This is my contribution to the 1000 word meme for the week. I hope you enjoy it!
I wonder what’s around the bend. You can almost see, but not quite. Ah, the unknown! It beckons, and yet frightens at the same time.
Do I have the courage to go around the bend? It doesn’t look threatening. Then again, looks can be deceiving.
There could be treasures around the bend; flowers in perfect bloom, kittens playing in the leaves, children laughing and dancing. Or there could be a mad dog.
My true love might wait around the bend; with long flowing blonde hair, blue eyes, and lips of luscious red. Ready to take me in her arms forever and carry me away on the winds of passion. But what if there’s a mugger there instead?
Around the bend. What waits around the bend? Life is full of uncertainty. Sometimes it really is a matter of faith. Take the first step! Go around the bend.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Hiking
Awaken the senses
Explore and learn
Treasure the seasons
Natures' beauty at every turn
Climbing rocks
Walking trails
Leaves and grasses
The surface we sail
Open yourself up
Listen with your heart
Hear the wild calling
Become a whole, not part
Enjoy the majesty
Take in the sublime
Don't rush
Take time
Feel the wonder
The breeze on the air
Feel the sunlight
And be aware
Magnificent and beautiful
All coexisting
Excellence and perfection
The power of hiking
Explore and learn
Treasure the seasons
Natures' beauty at every turn
Climbing rocks
Walking trails
Leaves and grasses
The surface we sail
Open yourself up
Listen with your heart
Hear the wild calling
Become a whole, not part
Enjoy the majesty
Take in the sublime
Don't rush
Take time
Feel the wonder
The breeze on the air
Feel the sunlight
And be aware
Magnificent and beautiful
All coexisting
Excellence and perfection
The power of hiking
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The War is Over
This is my contribution to the Simply Snickers poetry prompt for the week. I hope you all enjoy it.
I write to you to let you know
The wait is over, I’m coming home
The war was hard;
I saw things I’ll never forget
Blood ran like water
It makes the soul wilt
I look forward to good times with you
Laughter, love and light
I sign this letter with love,
Until I can hold you tight
I write to you to let you know
The wait is over, I’m coming home
The war was hard;
I saw things I’ll never forget
Blood ran like water
It makes the soul wilt
I look forward to good times with you
Laughter, love and light
I sign this letter with love,
Until I can hold you tight
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Playground Dreams
This is my contribution to the 1000 words meme contest. I love finding all these new places to write for. I hope someone likes the story!
The clock was stuck at 1:55. Charles was sure of it. He’d been staring outside at the playground for hours, but the clock hadn’t changed. He really wanted to go outside and play. School work was boring!
“Charles, are you finished with your paper?” Mrs. Sutton asked.
“Yes Ma’am. I finished it a long time ago. When can we go outside?”
“At 2:00, the same time we go for recess every day.”
“Is the clock broken, Mrs. Sutton?”
“No, Charles, the clock isn’t broken; just like it wasn’t broken yesterday or the day before. Just be patient.” Mrs. Sutton sighed.
Charles wasn’t good at being patient. He wanted to play now. He didn’t understand why the other kids couldn’t get done faster. If they did he was sure Mrs. Sutton would take them outside earlier.
“Hurry up, Terry, I wanna go outside,” Charles said to the friend sitting in front of him.
“Charles, that’s enough. Quit bugging people. If you disrupt the class one more time I’ll have to send you to the principal’s office.” Mrs. Sutton warned.
Charles sat back in his desk and crossed his arms. He didn’t want to go to the principal’s office again. His parents didn’t like that at all. He’d just have to wait on all the slow pokes to finish. Hopefully tomorrow they’d be faster.
***
The next day when Charles got to class he saw that the clock was missing. He knew it was broken! Mrs. Sutton must have taken it down to fix it.
“Mrs. Sutton, when will the clock be fixed?” Charles asked.
“The clock is not broken, Charles, I told you that.” Mrs. Sutton replied.
“Where is it then?”
“I took it down. Now you will just have to wait until I say it’s time to go outside.”
Charles didn’t like this at all. It’s not fair to take the clock down! He needed to know how long he had to wait. He would be sitting here forever now!
“Ok, Charles, quit brooding and do your assignment.” Mrs. Sutton ordered.
“Yes Ma’am.”
The next thing Charles knew, Mrs. Sutton was standing up and saying it was time for recess. Charles couldn’t believe it. He knew that stupid clock had been broken. He hadn’t even finished his assignment today, and he always got done before 2:00 according to the clock. He should know, he looked at it often enough. Now he’d get an even worse grade!
