the kitchen, his heart in his throat as he saw his wife slumped at the kitchen table, her shoulders shaking. When he got closer, though, he realized that she wasn't crying, but laughing! "Lois?"
"Hi, Honey!" Lois straightened, wiping a few tears from her eyes. "How's your mom?"
"She's fine," Clark replied, tilting his head at the large bouquet of flowers on the table. "Where did this come from?"
Lois grinned and shook her head. "Let's just say it's from future members of the Cheese of the Month Club."
The End
