I’ll never forget the sound of that doorbell. Usually there is a knock at the side door, where the folks that know me will come to visit. This time, it was a ringing from the front entrance. My guess was that it was probably another religious zealot sent to “save me” or a solicitor.
Much to my surprise, my maternal aunt and a cousin, Jennifer, were standing there with worried faces. I was baffled by their troubled expressions and wondered why they hadn’t used the side door.
“I’ve been trying to call you for over an hour; but, the line was busy. Your mother needs you,” Aunt Eva explained.
Bewildered, I questioned, “Why? What’s the matter?”
My two relatives got a bit more specific. “Your father is very sick, and your mother needs you right now.”
After inviting them in, I inquired further. “Exactly what happened to Dad? Is he all right?”
“We’re not exactly sure what happened to him; but he’s real sick.” They continued, “He’s in the hospital, and your mom is waiting for you. Please hurry! You need to be there.”
More demanding, I asked, “Just how sick is he?”
Nervously, Jennifer blurted, “He’s sort of dead.”
My mind began to spin. I thought to myself that “sort of dead” sounded more idiotic than “a little bit pregnant”. I recalled hearing my father’s voice, just the day before. Nothing was making any sense.
Confused, I required, “How?”
“We don’t know how,” my aunt replied. “All we know is that your father fell over in the front room and now, your mother needs your support. She’s in shock. You’ll probably have to stay overnight with her; so, grab a robe.”
My ex husband had taken our daughter (and my car) to an out-of-town amusement park. They were not expected to be back until after midnight, and there was no way for me to contact them.
Thinking out loud, my hands retrieved a piece of notebook paper and a pen from the dining table. “I’ve got to leave a note for Vince and let him know what’s happened. He and Kitty will wonder what’s going on when they get to the house and notice I’m missing.” In the note, I asked Vince to please allow me to tell Kitty of her grandfather’s passing and asked that he call me right away.
My cousin cautioned, “Don’t forget to check that your coffee maker and the stove are turned off before we leave. You don’t want to burn the house down.”
I anxiously went over to the already cold pot and took a close look at all of the dials over my oven. Going down the hallway and into the bedroom, I snatched a terry-cloth robe from my closet. I checked the coffee maker and range burners, again. It was all so overwhelming.
The phone rang. It was my new boyfriend on the line. He was anticipating our second date that night and wanted to know how things were going.
“I’m sorry, Rusty, we have to cancel our date for tonight. I’ve just been told that my father’s passed away.” The word, “dead”, just wouldn’t come to my lips. “I’ve got to get going. My mom’s waiting for me at the hospital.”
Rusty must have been wondering why I wasn’t crying; but he still tried to console me. “I’m sorry.” Then, he stuttered a bit, “I - I don’t know what else to say, except ‘I’m sorry.’ If there’s anything I can do, just call me.”
“I will. Thank you so much for caring and for the offer; but I’ve got to go. My aunt and my cousin are waiting on me.” The goodbyes were made quickly.
My aunt and cousin were getting impatient by the time I hung up the phone and neurotically examined the household appliances for a third time. At the end of her rope, Aunt Eva exclaimed, “Damn it, Ricki. You’ve already done that. Now, let’s get out of here!”
We all went out through the side door, and it was locked behind us. Ironically, the front entrance was forgotten and left open.
Much to my surprise, my maternal aunt and a cousin, Jennifer, were standing there with worried faces. I was baffled by their troubled expressions and wondered why they hadn’t used the side door.
“I’ve been trying to call you for over an hour; but, the line was busy. Your mother needs you,” Aunt Eva explained.
Bewildered, I questioned, “Why? What’s the matter?”
My two relatives got a bit more specific. “Your father is very sick, and your mother needs you right now.”
After inviting them in, I inquired further. “Exactly what happened to Dad? Is he all right?”
“We’re not exactly sure what happened to him; but he’s real sick.” They continued, “He’s in the hospital, and your mom is waiting for you. Please hurry! You need to be there.”
More demanding, I asked, “Just how sick is he?”
Nervously, Jennifer blurted, “He’s sort of dead.”
My mind began to spin. I thought to myself that “sort of dead” sounded more idiotic than “a little bit pregnant”. I recalled hearing my father’s voice, just the day before. Nothing was making any sense.
Confused, I required, “How?”
“We don’t know how,” my aunt replied. “All we know is that your father fell over in the front room and now, your mother needs your support. She’s in shock. You’ll probably have to stay overnight with her; so, grab a robe.”
My ex husband had taken our daughter (and my car) to an out-of-town amusement park. They were not expected to be back until after midnight, and there was no way for me to contact them.
Thinking out loud, my hands retrieved a piece of notebook paper and a pen from the dining table. “I’ve got to leave a note for Vince and let him know what’s happened. He and Kitty will wonder what’s going on when they get to the house and notice I’m missing.” In the note, I asked Vince to please allow me to tell Kitty of her grandfather’s passing and asked that he call me right away.
My cousin cautioned, “Don’t forget to check that your coffee maker and the stove are turned off before we leave. You don’t want to burn the house down.”
I anxiously went over to the already cold pot and took a close look at all of the dials over my oven. Going down the hallway and into the bedroom, I snatched a terry-cloth robe from my closet. I checked the coffee maker and range burners, again. It was all so overwhelming.
The phone rang. It was my new boyfriend on the line. He was anticipating our second date that night and wanted to know how things were going.
“I’m sorry, Rusty, we have to cancel our date for tonight. I’ve just been told that my father’s passed away.” The word, “dead”, just wouldn’t come to my lips. “I’ve got to get going. My mom’s waiting for me at the hospital.”
Rusty must have been wondering why I wasn’t crying; but he still tried to console me. “I’m sorry.” Then, he stuttered a bit, “I - I don’t know what else to say, except ‘I’m sorry.’ If there’s anything I can do, just call me.”
“I will. Thank you so much for caring and for the offer; but I’ve got to go. My aunt and my cousin are waiting on me.” The goodbyes were made quickly.
My aunt and cousin were getting impatient by the time I hung up the phone and neurotically examined the household appliances for a third time. At the end of her rope, Aunt Eva exclaimed, “Damn it, Ricki. You’ve already done that. Now, let’s get out of here!”
We all went out through the side door, and it was locked behind us. Ironically, the front entrance was forgotten and left open.
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