The clock was stuck at 1:55. Charles was sure of it. He’d been staring outside at the playground for hours, but the clock hadn’t changed. He really wanted to go outside and play. School work was boring!
“Charles, are you finished with your paper?” Mrs. Sutton asked.
“Yes Ma’am. I finished it a long time ago. When can we go outside?”
“At 2:00, the same time we go for recess every day.”
“Is the clock broken, Mrs. Sutton?”
“No, Charles, the clock isn’t broken; just like it wasn’t broken yesterday or the day before. Just be patient.” Mrs. Sutton sighed.
Charles wasn’t good at being patient. He wanted to play now. He didn’t understand why the other kids couldn’t get done faster. If they did he was sure Mrs. Sutton would take them outside earlier.
“Hurry up, Terry, I wanna go outside,” Charles said to the friend sitting in front of him.
“Charles, that’s enough. Quit bugging people. If you disrupt the class one more time I’ll have to send you to the principal’s office.” Mrs. Sutton warned.
Charles sat back in his desk and crossed his arms. He didn’t want to go to the principal’s office again. His parents didn’t like that at all. He’d just have to wait on all the slow pokes to finish. Hopefully tomorrow they’d be faster.
***
The next day when Charles got to class he saw that the clock was missing. He knew it was broken! Mrs. Sutton must have taken it down to fix it.
“Mrs. Sutton, when will the clock be fixed?” Charles asked.
“The clock is not broken, Charles, I told you that.” Mrs. Sutton replied.
“Where is it then?”
“I took it down. Now you will just have to wait until I say it’s time to go outside.”
Charles didn’t like this at all. It’s not fair to take the clock down! He needed to know how long he had to wait. He would be sitting here forever now!
“Ok, Charles, quit brooding and do your assignment.” Mrs. Sutton ordered.
“Yes Ma’am.”
The next thing Charles knew, Mrs. Sutton was standing up and saying it was time for recess. Charles couldn’t believe it. He knew that stupid clock had been broken. He hadn’t even finished his assignment today, and he always got done before 2:00 according to the clock. He should know, he looked at it often enough. Now he’d get an even worse grade!
Yearning
This is my entry into the 100 Words challenge. It's the first time I've played with them. I hope I did everything right and it's ok. This seems like it will be fun.
“Oh, it looks so good! All gooey and sweet.”
“I can smell it from here, I swear. It should be against the law to make something that smells that good.”
“Don’t they know over half of Americans are fat? They shouldn’t be tempting us like this!”
“Just one little bite shouldn’t hurt. I can stop at one. It looks very rich.”
“I really have to get one. There’s no question about it. I’ll skip dinner.”
***
“Humph, sorry didn’t see you there, Karen.”
“It’s ok. How are you doing?” Karen asked.
“Fine. I have 3 whole points left for the day!”
“Oh, it looks so good! All gooey and sweet.”
“I can smell it from here, I swear. It should be against the law to make something that smells that good.”
“Don’t they know over half of Americans are fat? They shouldn’t be tempting us like this!”
“Just one little bite shouldn’t hurt. I can stop at one. It looks very rich.”
“I really have to get one. There’s no question about it. I’ll skip dinner.”
***
“Humph, sorry didn’t see you there, Karen.”
“It’s ok. How are you doing?” Karen asked.
“Fine. I have 3 whole points left for the day!”
Poor and Forgotten
This is my contribution to the Simply Snickers poetry prompt. I had been doing this every week and then things got in the way. Hopefully I can keep up with it again now.
To make a point
Some plead their case
Then forget they ever saw their face
The poor forgotten until the next time
Votes are needed and supporters are sought
Selling souls for a dime
Never knowing the trouble they wrought
Give us your poor and downtrodden
We’ll trample them in our wake
Then leave the bodies to be forgotten
And go on to win the day
To make a point
Some plead their case
Then forget they ever saw their face
The poor forgotten until the next time
Votes are needed and supporters are sought
Selling souls for a dime
Never knowing the trouble they wrought
Give us your poor and downtrodden
We’ll trample them in our wake
Then leave the bodies to be forgotten
And go on to win the day
Nothing
This is my first entry for the Weekend Wordsmith writing prompt. I think I'm really going to enjoy this!
Ellen stares into the distance. She never moves and seldom utters a sound. Just sits there, looking. I look too, trying to see what it is that’s so fascinating out there. I can’t see anything though. Nothing.
