But the Lord said, “Have you read the spec on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts . . . all replaceable. Run on black coffee and cold leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands? ... no way!"
"It's not the hands that are causing the problems," said the Lord, “It's the three pairs of eyes that Mothers have to have."
"And that's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded yes. “One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks ''What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say, 'I understand and I love you,' without so much as uttering a word.
"Lord," said the angel touching His sleeve gently, “Come to bed. You can finish Tomorrow . . . “
"I can't," said the Lord. “I'm so close to creating something close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick . . . can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger . . . and can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower."
The angel circled the model of a Mother very slowly. “It's too soft," she sighed.
"But touch!" said the Lord excitedly. “You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure."
"Can it think?"
"Not only think, but it can reason and compromise." said the Creator.
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. “There's a leak!"
Said the Lord, “No, it's not a leak: it's a tear."
"What is it for?"
"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."
"You're a genius," said the angel.
The Lord looked sombre. “I didn't put it there."
- Erma Bombeck
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