The impending sense of disaster

From the opening paragraphs, it's evident that something big is going to happen in the story. As an author myself, I appreciate how Ms. Jones starts layering the sense of dread in the opening scene. It's an innocuous lead in -- a school morning that most mothers can relate to -- yet Ms. Jones manages to spread a thin veneer of anticipation. In this case, it's the anticipation that something will go wrong and soon.

I'm curious to know where the story will go next!