Now I don’t like to speed, something about putting our lives in mortal danger just to meet a deadline seems somewhat ironic to me. So from the moment we pull away from the drive I’m emphasizing the fact that we are going to get to school late, just to let the fact sink it, not because there’s smoke billowing out of my ears or anything.

The girls noticing Mummy’s strained tones and glary eyes are sitting in the back in silence, Eli blissfully unaware (even though, if I chose to mention it to him right then it would be the 6th time I had pointed out how disappointed I was that morning) of the disruption he has caused is singing along to the radio in his head.  Trying to remain poker faced, in presence of joyous arm twirling, I stare straight ahead. It’s at that moment that it dawns on me that we haven’t stopped the whole time I’ve been driving.

"Wow" I say out loud "We’ve had a pretty good run of green lights this morning, you might just get to school on time"

"Why?" asks Eli taking a break from the concert in his head.

"Well, We haven’t had to stop at any red lights so we haven’t lost any time at each intersection" I answer trying not to let the Well duh! tone come through in my voice.

"I wish we had green lights all the way all the time" says Eli

" Well that wouldn’t be fair on the other cars"

"Why?" (don’t you just love that question)

"Well, they would always be stuck at red lights"

"No, they could have green lights too, everyone could have green lights"

"But then we would all smash into each other" I say "No one would know when it is their turn"

"Hmmm…."

I can see his little face in the rear view mirror, creased with extreme concentration. Then suddenly his whole body jerks up and the index finger of his right hand shoots skyward to emphasize the moment of inspiration.

" I know, They could stick up a sign that says go and says stop, and…and….It could light up at night time so you could still see it!"