|
The heated swirling waters
of the spa were working their magic on their daughter's tight twisted
muscles. To give her relief from the pain and misery of cerebral palsy
Dee's husband had worked many hours and at dangerous work. The old spa
was bought at a garage sale and the thing just half way worked, but
somehow or another he kept it running. The lift they purchased at an even
greater expense had a soft basket of nylon net and this is what held the
girl inside the bubbling waters. She was floating there, free from the
pull of gravity she usually had to struggle against and it gave her
relaxation.
For the only twenty minutes
of therapy one of them stayed with her just to be on the safe side. This
evening they both sat on the patio beside the spa and visited.
“Whatever happened with the
Mother who couldn't find her children?” Sam asked his wife.
“Oh!” “They are okay.”
“Just grounded.” “The poor woman went to every house in the neighborhood
searching for them.” “She finally found them at the last house.” “Why
anyone would allow children to come in without checking with their mother,
is beyond me.”
Most people their ages were
gifted with living in a new world. Gifted or cursed however one wished to
perceive the situation. Their generation could either laugh about it or
moan over it. Usually, they chose to laugh. It was more enjoyable.
“I wonder how many “live
in's” we have in our neighborhood?” Dee was curious.
“Most of those live in
apartments, but I think we do have one or two living in this residential
area.” Sam had no idea what point she was making.
“I just think they are free
from the legal aspects of things.” “Maybe, it isn't a great worry as far
as laws go.”
“Now dear!” “It is the way
it is.” “Things are very different today.” Sam was realistic.
“I know.” “I just felt
so sorry for that mother searching for her children.” “There is a fear
when one isn't just sure about law abiding people.” “It isn't spoken,
because as you say, things are different.” “Still deep within our soul we
are a little insecure as to their position.” “We know they wouldn't do
anything to children.” “Still, there is that still small voice warning
us.” “And, that is just the way I am, thanks to my living in two
different worlds, then and now.”
“Really,” Dee continued to
think aloud, “the mother didn't seem too trustworthy as she spoke to me.”
“I invited her in and she was looking about the room in a distrustful
way.” “It took me a moment to convince her I knew nothing, and had not
seen the children.”
“I will think about it no
longer, I promise.” “The stars are so bright and beautiful.” “Look
Orion.” “He's hunting across the sky again tonight.”
Adding to the peacefulness
of the moment the water in the spa sloshed this way and that as if
complaining it was not free to go about its business of making a way to a
stream, a river, and then on to the sea.
The phone jangled its
demand and Dee went into the house to answer its call. When she returned
her husband asked her, who called.
“It was Mother.”
“Does she need anything?”
Sam wanted to know.
“She is reminding me about
Daddy's grave.” “Tomorrow is Memorial Day.” "The tribe is supposed
to have that all mowed but she wants someone to go out to be sure they
have done their job.” “I'm not going.” “I know they have, even though I
told her I would go.”
“Are your friends from
Dallas going to be there?” Sam asked.
“I'm sure they will, if the
crick don't rise, and the bridge don't wash out.” She realized she must
be thinking about her Dad to use one of his “make fun of Oklahoma”
sayings.
We only get to see each
other once a year. Doesn't seem fair somehow or another, but that's the
way it is, “headin' west.” They both laughed together as she used the
second one of her Dad's sayings within minutes of each other. |
