inside the hotel room

I barely had a memory

of picking terrie up to carry her

halfway across the threshold

injuries forced me to put her down

I fell face forward on the bed

passed out for several hours

woke with suit and shoes still on

i'd concerns of terrie being comfortable

propped her up high with extra pillows

she was hungry .. hadn't eaten all day

we managed to walk down the stairs

to the hotel's only  restaurant

ordered dinner .. I couldn't eat

worrying about tommy and kathy

I knew ricky and ronny were alright

i'd been raising the older ones too

they'd been staying at their friend's house

I was comforted .. knowing they were eating

tommy and kathy were a whole different story

I called them .. mom had returned home

she'd been gone again .. a lengthy six months

my little brother and sister had something to eat

finally an adult at home .. even though

mom was passed out .. a terrible alcoholic

I guess i'd lied to tommy

in an attempt to pacify him

still I only moved a mile away

beginning my forced nightmare marriage

in a very tiny house .. kitchen, bedroom and bath

four months went by .. every day after work

i'd stop by to check on kathy and tommy

make sure they had something to eat

when i'd finally arrive home

my mom-in-law was there every day

asking me daily .. where i'd been

I never went home right away

I'd thought it none of her business

felt compelled to tell her just that

she said don't worry about tommy and kathy

Copyright @ November 2014

StandingBear