Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: WEEKEND AWAY (short vacation) (07/23/15)
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TITLE: Gut Feeling | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gary Ritter
07/29/15 -
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Bart and Tony echo a “Yeah!” while I just grin.
Our housemother, Jenny, has a trailer there and she’s been taking us a lot this summer. My grin loses a little of its luster as the deep-seated anxiety I’ve been feeling suddenly surfaces. I can’t remember what causes it, but I know something isn’t right. If we go to the lake I might not be able to do my job.
Jenny sees the concern on my face and comes over to me. She sits down beside me and pats my arm. “Everything’s going to be okay, Johnny. We’ll go and have some fun, then we’ll make sure you get to see your parents next week.”
Jenny is such a good and kind person. She watches out for the three of us because we can’t do everything for ourselves that other people can. There had been four of us in the house under Jenny’s care, but Chico died. One morning Jenny went into his room to wake him up and he wouldn’t open his eyes. The door of my room was ajar and I heard her say, “Oh, Chico,” and hold back a sob. Over the years others have left us forever, but never anyone so close. When I learned that Chico wouldn’t be with us anymore, a sense of sadness came over me for weeks. I got angry and did mean things to people. During that time Jenny had another woman talk with me about my feelings. It’s hard for me to express my thoughts. I wish I could reason and speak like others, but God didn’t make me that way.
Thinking of Chico I recall that my dad is sick and will soon die. My siblings had Jenny bring me to the nursing home each night this week. Dad is old, and lying in bed sleeping he didn’t look good. Still, I thought he’d be okay until my sister explained to Mom again that Dad is 92, has a bad infection, and will soon die. I guess Mom needs to be reminded a lot about Dad’s condition because my sister repeated her description several times to Mom. The first time I heard that Dad is dying it shocked me. My stomach tightened and I concentrated really hard on the words my sister was saying. When my sister told Mom again later, I thought of Chico. But Dad can’t die. It’s my job to take care of him and Mom. I always have. I watch out for them. Sleep didn’t come easy that night.
We have a great time at the lake this weekend. Jenny had taught us to fish and Tony catches a huge bass. Later, Jenny fixes it for dinner. It scares us for a couple minutes when a bone sticks in Bart’s throat, but Jenny gets it free. It shakes up Bart for a while. He sits panting and sweating. Could he have died from that? I wonder.
That makes me think about Dad again. Keeping thoughts straight in my mind is hard for me, but I know my feelings. Things aren’t right with him.
Sunday afternoon as we prepare to leave, Jenny’s phone rings. She walks away from us to talk but I hear her say, “Oh, my.” Her body goes limp and she slumps down in a chair. Her reaction finding Chico that morning comes to mind. I grow very scared but am not sure why.
Jenny is somber on the drive home. After dinner that evening she takes me to the nursing home where my brothers and sisters have gathered in Dad’s room. My brother reminds me that Dad has been very sick. “Do you remember what happened to Chico?” he asks. “Dad has died like Chico did.”
He brings me to the bed where Dad is lying very still. “This will be the last time you see him.” Mom is there with a bewildered expression. In a way we’re a lot alike now. We sit in silence, except for the occasional hiccup and sob from my sister.
A man comes with a stretcher and Jenny says it’s time we left. My brother tells me to say goodbye to Dad. I touch his shoulder and walk down the hall with Jenny.
I wonder what will happen with my mother. I need to keep watching out for her. That’s my job. She needs me.
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Excellent work.
God bless~