Flashback .. Fast Forward

She's Still .. Always My Mother

leaving Baton Rouge .. it was quite a sight

snakes .. wildlife from the Gulf .. everywhere

barely daylight, gray rainy skies .. alligators biting car tires

we left half of our belongings .. escaped the tragedy

I assure you we won't be going back anytime soon

headed to high ground .. two hundred miles north

ended up in a small, country hick town .. West Monroe

rented a three bedroom house near the Ouachita River

mom found a boyfriend .. Arlis left her and us

the boyfriend was an alcoholic .. evil began

Billy Ray was a lumberjack .. drank all the time

everything seemed cool at first .. all quickly changed

a three bedroom house .. six adults .. twelve children

everyone slept wherever they could .. I chose the coffee table

Billy Ray had six kids .. mom had six

early morning .. I was standing outside

mom and Billy Ray were drunk .. argued all night

she tried to go in the house to cook breakfast

he swung .. broke her nose .. swung again

broke her jaw .. blood and teeth flew against the house

snatched her fingers .. broke some of them

then twisted .. broke her arm in seven places

I watched in horror the entire time

totally in shock .. I was nine .. dying

enraged inside .. if I could've only found a gun

I would've shot .. killed him dead

the neighbor lady had her pistol locked away

an ambulance came .. picked mom up

quickly to the hospital she went

paramedics refused to let me ride with her

times I was able to sleep

I dreamed .. over and over

about killing him for what he did

even though mom and I weren't very close

she's still .. always my mother

Copyright @ July 2014

StandingBear