and a few items could be seen from just my scant glance. Looking up
at her with worried eyes I nodded slowly and shivered as I slid out from under
my quilt, the night air chilly already as the ensuing storm we were expecting
was starting to form in the night sky.
Stumbling around in the dark, I managed to
grab a dress, slipping it on quietly as I searched for my sandals. Finally
dressed I stuffed my nightshirt into the backpack and hefted it up onto my
shoulder, glancing over at my mother, who was crying softly as she futilely
wiped at the tears, trying I assume not to scare me more then I already was.
Stopping for a moment, I listened quietly, trying to hear my father as I
watched my mother huddling against the frame of my door. "Mama..? Where is
daddy? Isn't he coming?" I asked quietly, walking over to where she stood
and peering out into the main room of our home. "Jolena,
we MUST go now" she exclaimed, her hands clutched in a fretful manner for
a moment before taking my hand and leading me to the main room. Sitting on the
kitchen table that my father had made for us some years back, was a satchel
full of her things, the opening of it ajar enough so that I noticed a parchment
resting on top of everything else. Walking slowly towards it, a gasp escaped my
trembling body, for on that parchment was a sketching of my mother and father
at their wedding. It had hung on the wall of our cottage as long as I could
remember and the realization hit me as I stood there looking at it that we were
not coming back. And somehow, my father was not going with us.
Turning to my mother, I asked "Daddy didn't..come home..did he mama.” my eyes full of fear as I gazed into
her face. Wanting to hear her say "Yes" was the only thing I could
think of to wish for at that moment but I knew that it would not come. Pausing
a moment, she closed her eyes gently, exhaling a soft long sigh before
reopening them to smile faintly at me. Taking my hand, she grabbed her satchel
with the other and opened the door of our cottage. As she ushered me out into
the night, she turned and took a last look at our home, her eyes taking in
everything she could see for a final moment. I stood watching her, my small
form huddled into my coat as raindrops covered my head and streaked down the
fabric of my clothing. Thoughts and images flooded my memory in that moment.. My father's laughter echoing in my ears as I remembered
him and mama playing roshambo in the living room of
our house, my mothers smile as radiant as a sun's rays on a summer day. Images of my father's face as he watched me fly high into the air
on our swing, his strong arms pushing the seat higher and higher as I called
out to him to push harder. His dark blue eyes were so full of happiness
and I remembered the strong tone of his voice as he smiled and said "You
think you're a bird don't you little one? Close your eyes and imagine and you
can be anything you want to be". Blinking briefly, I gazed around me,
realizing now that this was to be my last time in this place and that I would
not see my father again.
The door closed with a soft click and my
mother turned to me slowly. As she knelt down before me and drew me into her
arms she pushed a stray lock of my auburn hair from my eyes. Tilting her head
to kiss my forehead, she murmured softly "Your father..
is nae coming back Jolena. I know..this
is..” a soft gasp emitted from her lips as she tried vainly to control her
emotions for me.