When I was a child, in my teens
I felt alone and Fatherless
Seemed everyone had a Father but me
Visited Aunts and Uncles
Stayed too long at friend's houses
more than once, "Does Dandy have a home?"
But for me it often meant a meal
Always felt somewhat wounded
My step dad In teens took us in
My Step grandpa adopted us as his own
When I joined the Air force
My step dad a different man
We had at my home an open refrigerator
I didn't't have to be there my parents took them in
They being my friends as family
Mom became a Mom not the breadwinner
So it is much the same today
The neighbor boy whose parents died
Known as my adopted son
It's fun to hear him say I am at Dandy and Sharon's
You're parents--ah---? I call her Mom
So this is rather cute
Several years ago now
The door rang, it was cold and snowing
She was French could barely speak English
Her never married kicked her out in the night
She was freezing we took her in
For hours she and my wife put up X-mas decorations
We knew she had no one to turn too
She had sons they arranged a place for her to stay
But for them she was just a family obligation
Years now she has been a monthly visitor
Yesterday she came with news
Her niece in France is getting married
She saved four years on meager wages a ticket
She said she could not go until she told her best friends
All of us need someone to care about us in bad times
As she hugged me she whispered,
"Take care of my best friend.Without her I was lost."