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