ended up working a double shift

sixteen long .. hard cold hours

walked home .. ten o'clock that night

frozen completely stiff .. bone cold

hugged the heater until nearly midnight

had to be back to work at six a.m.

a few hours of rest .. hardly any sleep

car still broke down .. I woke up late

rushed to get dressed .. on the road

walked in freezing ice .. snow

over the river's bridge

over an hour late .. I was fired

trudged back home .. a lot on my mind

tommy and kathy were happy to see me

terrie was disappointed .. began complaining

I reassured her i'd find another job soon

terrie's mom took her shopping

later on that day .. I stayed home

cooked for tommy, kathy and myself

it was hard to break the news to them

asked them what they thought of moving to their dad's

both answered with a resounding no

i'd to tell them i'd no other choice

they cried, I cried .. we hugged all day

I got my car fixed .. found another job

saturday, I took tommy and kathy to their dad

explained to him my impossible situation

he agreed to take them in .. looked crazy at me

I apologized to tommy and kathy

hugged them close to my heart

all three of us had tears in our eyes

driving away .. I knew life had changed

judy had invited me over for a steak dinner

her way of celebrating her win .. I suppose

deeply depressed .. I stayed home awhile

recent memories of my siblings in mind

I went on to terrie's parent's home

late .. starving when i'd arrived

only to discover judy had given

my steak to a guest of theirs

I informed judy I was leaving terrie there

Copyright @ November 2014

StandingBear