Saturday, February 23, 2019

An Old Beau


 “When your mother first came into the community, she was so friendly. And happy, really happy.” Old Bill Johnston nods his chin in remembrance of when he was one of her first suitors.
Happy? It doesn’t seem possible. I’ve known my mother’s life as miserable.
“What happened?” This is out of my mouth before I could stop it.
“She got married.” He answers quickly but then realizing what that must sound like he adds, “then right away she had a big family and lots of work.”
I wonder. What if she’d married him?  
I see this question in his face too.