Woman’s One Day Away Becomes a Mother’s Worst Fear After a Call from School — Story of the Day

Mary juggled everything at home while her husband, George, stayed hands-off. Fed up, she decided to take a day for herself, leaving their daughter in his care. But as she relaxed by the ocean, her phone lit up with missed calls from the school. Now, fear set in—what happened while she was away?

Mary stood in the kitchen, moving frantically as she tried to make breakfast. She glanced at the clock and groaned. She had overslept again. Meanwhile, George was still snoring loudly upstairs.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She flipped the toast out of the toaster, only to see that it was burnt. “Ugh!” she muttered, tossing it aside. Without slowing down, she cracked eggs into the pan, but in her hurry, they burned just like the toast.

Suddenly, her alarm blared again, making her jump. “Oh, come on!” she cried, and in the confusion, she knocked over her cup of coffee.

The hot liquid splashed onto her arm, stinging her skin. “Damn it!” she yelped, grabbing a towel to wipe off the mess.

With no time to waste, she rushed to Missy’s room. She sat on the edge of the bed, gently shaking her daughter awake. “Missy, honey, it’s time to get up,” she said softly. Missy groaned, rolling over and pulling the blanket over her head.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary lifted the still half-asleep Missy and carried her to the bathroom. As she helped Missy wash her face and brush her teeth, she glanced at herself in the mirror. Her hair was wild, her pajamas were wrinkled, and a big coffee stain covered her shirt.

She carried Missy down the hall, heading toward the bedroom. She pushed the door open with her foot and saw George sprawled out on the bed, snoring softly.

“George, I’m running late. Missy’s going to be late for school. Can you help me, please?” Her voice was almost pleading.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

George grunted and rolled to his side, burying his face in the pillow. “Five more minutes,” he mumbled.

Mary sighed and hurried back downstairs, Missy clinging to her. She set Missy down at the table, grabbed a box of cereal, and poured it into a bowl, adding milk.

“I don’t want this!” Missy whined, pushing the bowl away.

Mary took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “What do you want, sweetheart?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Pancakes!”

Mary glanced at the time. She was almost out of it. “George!” she shouted toward the stairs. “I really need your help! Get Missy dressed!”

Silence. Not a single sound came from George.

Gritting her teeth, Mary grabbed the pancake mix and began braiding Missy’s hair as the batter sizzled in the pan.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

George finally strolled into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. His gaze landed on the stove. “Oh! Pancakes!” he said with a smile, sitting at the table. Without a care in the world, he grabbed a fork and began eating.

Mary glanced at him, her hands busy packing Missy’s lunch. Her shoulders ached from rushing around all morning, but she kept quiet.

“Did you forget to grab my morning paper?” George asked between bites.

Something inside Mary snapped. The words hit her like a slap. “Your paper?!” she yelled. “Why don’t you get it yourself? I’ve been running around like a maniac this morning getting Missy ready for school! I asked you to help! You didn’t even try!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

George blinked, looking confused. “But I work, and you’re a stay-at-home mom…”

Mary cut him off. “You’re on vacation!” she screamed. “You know what? I’ve had enough! I’m taking the day off. You’re dropping Missy off and picking her up from school. You’re watching her all day. I need a break!”

George scratched his head, frowning. “I thought she still went to kindergarten.”

“Aaagh!” Mary shouted, storming out of the kitchen. She raced upstairs to the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it behind her.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary stood in the bathroom, listening to the faint sound of George and Missy leaving. The front door clicked shut, and for a moment, there was silence.

She let out a long breath. Slowly, she turned on the shower, letting the hot water wash over her. It felt good, soothing her frayed nerves.

Afterward, she got dressed in comfortable clothes, grabbed a small bag, and packed a few essentials—her wallet, a book, and some snacks.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She walked out of the house, locking the door behind her. Climbing into the car, she started the engine and drove toward the ocean, craving a peaceful escape.

Mary stretched out on the warm sand, feeling the sun on her skin. The sound of the waves calmed her, washing away the morning’s stress. She swam in the cool water, floated on her back, and felt a rare sense of peace. For once, she left her phone buried in her bag.

After a while, she sat up and reached for her phone, thinking it was time to check in. As she turned on the screen, her heart skipped a beat. There were over ten missed calls from the school. Something was wrong.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary’s hands shook as she dialed the school’s number. When someone finally answered, she could barely keep her voice steady.

“Hello? You called? Is something wrong?” Mary asked, her voice trembling.

“Yes, Mrs. Johnson,” replied an elderly woman on the other end. “Missy has gone missing. She went outside during recess and didn’t come back.”

Mary’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean? How could she not return?” she almost shouted, her fear rising.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“We tried reaching you and your husband, but we couldn’t get through.”

Mary felt like the world was spinning. “How could you let this happen?!” she screamed.

“Please, Mrs. Johnson, calm down,” the woman said gently. “We’re doing everything we can to find her.”

