| THE GUEST PAGE 2 |
| I stood frozen as little AJ Chattered happily away: "He was outside without a coat! So we brought him in and made him stay!" Cuddled up close, my youngest child Who had only just turned 4 Peeked in the stranger's cup and said "My brudder's cookin' more!" Speechless I just stood there He said, "Ma'am, please don't be alarmed! Your boys insisted, but I swear I don't mean you any harm" I managed a weak and shaky grin Then crossed to the kitchen door Where my oldest teetered on a stool That he'd dragged across the floor Seeing me, he lit up with a smile "Mama! I'm not tall enough To reach the cans and our new friend Needs some soup and stuff! At least until he's warm again" Ryan wiped tears from his eyes, "He needs a coat to wear REAL bad Do we have one that's his size?" My shock was giving way to rage As I thought what might have been They let a stranger in our house What if he's nuts??? But then I looked down into Ryan's face And realized they weren't to blame How many times while growing up Had they watched me do the same? Behind me I could hear the man Talking to my other son Who hollered, "Ryan, where's the soup? He's still shivering!!! Is it done?" "Just give me 5 more minutes" I said, in a nearly normal voice Tomato and vegetable's all there is So it's not much of a choice!" "Lester says tomato's fine! Mama? Tell him your not mad! He thinks that you want him to leave And that we did something bad!" Ryan looked up at me then And whispered, "Are you ok? Your face looks sorta funny WIth all the color gone away!!" I leaned down to hug him Saying, "Mama will be fine! Go keep Lester company I just need a little time!" I heated soup; made sandwiches Put more cocoa on a tray But when I placed it near our guest He had not a word to say. "Please eat something, Lester" I said, as gently as I could "The boys both think you need to eat And it's really very good!" The old man's eyes filled up with tears "You're all angels straight from heaven! No one's treated me this decently Since back in '67!!" |
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