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Fri 10 Oct, 2003 07:58 pm
All is Well With the World Tonight
- by Michael T. Powers
A husband takes his wife's hand and whispers, "Honey, take some time for
yourself this evening. I started a bubble bath for you. Don't worry
about the kids. I'll take care of getting them to bed..."
A high school student hugs her mom and dad tightly and says, "Thanks for
making me do my homework this weekend instead of going out with my
friends... I know I have a shot at that scholarship now, and I owe it
all to both of you." She even offers to do the dishes before turning in
early for bed...
An elderly gentleman is returning home from his nightly walk when four
tough looking teenagers approach him. They walk slowly up behind him,
grab him and say, "Sir. We just wanted you to know that you dropped your
billfold a couple of blocks back. We are really sorry, but we were
unable to get all the snow off your leather wallet. Here it is.
Everything is still there. We're disappointed that we couldn't get all
the moisture off it before it started to stain... No, we don't deserve
any reward, we were just glad we came along when we did."
A lonely stray cat limps up to the dark house. He lifts his keen nose
and sifts the cold air currents. There is food up ahead. He hasn't eaten
in days, and he is cold and growing weaker by the hour... He has been
here before and knows the dog chained to the doghouse will not let him
near, but desperation drives him on. He draws closer to the appetizing
aroma coming from the food dish, all the while waiting for the deep
growling to begin. To his amazement he approaches the dish unchallenged
and begins to gulp huge amounts of food. The Doberman only watches...
When he is done eating and his hunger is satisfied, he hears the dog
whine. The abandoned stray walks slowly up to the canine and they sniff
noses. Soon they are fast asleep, sharing the warmth that only two can
provide. For one night, the ancient enmity between cat and dog has been
set aside...
A young single mom turns off the TV and walks slowly into the kitchen.
She looks longingly at the bottle of whiskey on the counter... This is
part of her evening ritual. It's how she deals with her problems. It's
how she gets to sleep most nights, but for some reason tonight feels
different. The tall bottle doesn't call to her as strongly. She doesn't
feel the overwhelming urge to bring the container to her lips, to feel
the fiery liquid burn down the back of her throat and make her forget...
Instead she gracefully slides over to the kitchen sink and pours every
last drop down the drain. "Not tonight," she whispers to herself. Maybe
not ever again...
She makes her way down the hallway and looks in on her sleeping
children. She walks from bedside to bedside, bending down and gently
planting a loving kiss on each round chubby cheek.
She is in bed before midnight for the first time in a year. She just
might make it to work on time tomorrow. "Boy, won't my boss be
surprised," she thinks to herself. Just as she is drifting off to sleep,
the stillness of the night is broken by the sudden, jarring ring of the
phone. "Hello," she says sleepily. She can't believe what she is
hearing. She doesn't want to believe. She thinks she is just going to
wake up from this dream and none of it will be true. She reaches down
and pinches her leg... She isn't dreaming. The voice on the other end of
the phone belongs to her husband who left her two years ago. "Honey, I'm
coming home, if you'll have me. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life
and leaving you and the kids was the biggest..." She sobs quietly into
the mouthpiece...
"Don't cry honey, everything is going to be all right from now on..."
Last night, after 95 long years, the Chicago Cubs finally win a play-off
series by defeating the Atlanta Braves 5-1.
Yes, All is Well With the World Tonight...
Maybe all of these things didn't happen last night. Maybe Michael T.
Powers just has an overactive imagination. Maybe...
Nah! The Cubbies win and all is well with the world!
Michael T. Powers
[email protected]
Copyright © 2003 by Michael T. Powers
Thank you, Misti, for sharing that. The Cubs will face the Red Sox in the World Series. You just wait and see!
:wink:
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