“How can you say that?!” Mary yelled. “You don’t know what’s happened to her!” Her voice cracked as she spoke. Without waiting for a reply, she hung up, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She dialed George’s number, throwing clothes into her bag. When he answered, she didn’t waste a second.

“Where are you?!” she screamed into the phone, her voice filled with panic.

“I’m with the police,” George replied. “I’m giving them information about Missy.”

Mary froze for a moment, trying to calm her racing heart. For once, George was stepping up, actually doing something for their daughter.

“But I was told the school couldn’t reach you,” Mary said.

“Yeah… I was at the bar with a colleague, but I saw the missed calls and called them back right away,” George replied, sounding guilty.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“All right,” she managed to say, her voice steadier now. “I’m on my way.” She hung up, grabbed her keys, and rushed to the car.

She jumped into the car, her hands trembling as she fumbled with the keys. The engine roared to life, and she sped out of the parking lot. Her heart pounded in her chest as she weaved through traffic, ignoring the honks and angry shouts from other drivers.

She gripped the wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. Tears blurred her vision, but she blinked them away, focusing on the road ahead.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Finally, she skidded to a stop in front of the school. Barely shutting the car door, she rushed inside. The teachers and staff crowded around her, their faces filled with worry.

“Missy didn’t come back to class after recess,” one of them explained. “We’ve been searching everywhere.”

Mary didn’t wait to hear more. She darted down the hallways, calling out Missy’s name. She checked every bathroom, looked under tables in classrooms, peeked behind doors, her desperation growing with each step.

“Missy! Where are you?” she cried. She started to feel dizzy, her breaths coming in short gasps. Her mind screamed, This is my fault! I should have never left her with George!

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary sat on the school steps, burying her face in her hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her body shook with quiet sobs. She felt helpless. Missy was still missing, and she didn’t know what to do.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She jumped, quickly wiping her eyes. It was George. Her hands trembled as she answered.

“What… what’s the police saying?” she stammered, her voice breaking.

“I found her,” George said, his voice steady.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary froze. “You… you found her?” she whispered, hardly believing it.

“Yes, we’re at the park. Come here now,” George replied.

Mary leaped up and sprinted to the park, her heart pounding. When she spotted George and Missy sitting on a bench, relief flooded over her. She ran toward them, dropping to her knees as she wrapped her arms around Missy. Tears spilled down her face, soaking Missy’s hair.

“Sweetie, what happened?” Mary asked, holding Missy close.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Missy looked up, her eyes wide. “Dad said we’d go for a walk later. I got tired at school, so I came to the park,” she said, her voice small.

Mary turned to George, shooting him a furious glance. He shifted his gaze to the ground, guilt written all over his face.

“Sweetheart, you can’t just leave school like that,” Mary said, her voice trembling. “We were so scared. We didn’t know where you were.”

Missy frowned. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” she said. “I just wanted to walk with Dad.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary sighed, feeling the weight of her daughter’s words. She squeezed Missy’s hand. “All right, let’s go home,” she whispered.

On the drive home, the car was quiet. Missy had fallen asleep in the backseat, her head resting against the window. Mary gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing.

She wanted to scream at George, to shout about how careless he’d been, how he’d ignored their child for so long. But before she could open her mouth, George broke the silence.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary glanced at him, her eyes hard. “Sorry isn’t enough,” she replied, her tone sharp. “Our daughter could have been hurt today. Do you get that?”

George nodded, looking down at his hands. “I know,” he admitted. “I haven’t been the best father.”

Mary shook her head, anger bubbling up again. “It took her going missing for you to realize that? Really?”

George took a deep breath and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to her. Confused, Mary glanced down. It was a cruise ticket.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What’s this?” she asked, still angry but now curious.

“You deserve a break,” George said, his voice steady. “After you left this morning, I saw the burnt eggs, the cereal, the pancakes. You made three breakfasts in one morning. And that’s only a small part of what you do every day. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before or appreciate you.”

Mary looked at the ticket, then back at George. “And who’s going to look after Missy?” she questioned.

“I will,” he answered, meeting her eyes. “I’m her father. It’s time I started acting like one.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Mary pulled into the driveway and parked. She turned to George, her eyes softening. Slowly, she leaned over and hugged him, letting the tears flow.

“I’ll do better,” George promised, holding her tight. Mary nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. Finally, he understood.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Money can’t buy true happiness, so despite a $400 million fortune, Arnold Schwarzenegger lives a low-key life on his farm

In addition to being a celebrity, 75-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger is also in charge of managing his home and caring for his pets. The actor also landed the part of grandfather.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s estimated net worth in 2021 was $400 million, according to reports. Due to his fortune, he is able to reside in the Pacific Palisades region of Los Angeles, where he owns a mansion with views of the canyons and Pacific Ocean.

The “Terminator” actor and his family have been residing in the Mediterranean-style house for some time. Situated in one of the most elite gated neighborhoods in the city, the property encompasses over 2.5 acres.

