| THE GUEST True story!! We lived in Winston-Salem at the time in Happy Hill Gardens (a.k.a. very ROUGH public housing project!) I'm not sure if the boys still remember this night or not, but i'm sure Lester does! |
Terror seized my mother's heart Our neighborhood was not the best I imagined burlars breaking in Kidnappings and all the rest! I knew that I had locked the doors Before heading up the stairs So who was in my living room With both my kids down there??? Grabbing up a bathrobe I quickly donned it as I flew Down the stairs two at a time Fighting fear and panic too! Almost falling in my rush As I raced down the hall I reached the living room and stopped Amazed by what I saw! In the middle of the sofa Wrapped in my Grandma's purple quilt Sipping cocoa from my favorite cup Eyes sad and full of guilt... Was an old man in his seventies I'd seen his face before A homeless bum who frequented The public park next door |
When my sons were very small No more than 4 and 6 I learned that lessons Mothers teach Somehow almost always stick! Even before my boys were born I was the type who had a plan For sharing clothes or cash or time Whatever I had on hand... After my second son was born Their father left the boys and me Deciding, I guess, that parenthood Wasn't what he thought it'd be... So I went back to waitressing Usually 2 shifts in a row... To pay the bills and keep us fed As they both began to grow They used to come into the diner Where Mama worked each day My customers knew them each by name And loved to watch them play! Lots of times when they were small They'd see me take the time To help someone with less than us Whom fortune had left behind Did someone need a ride somewhere? Or perhaps a place to stay? I always somehow found the means I turned no one away... My ex husband used to shake his head Saying, "One day you'll be sorry!" In my heart...I had my reasons But then, that's ANOTHER story! One night in late December After dishes had been done I left the boys in PJs Watching TV....having fun I'd looked forward the entire day To a long, refreshing bath But no sooner had I settled in When I heard a stranger laugh!! |
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