| THE CIRCLE...After I'd written several fictional stories, my daughter Kathleen said to me,"Mom! You've had so many amazing things happen in your life...why don't you tell those stories, too?" Little trickier, though...cause facts can't be re-worked like make-believe just to fit a rhyme...but with God all things truly ARE possible!! |
A single Mom with 2 small boys She didn't get much rest She waited tables in a diner And always did her best Sometimes two shifts in a row She struggled with the bills Never lost her sense of humor Or her trust in God's great will Her customers really loved her They just kept on coming back It was either her smile or her accent Or like Joe said, "Cause she's stacked!" But the good tips kept her going The boys grew faster every day She never doubted her direction For she let God lead the way.... One snowy night in late December Three am and bitter cold She'd already worked from 2 till 10 But stayed cause she was told There was a lull between the customers Like each night at this time Daysiders tucked in fast asleep The third shifters earning dimes Dusty smoked in a corner booth With a coffee, singing songs Caffeine and nicotene her drugs of choice When she'd been awake too long... She stared out at the parking lot Bathed in harsh electric light When from the corner of one eye She caught a glimpse of something white Walking to the window Not believing what she saw She angrily headed out the door Saying, "There oughta be a law!" In the cold and freezing empty space An old black woman, small and frail Clad only in a dressing gown Backed off and began to wail Dusty put an arm around her "Ma'am, I don't mean you any harm... Let's go inside and have some coffee You'll be safe...it's nice and warm!" Slowly, shaking with fear and cold The woman let herself be led Into the heated, cheerful diner The waitress sat her down and said, "What's your name, Ma'am? Are you lost? I bet your about to freeze!" She poured some coffee and chattered on Gave the thin arm a gentle squeeze. "I'm buying you some breakfast... Can I look inside your purse?" She searched for ID of any kind As the cook let fly a curse! "You can't feed every bum you find" He scraped the grill and glared Dusty whirled around to face him As her Irish temper flared.... "Ok, Joe...what's your idea? Should I take her back outside? Then you can explain to everyone Just how and why she died!! She's lost and so disoriented She doesn't know who she is And she's NOT a bum...someone's going nuts Wondering where on earth she is!!" "Not your problem," grumbled Joe But as Dusty grabbed an empty cup, "OK....alright..just stay calm Two eggs and bacon coming up" The only thing inside the purse Was a soggy, faded card The numbers were barely visible She dialed...praying hard. On the second ring a woman answered Her voice was shrill with panic "Ma'am, I've found..." she started "Oh thank GOD...we've all been frantic!" "My husband's Mom...she wanders off He's been out searching half the night!" The waitress smiled, "She's here with me Warm, fed and quite alright" The woman took the diners address Said her husband would be right there Dusty said, "Tell him to take his time She's not going anywhere..." |
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