Arnold Schwarzenegger during the Digital X event on September 7, 2021, in Cologne, Germany | Source: Getty Images

When his five children, Joseph Baena, Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher Schwarzenegger, come to visit, the home can accommodate them all with its seven bedrooms and baths. There are more breathtaking details throughout the Golden Globe Award nominee’s home.

It features multiple living rooms, a private gym, a chef’s kitchen, entertainment spaces, and much more. The house features a large swimming pool with a spa, a duck pond, and a tennis court outside. Additionally, it has a private patio and balconies with views of the mountains and beach.

There is ample space on the estate for the actor to establish a stable in the back of the property with his pets, Whiskey the pony and Lulu the small donkey.

The “Predator” actor’s home also features entertaining areas and patio furniture. Pets are welcome in his backyard, where they are free to roam the spacious field.

The Schwarzenegger children at the "Terminator: Salvation" Los Angeles premiere on May 14, 2009, in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

Arnold opened his house to the public in 2020 while COVID-19 was on lockdown. That year, when the pandemic quarantine started, the actor posted a video of himself chilling out in the kitchen with Lulu and Whiskey. The vast green field was visible from his rear terrace. Rain or shine, the actor could enjoy the outdoors in his lounge area.

The “Total Recall” actor moved to a nearby location from the family home to be nearer to his kids following his divorce from Maria Shriver.

Even though Arnold was quite wealthy, he nevertheless managed many aspects of his household on his own. With his ex-wife, Mildred Baena, he had Joseph and Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher.

Arnold’s Typical Day-to-Day Activities
Arnold posted a picture of himself carrying a loaded trolley at a Walmart on Facebook in 2014. The actor described how he got an idea after going to the shop and noticing his Muscle Pharm Arnold Series items on the shelves.

He made the decision to issue a challenge to his followers: discover the product in the store, snap pictures, and send them to him. He would then upload the best ones.

Arnold had previously been seen shopping at the retail store. Just by being there, the former governor of California incited chaos at a Walmart in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2011. While filming there, he tweeted that he had left around two in the morning to grab some nutritious snacks.

The actor reportedly published a snapshot of his check-in location and spent $300 on warm garments for his crew. He also expressed gratitude to the Walmart staff for their help.

Arnold revealed his morning ritual on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in February 2022. He disclosed that he would up early, maybe at 5:45 or 6 a.m., in order to tend to his “complaining animals.”

He fed his animals for the first hour because Lulu would “scream” if she wasn’t attended to and let out of her stall. Before he returned the animals to their stables, they would run around on the grass.

In addition to Whiskey and Lulu, the actor owns a large dog named Dutch, who would howl for food and attack his toes if left unfed! The celebrity revealed in a comical way that his neighbors would be awakened by the commotion of the animals if he didn’t feed them!

Ironically, Whiskey and Lulu are welcome guests in the house, where he feeds them oatmeal cookies in the kitchen since Arnold finds the “farmer’s chores” enjoyable and soothing.

Even though the cookies were intended for horses, the actor offers them to the dogs when they become envious! Additionally, he admitted to Jimmy Kimmel that the cookies were so delicious that he ate them!

Arnold disclosed that guests may find the situation peculiar as the dogs would pounce on them and Lulu would run around the home! He recalled his cousin’s arrival just before Christmas in 2021, during which she was taken aback since she was unaware that his animals were staying at the house!

When Lulu shouted and raced inside the house demanding cookies, the cousin was taken aback. His shocked relative questioned why the animal was in the house and not the stable after the actor spoke to it calmly.

Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt screamed out anytime Lyla was touched, according to Arnold Schwarzenegger, since she thought he was cradling the infant incorrectly.

The celebrity became wealthy not only from performing but also from modeling, politics, bodybuilding, and commercial ventures. But when he accepted certain people into his life, everything changed.

How Did Being a Grandfather Affect Arnold’s Life?
When Katherine and her husband, Chris Pratt, welcomed their second child, Eloise Christina, in 2022, Arnold became a grandfather twice over. The actor mentioned how simple it was to play the part and gave an explanation.

He would play with his oldest granddaughter, Lyla Maria, for an hour or two when she came to visit. After two hours of visiting, he put her on the horse, they played with the dog, and the child and her parents would depart!

The actor claimed to love their visits and to be very proud of his daughter, even though he believes Chris to be a wonderful man. Additionally, he enjoys spending time with his granddaughter, son-in-law, and daughter when they visit because:

“Every room in the house lights up when they arrive.”

The “Twins” actor claimed in 2021 that Lyla had paid him multiple visits at his Los Angeles residence. He thought the young girl would make an excellent horseback rider when she got to sit on Whiskey and Lulu.

He claimed that his daughter was the diaper changing specialist and that he had never changed his granddaughter’s. Arnold told how Katherine would get really uncomfortable anytime Lyla was touched because she thought he was holding the baby incorrectly, but he would counter that he had done it before and found the whole argument entertaining!

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