My mother is gazing out the window with tears swelling in her big, beautiful hazel eyes. She is looking at the sky and trying not to show me, then only 4 or five years old, that she is heartbroken, sad, empty and deeply hurt. We are living in a tiny two bedroom apartment, my three siblings, my mom and I, in a new town far from where we had been living with Daddy. He sent us home to California from Okinawa, Japan

"Why are you sad, Mommy?" I ask.

"I just feel lonely sometimes, Punkin, that's all." she answers.

"But how can you feel lonely when you have the four of us, Mommy?" I inquire.

"Oh, Punkin. I don't feel alone. I know you are here and I love you very much. I just feel lonely sometimes," she says to me sweetly.

"You miss Daddy, don't you?" I ask her.

"Yes, I do, Mindy, "she answers.

"Mommy, when is Daddy coming back to us?" I ask her innocently.

"I don't know, honey. It may be quite some time," she answers me, choking back her tears.

"Why did Daddy send us away, Mommy? What did we do to make him mad? Why doesn't he want us anymore?" I ask her... and her reply echoes through my mind.....

"I'm certain it's nothing you've done, Punkin. It's me. I've upset him somehow. I'm sure he loves and cares about you very much. I'm sure you'll see him again someday."