I believe Ellen sees something though, because every now and then she’ll smile the most beautiful smile. When that happens I see the old Ellen. The Ellen I fell in love with. I miss her so much.
She’s not really here with me now; not really. Her body is just a shell. She’s in there somewhere that I can’t reach.
I keep trying though. I sit here by the window holding her hand. We sit and stare. Stare at nothing…
Ellen stares into the distance. She never moves and seldom utters a sound. Just sits there, looking. I look too, trying to see what it is that’s so fascinating out there. I can’t see anything though. Nothing.
I believe Ellen sees something though, because every now and then she’ll smile the most beautiful smile. When that happens I see the old Ellen. The Ellen I fell in love with. I miss her so much.
She’s not really here with me now; not really. Her body is just a shell. She’s in there somewhere that I can’t reach.
I keep trying though. I sit here by the window holding her hand. We sit and stare. Stare at nothing…
Saturday, September 20, 2008
A Dog's Perspective
Youth and Beauty
So pretty. You’d never make fun of me, would you, little one? No, you’re too sweet for anything like that. I can tell. Not like those nasty brats down the street, always laughing at me; or the kids on the playground running whenever I come near. Like I’m going to eat them or something! You wouldn’t do anything like that.
I have to go to work now but I’ll be back in a few hours. You just sleep. I have a surprise for you when I get back. Good bye, little one.
***
“Maude, be sure to get all the trash this time,” Ethel Bryant admonished.
“I will, Mrs. Bryant.” I promised with my head bowed deferentially. “Sorry bout last time,” I said as I went back to work.
“I don’t know why you have her working here, Mother,” Carl whispered to his mother as soon as she rounded the corner.
“She’s cheap, Carl. And, with the way she looks, where else would she work?” Ethel replied.
“I feel sorry for her too, Mother, but that’s not our problem. We aren’t the one’s who disfigured her,” Carl pointed out. “Besides, some of the clients are starting to complain.”
“What are you talking about?” Ethel demanded.
“Just yesterday, Ms. Childers remarked that she didn’t like having to look at Maude every time she came by. Last week, Mr. Jacobs complained that Maude scared him with her slinking around outside the bathroom. There have been other instances also.”
“Why wasn’t I informed about this?” Ethel asked crossly.
“I’m informing you now,” Carl replied sarcastically. “You always seemed to have a soft spot for the freak, so I didn’t want to tell you until I had to.”
“I’ll take care of the matter,” Ethel sighed.
Do they think I can’t hear them? I may be ugly, but I still have ears! Guess I’ll be losing this job now too. I don’t know why people can’t mind their own business. I’m just doing my job here. I can’t help people have to see me ever now and then.
No, Carl didn’t disfigure me; dear ole Dad had that honor. But every time someone looks at me with disgust or worse yet pity, I can feel the iron pressing against my skin all over again.
I’m going to like coming back here afterwards. We’ll see how Carl feels then. When I’m beautiful he’ll be singing a different tune.
***
I’m home, little one. Look what I have for you. I told you I was bringing a surprise. This is Cathy. Isn’t she beautiful?
You lay here, Cathy. The crib is all nice and cushy. Take a little nap. I'll be back soon.
Come on, little one, it’s time.
I’m sorry, I know it hurts. Please don’t cry! I’m going as fast as I can. I didn’t have this much trouble with the others. This stupid needle doesn’t want to work for some reason. I can’t get the vein! Shhh, it’ll only be a few more minutes now.
Finally! I can’t believe it took so long to get going. I sure hope the vein doesn’t collapse and I have to start another line. Be a good girl and don’t move around too much, ok? I have to get the whole bottle full for the next treatment.
I knew you’d understand. There you go, just go back to sleep. The rest doesn’t hurt at all. You’ll be free from pain forever soon, baby. You’ll be with the angels where you belong.
***
Hey there, Cathy. Is that a smile for me? How sweet of you. I thought you’d be mad that I took your friend away. I had to do it though. It’s still not working, you see? I’m not beautiful yet. I can tell some differences already. I don’t have as many wrinkles beside my eyes. Not that people notice the wrinkles for the scars, but I can see them. The scars don’t seem to be getting any better though. I hoped you’d be the last one, but looks like I’m going to need some more.
