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 Contemporary poetry by Dan Donlan

ANGELS IN THE HOUSE

By Dan Donlan, www.PoetryPoem.com/dandy1    Unlock all Features - Upgrade to Poetry Prime

Today started out badly. First stop was the hospital. Mom was being given
a battery of tests, and yes, she is my Mother in Law. She was much better but could
not get it in her head why I had to go and why My wife was missing. In the
meantime wife called three times. Guilty she was going to Mississippi. It was
a long planned girls out outing. She could not at last minute leave girlfriend
up in the air and then plane troubles.

When my Stepdad died at 101, three months short of 101 Sis, planned a Memorial
remembrance of his life. I was a long planned speaker. I could not let her up
in the air. Because of all that was going on there was no preparation of what
might say. Mental block speaking is a problem of mine. Prepared I can go into
brain warp. I told them about the first day I met my stepfather. Mom had put in
for divorce and my Father an alcoholic controller though most often a no show
threatened all of us. He was losing a paycheck.

We had no transportation so went to the grocery store with a
wagon. It was below freezing. Mom and Sis carried bags of groceries and I was pulling
the wagon. For months before the divorce became final we were hidden. I was orphaned
out. Went to a different school. Mom and sis also lived somewhere. I was never told
where. She would come in the night to visit me. Now it can be told with a relative.
Big admittance here. I began having nightmares of snakes. Mom had to come and get me
professional help. We were told it stemmed from fear of my father and my need to face
him. I would fight the snakes. But now he had all but disappeared so it was our first
attempt at going home to an empty house. We needed groceries. On the way a major snowfall began.

 A car stopped as we struggled up the hill and this man said, "Fern, get those
kids in the car. Dandy and I well load the trunk. This would give some clue
where Mom and Sis had hid. Sis knew the man I did not. Mom said, "Will, you know how
violent Mike can be. I have put you through enough." What you have to know my stepdad is
five foot four my Dad was six foot nine,and loved to beat men, woman and children
when drunk. He couldn't work but he thought himself a mighty warrior. One who hid from
serving his country in the war and why I so willingly joined, "I well take care of Mike"

At the memorial rem embrace came a series of people telling what a great person my step Dad was.
 One lady took care of him the last few years of his life in home he stayed in. She told of how
my Dad was asked to come to services and he always turned them down. One day he came
without being asked. Was saying things like, "Praise Jesus", In stead of swearwords,
giving money to the care woman's children. How he always loved children. One woman said,
'I see how Dandy inherited a love for children." And then I remembered. When Mom was
told her Cancer was fatal and she had only a few months to live I had been enticed to
join the Church. I was not a daily or weekly visitor. Soon I was asked to teach fourth
grade Sunday school. I was taught by the kids and preparing lessons. I was asked to be
a Deacon. This made Mom proud so I accepted. Two weeks to live she asked me to help get
my Step Father to Church. As a family we offered to paint the Church. My Stepdad unafraid
of heights painted the cross on top. The Pastor when asked said he in the short time he
knew Mom and Dad had learned to love them. He came to the Church on her bedside and Baptized
my Stepdad. As they were praising him for being a Deacon in the old folks home I looked
up knowing Mom was in the house. Side not I heard later years my Father reappeared. I was
informed in a drunken stupor he found himself in a Wheelchair and trapped when a misplaced
cigarette caught the house on fire.

I was standing out front and this lady came up and hugged me. She said, "You don't
recognize me but I love you." Then she said, "I am your cousin Sherrie. When we were
young you were our idol. You took us under your wing. When you went to Korea you sent
Mom a big dinner ware set. Until the day she died that was all we could use on special
occasions. You sent Sis and Eye Special photo albums with shells and we still have
them holding our Senior pictures. We all went our different ways but we often talked
about you. When I see them talking about your dad I realize where the love came from."

Everything was going good until I realized I had to get back to the Hospital and find
out how Mom was doing. I couldn't believe the change. It is not all over but I know
Angels are flying about taking care of those I love. I rewrote a little of this hastily.
In moments after a couple hours sleep I am returning to the Hospital. I hope things are
still going well. Mom who died at age 54 sits on my shoulder. I am sure she would let me
know by some sign it were not./dandy







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