Flashback .. Fast Forward

While I Sat On The End Of The Counter

we loaded up last .. in that old stationwagon

kissed, hugged everyone bye .. Aunt Myrl, Uncle Max, and our cousins

driving away I just had to look back .. Aunt Myrl was smiling

kissing Uncle Max .. then she slapped his roaming hands

Max Raymond, Joe Earl,  and Sherrie Lynn stood there burning in the sun

on the way home the sh** hit the fan .. no one knew what it was all about

mom and Arlis argued for the entire two hour drive

until it felt as if there wasn't any air left to breathe

she reached over, slapped him silly .. he jerked the steering wheel

pulled halfway off of the highway .. a loaded 18 wheeler truck almost hit us

Arlis hollered as loud as he could .. mom began crying uncontrollably

inbetween tears she told him she's moving out with us kids

everyone was quiet .. sullen .. the rest of the day

mom heated up tv dinners .. Arlis went to the store

Jimmy Don beat on Ricky and Ronny .. two of my younger brothers

looked at me .. to take out some of their frustrations

they were much bigger .. stronger .. I was underdeveloped and dying

i'd a serious heart condition .. doctors hadn't a clue what to do

I always sat on the end of the couch

played with a paper bag .. made the craziest faces

entertained my younger brothers so they wouldn't beat on me

recalling their facial expressions .. i'd convinced them that i'm retarded

they'd laugh in amazement .. giggle .. then find something else to do

our tv dinners were gone in a hurry .. long gone

Arlis prepared a bowl of ice cream for each of us kids

then he'd sit in his la-z-boy chair in front of the tv

he'd eat pistachios while we watched 'the wild wild west'

soon it was time for bed .. a time I always dreaded

in the bedroom directly over my head

there were waterstains shaped just like satan's evil face

he was holding a trident .. wickedly laughing at me all night

i'd become so scared .. silently crying .. I crawled under my bed

fast forward .. mom moved us in with Aunt Edna and Uncle Jimmy

a hundred miles due west .. Shreveport, Louisiana

Louisiana Hayride was going strong

little, short Uncle Jimmy was gone .. driving a truck

Aunt Edna stayed drunk .. mom found a babysitter for my siblings

she took me to work with her .. a local donut shop

I recall a dark haired stranger .. wearing a black leather jacket

right before Elvis became big and famous

he used to feed me my breakfast

while I sat on the end of the counter

Copyright @ June 2014

StandingBear