Do you know where I can get more babies, Cathy? You got any friends out there who I don’t know about? I didn’t think so. Guess I’ll go to another shelter. The people at the shelters always let me help out. They can’t turn anyone away, now can they? It just wouldn’t look right. And the young girls at the shelter never seem to notice the scars. I guess they have more important things on their minds, like having babies. They never think twice about handing their baby to me after delivery. I don’t think they want you poor babies. I know you wouldn’t be taken care of properly by those girls. Crack heads and prostitutes all!
I’m saving you all from a terrible life, you know that, Cathy? At least this way you won’t have to put up with all the cruelty in the world. You’ll be beautiful and sweet for all eternity.
I’ll have to go farther out this time; to shelters in other towns. I can’t have anyone putting the missing babies together, not yet. Once I’m beautiful it won’t matter. Nobody will recognize me then.
Oh I can’t wait to be beautiful, Cathy! To have people look at me with desire instead of revulsion. Do you know I’ve never even had a boyfriend? That’s going to change soon though.
Yep, all the commercials on TV say that young skin is resilient and healthy. I can’t very well take your skin, can I? Blood flows through the skin, though, so I can’t go wrong. Did you know you had beautiful blood, Cathy?
Time to do the next treatment. I wonder if mixing the blood with oatmeal before I put it on my face is the problem…
I have to go to work now but I’ll be back in a few hours. You just sleep. I have a surprise for you when I get back. Good bye, little one.
***
“Maude, be sure to get all the trash this time,” Ethel Bryant admonished.
“I will, Mrs. Bryant.” I promised with my head bowed deferentially. “Sorry bout last time,” I said as I went back to work.
“I don’t know why you have her working here, Mother,” Carl whispered to his mother as soon as she rounded the corner.
“She’s cheap, Carl. And, with the way she looks, where else would she work?” Ethel replied.
“I feel sorry for her too, Mother, but that’s not our problem. We aren’t the one’s who disfigured her,” Carl pointed out. “Besides, some of the clients are starting to complain.”
“What are you talking about?” Ethel demanded.
“Just yesterday, Ms. Childers remarked that she didn’t like having to look at Maude every time she came by. Last week, Mr. Jacobs complained that Maude scared him with her slinking around outside the bathroom. There have been other instances also.”
“Why wasn’t I informed about this?” Ethel asked crossly.
“I’m informing you now,” Carl replied sarcastically. “You always seemed to have a soft spot for the freak, so I didn’t want to tell you until I had to.”
“I’ll take care of the matter,” Ethel sighed.
Do they think I can’t hear them? I may be ugly, but I still have ears! Guess I’ll be losing this job now too. I don’t know why people can’t mind their own business. I’m just doing my job here. I can’t help people have to see me ever now and then.
No, Carl didn’t disfigure me; dear ole Dad had that honor. But every time someone looks at me with disgust or worse yet pity, I can feel the iron pressing against my skin all over again.
I’m going to like coming back here afterwards. We’ll see how Carl feels then. When I’m beautiful he’ll be singing a different tune.
***
I’m home, little one. Look what I have for you. I told you I was bringing a surprise. This is Cathy. Isn’t she beautiful?
You lay here, Cathy. The crib is all nice and cushy. Take a little nap. I'll be back soon.
Come on, little one, it’s time.
I’m sorry, I know it hurts. Please don’t cry! I’m going as fast as I can. I didn’t have this much trouble with the others. This stupid needle doesn’t want to work for some reason. I can’t get the vein! Shhh, it’ll only be a few more minutes now.
Finally! I can’t believe it took so long to get going. I sure hope the vein doesn’t collapse and I have to start another line. Be a good girl and don’t move around too much, ok? I have to get the whole bottle full for the next treatment.
I knew you’d understand. There you go, just go back to sleep. The rest doesn’t hurt at all. You’ll be free from pain forever soon, baby. You’ll be with the angels where you belong.
***
Hey there, Cathy. Is that a smile for me? How sweet of you. I thought you’d be mad that I took your friend away. I had to do it though. It’s still not working, you see? I’m not beautiful yet. I can tell some differences already. I don’t have as many wrinkles beside my eyes. Not that people notice the wrinkles for the scars, but I can see them. The scars don’t seem to be getting any better though. I hoped you’d be the last one, but looks like I’m going to need some more.
Do you know where I can get more babies, Cathy? You got any friends out there who I don’t know about? I didn’t think so. Guess I’ll go to another shelter. The people at the shelters always let me help out. They can’t turn anyone away, now can they? It just wouldn’t look right. And the young girls at the shelter never seem to notice the scars. I guess they have more important things on their minds, like having babies. They never think twice about handing their baby to me after delivery. I don’t think they want you poor babies. I know you wouldn’t be taken care of properly by those girls. Crack heads and prostitutes all!
