Before I was Born ...

Our current writing instructor gave us this homework in Class 2; "Write a story about what you imagine, or know, your mother and father's life was like before you were conceived. Include dialogue and a turn of events in your parents' lives which could have occurred to clear the way for your conception." I chose to write a poem, calling it, "I was just a Glint in Dad’s Eye."

“Mom … I’m four years younger than your marriage?”

“Artificial birth control.”

Just married,

Mom and Dad

lived with Dad’s parents.

“Mom thinks we should move in.”
“Not in my dream marriage.”

“Mom thinks we should … “

“We can afford our own place;

You know we can.”

“Mom thinks we should … “

“It doesn’t feel good to me.”

“We can buy our own

sooner that way;

we save more … besides

Mom thinks we should.”

“Well … I suppose.”

“Mom thinks we should … “

 … “Well, I suppose.”

“Move in with them”

“Spend Thanksgiving with her”

( and Christmas … and … )

“Go out Less”
“Go to church more”

“Come in earlier when we do go out”
“Spend less on clothes”

“Get better paying jobs”

“Get a better, maybe new, automobile”

Finally …

“Start a family”

Black clouds

   fireworks

      molten words

“What … did … you … tell … her?”

A half guilty grin;

a “Who me?” look;

used frequently,

applied deliberately.

Mom loved

Mom hated

that look.

Dad knew.

“A lie; we’re trying.”

She flew at him;

desperate, angry,

grateful, passionate,

both of them nearly

forgetting the

artificial birth control.

Life changed then.

Mom wanted power

over everyone, anyone,

like Grandma wielded

over Dad.

They worked harder,

   saved more deliberately,

      and quit using artificial birth control.

If you would like to comment but don't care to use the comment field, send an email to  walter.comments@inkfounta.in.