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THE PORCH

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

“Walnut hair and skin so fair
Freckles like stars on her nose
Green eyes glittering like precious jewels
And lips as soft as a rose” 

“Hey, Pops, what’s that you’re singing? I’ve never heard it before”. 

“Brady, I didn’t see you there” replied Ben Williams as he leaned his guitar against the porch wall. “Just an old number I wrote for your Mom. Another lifetime.” 

“Pops, can I ask you something? It makes me sad how little I remember about Mom. What was she like?” 

“Oh, son. That’s not easy to answer. Your mom was a real beauty, a feast for the eyes. And we were happy. We had you and your sister our first two years together. Then I got that trucking job and your Mom was alone a lot. It’s hard on a woman when her man is away for weeks at a time, especially with babies to care for. She was special and she loved you kids – don’t you ever forget that – but she got lonely.” 

Ben continued. “When Ron Carter’s wife died your Mom befriended him. They were both lonely and found comfort together. I don’t blame her for that. One day when I was home from the road she brought Ron a cherry pie. She took your sister with her and they never came back. How I wish she’d stayed but I couldn’t force her to be happy here. From that point on it was just you and me.” 

Father and son sat in contemplative silence. 

“You know, Pops, at first I thought Mom would come back soon. Then I gave up on that dream and convinced myself she had died. Strange thing is, thinking she was dead was easier than believing she abandoned us.” 

Ben let out a ragged sigh. “Thank God I had you, Brady. You didn’t know it but you kept me from falling apart. Getting that steady job at the hardware store was a life saver and I was able to be here for you.” 

“Then I started dating Rebecca and I was hardly ever home!” Brady laughed. “Marrying her and moving in here with you made my life complete.”

“That sweet gal of yours made my life complete, too, son. She filled a void in my heart and never once complained about having to live with her pain-in-the-ass father-in-law! Rebecca’s like a daughter to me” declared Ben. 

“Pops, did you know Rebecca was the one who insisted we live here with you. Not too many women would do that. And our kids are crazy about you! You’ve taught them a lot.” 

“I love those munchkins, Brady! You all made this house a home and a broken old man whole again.” 

Rebecca poked her head out the screen door. “Dinner in ten minutes, you two. Please round up the kids and everybody get washed up.” 

That night Rebecca asked Brady what he and his father had been talking about. 

“Just reminiscing, mostly about my Mom.” 

“I wish I had a chance to know your Mom.”

“Me too, Becca” Brady replied wistfully. “Me too.”

NAR © 2023

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21 thoughts on “THE PORCH”

  7. I used to work with a woman who did (almost) exactly the same. She had 3 small children, and left them and her husband behind one day. Packed a small bag, and walked away from her old life. I have no idea what was behind her thinking or circumstance, but at the time (early 70s) it was quite shocking.

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    1. I have a family member who did exactly the same. This was about 12 years ago and I couldn’t’ comprehend how a mother could just walk away from her children. I’ve since learned why she left and the relationship between her and the kids has gotten better over time. It was a very difficult time for our family.

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      1. I always wondered if abuse was involved, perhaps thinking that would be reasonable cause. Funny how I searched for reasons in order to maintain my faith in human nature, when in fact the reason was truly none of my business.

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        1. We all have that drive to find an explanation to a situation that’s mind-boggling to us. While it may be none of our business, we are only human and it’s perfectly natural to wonder what compels people to do what they do. Most times we never get the answers.

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