I’m saving you all from a terrible life, you know that, Cathy? At least this way you won’t have to put up with all the cruelty in the world. You’ll be beautiful and sweet for all eternity.
I’ll have to go farther out this time; to shelters in other towns. I can’t have anyone putting the missing babies together, not yet. Once I’m beautiful it won’t matter. Nobody will recognize me then.
Oh I can’t wait to be beautiful, Cathy! To have people look at me with desire instead of revulsion. Do you know I’ve never even had a boyfriend? That’s going to change soon though.
Yep, all the commercials on TV say that young skin is resilient and healthy. I can’t very well take your skin, can I? Blood flows through the skin, though, so I can’t go wrong. Did you know you had beautiful blood, Cathy?
Time to do the next treatment. I wonder if mixing the blood with oatmeal before I put it on my face is the problem…
I Think I Can
Illustration by Coleman Wigger
I can make it. Just gotta get up to speed. Push hard, pedal faster. I can do it. Come on bike, go faster!
There’s the ramp. Am I going fast enough? I think so. The wind sure is blowing hard today. My helmet almost fell off back there.
Here we go. This ramp sure is tall. I’m flying!
Uh oh! This isn’t good. Maybe if I lean forward I’ll make it.
There’s the ramp. Am I going fast enough? I think so. The wind sure is blowing hard today. My helmet almost fell off back there.
Here we go. This ramp sure is tall. I’m flying!
Uh oh! This isn’t good. Maybe if I lean forward I’ll make it.
Illustration by Coleman Wigger
Man that water sure was cold. Stupid mud puddle!
Taking a Stand
It sure is peaceful and quiet here tonight. The only sound for the last hour has been the steady swoosh of the shovel.
“If it’s true that rain at funerals means God is crying, then He really didn’t have any use for either of you, did He?” eh Mom?
I haven’t felt a single drop yet, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky, just thousands of stars.
Better get back to work.
“No rest for the wicked,” eh Mom.
There we go, that’s the last shovel full. Now I just need to make sure to pat it all down good. This wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I guess when you’re determined, you really can do anything.
“And you always said I would never accomplish anything. Guess you know better now,” eh Mom? I doubt this was what you had in mind though.
I think I got everything back in the truck now. Better go check one more time just to be sure, wouldn’t want to leave any evidence behind. Nobody should be out here until next spring, and by that time the graves will have settled quite nicely.
“Bet you’re both sorry you brought me out here now aren’t ya?”
Bob always wanted peace and quiet, wasn’t that why he was always taping my mouth shut? That’s what he said anyway, and what you let him get by with. Standing there with your hands on your hips telling me it was for my own good. I wonder if you knew how much it hurt when the tape was pulled off. Not that you’d care. A little pain never hurt anyone, right?
“I guess you know first hand now,” eh Mom? “And, Bob, it doesn’t get much quieter than this!”
Yep, I got everything. No trace left behind as the hikers say. I even melted the poker down with the acid in the garage. “Remember the acid, Mom?” I sure do. I’ll never forget that day. How could I, when I have the scars to remind me?
Should I say a eulogy? How bout this:
Mom and Bob raised me well.
They taught me pain and put me through Hell.
I learned from the best how to inflict pain.
After tonight nothing will be the same.
I can go my own way; make plans,
because I finally took a stand.
No more beatings, cursing, or torture.
I put an end to it all with the fire poker.
“Pretty funny,” eh Mom? I think it’s catchy. Too bad I can’t etch it on a tombstone for the world to see. It would be nice for everyone to know just how sick and twisted both of you were.
“You want to hear the story I’ve made up for the two of you disappearing?” I’ll tell you anyway. You’ll get a kick out of it. “Remember how you always wanted to go on a world tour?” Well, you’re getting your wish.”
I’m sure you think no one will believe that because you and Bob didn’t have the money for a trip. I’ve fixed that also. You see, I won the local lottery the other day. Yep, yours truly won $50,000! Of course, I’ll tell everyone that Bob won the money and that’s how you were able to tour the world, and that I’m going to stay with family while you’re gone.
As for me, I’m taking the money and leaving. I think I’ll go to Montana. I’ve always thought it looked beautiful on television and it’s far enough away from Maine that no one should come looking for me. Not that they would anyway. You did a good job of keeping me isolated from the world. Couldn’t have them seeing the bruises now could we?
