Family Remembers, Part Ii
II-Marie
It was two full days after this charade
when Marie was told the grim news,
her ex-husband had been shanked in prison,
killed by two illegal alien youths.
When she went down to the funeral,
she was greeted by the dirtiest glares,
except from Robby’s sister, Jana,
a quiet your woman of grace and care.
They talked long after the service had
come to its sad and dignified end,
Jana said,”I know you didn’t plan for this,
but I’m hoping that we can remain friends.”
Marie was taken aback by this,
it came out of nowhere, a surprise,
but she saw a deep sincerity
in the young woman’s tired, blue eyes.
They did all the things the girlfriends do,
went to brunch, shopped too much, borrowed clothes,
Marie would let Aunt Jana take
the boys out for several hours or so.
Six months later on a Saturday night,
the two drank ’till their teeth learned to swim,
they took a cab back to Marie’s house,
and with a clamor, stumbled their way in.
Both of them collapsed on the big soda,
Marie said,”Haven’t danced like that in years.
Robby never really knew how to dance,
he’d just hang back and nurse a light beer.”
Marie had had too many drinks that night,
said,”He was always acting that way.
Had no ambition to movie up in the world,
nor to even try to bring home more pay.
“I wish I’d gotten through to that man,
and it is so sad that I never did,
but I deserve a comfortable life,
and, of course, must think of my kids.”
Jana mumbled drunkenly,”I understand,"
then quickly passed out to a boozy sleep.
Marie would soon fall asleep next to her,
for she felt too drunk to trust to her feet.
Three months later she awoke to a noise,
wood splintering as her front door crashed.
She ran down to hear a police sergeant
say,”We’ve a warrant boys, go find her stash!”
She stammered, unable to make sense of it,
when the cops found hidden bags of cocaine,
the sergeant slapped cuffs onto her wrists,
while she cried,”This must be a mistake!”
CONCLUDES IN PART III.
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