“I used to love you so much, Mom, did you know that?” You were my whole world when Daddy died. “Remember reading to me at night, taking me to the park, and helping with my homework?” I never understood how you changed so much when Bob came into the picture. It’s like you became a whole new person, doing whatever he said, never believing anything I told you. The first time you took his side over mine broke my heart.”
”Do you remember that, Mom?” When I told you Bob had touched me in places he wasn’t supposed to while you were at work? You slapped me! Yelling that I was never to say such things about Bob again, that he was a good man and was taking care of us. That was the first night you let him tape my mouth shut. I learned then that it didn’t matter what he did, you’d always believe him over me.
“Were you that desperate for love, Mom? Wasn’t my love enough?”
Well, that’s enough talking. Gotta get this show on the road. I have people to see and places to go, and you both have to get settled into Hell.
“Goodbye, Mom.”
“If it’s true that rain at funerals means God is crying, then He really didn’t have any use for either of you, did He?” eh Mom?
I haven’t felt a single drop yet, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky, just thousands of stars.
Better get back to work.
“No rest for the wicked,” eh Mom.
There we go, that’s the last shovel full. Now I just need to make sure to pat it all down good. This wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I guess when you’re determined, you really can do anything.
“And you always said I would never accomplish anything. Guess you know better now,” eh Mom? I doubt this was what you had in mind though.
I think I got everything back in the truck now. Better go check one more time just to be sure, wouldn’t want to leave any evidence behind. Nobody should be out here until next spring, and by that time the graves will have settled quite nicely.
“Bet you’re both sorry you brought me out here now aren’t ya?”
Bob always wanted peace and quiet, wasn’t that why he was always taping my mouth shut? That’s what he said anyway, and what you let him get by with. Standing there with your hands on your hips telling me it was for my own good. I wonder if you knew how much it hurt when the tape was pulled off. Not that you’d care. A little pain never hurt anyone, right?
“I guess you know first hand now,” eh Mom? “And, Bob, it doesn’t get much quieter than this!”
Yep, I got everything. No trace left behind as the hikers say. I even melted the poker down with the acid in the garage. “Remember the acid, Mom?” I sure do. I’ll never forget that day. How could I, when I have the scars to remind me?
Should I say a eulogy? How bout this:
Mom and Bob raised me well.
They taught me pain and put me through Hell.
I learned from the best how to inflict pain.
After tonight nothing will be the same.
I can go my own way; make plans,
because I finally took a stand.
No more beatings, cursing, or torture.
I put an end to it all with the fire poker.
“Pretty funny,” eh Mom? I think it’s catchy. Too bad I can’t etch it on a tombstone for the world to see. It would be nice for everyone to know just how sick and twisted both of you were.
“You want to hear the story I’ve made up for the two of you disappearing?” I’ll tell you anyway. You’ll get a kick out of it. “Remember how you always wanted to go on a world tour?” Well, you’re getting your wish.”
I’m sure you think no one will believe that because you and Bob didn’t have the money for a trip. I’ve fixed that also. You see, I won the local lottery the other day. Yep, yours truly won $50,000! Of course, I’ll tell everyone that Bob won the money and that’s how you were able to tour the world, and that I’m going to stay with family while you’re gone.
As for me, I’m taking the money and leaving. I think I’ll go to Montana. I’ve always thought it looked beautiful on television and it’s far enough away from Maine that no one should come looking for me. Not that they would anyway. You did a good job of keeping me isolated from the world. Couldn’t have them seeing the bruises now could we?
“I used to love you so much, Mom, did you know that?” You were my whole world when Daddy died. “Remember reading to me at night, taking me to the park, and helping with my homework?” I never understood how you changed so much when Bob came into the picture. It’s like you became a whole new person, doing whatever he said, never believing anything I told you. The first time you took his side over mine broke my heart.”
”Do you remember that, Mom?” When I told you Bob had touched me in places he wasn’t supposed to while you were at work? You slapped me! Yelling that I was never to say such things about Bob again, that he was a good man and was taking care of us. That was the first night you let him tape my mouth shut. I learned then that it didn’t matter what he did, you’d always believe him over me.
“Were you that desperate for love, Mom? Wasn’t my love enough?”
Well, that’s enough talking. Gotta get this show on the road. I have people to see and places to go, and you both have to get settled into Hell.
“Goodbye, Mom.”
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