Three Word Wednesday

                               

Backward; adjective: Directed behind or to the rear; (of a person) having learning difficulties; adverb: (Of a movement) away from one's front; in the direction of one's back; toward or into the past.

Ease; noun: Absence of difficulty or effort; absence of rigidity or discomfort; verb: make (something unpleasant, painful, or intense) less serious or severe; move carefully, gradually, or gently.

Omission; noun: Someone or something that has been left out or excluded; the action of excluding or leaving out someone or something; a failure to do something, esp. something that one has a moral or legal obligation to do.

 The Kids Are All Right

Mary watched as George made the kids lunches.

“Didn’t he trust her to make them anymore? He just seemed to go through life in a fog anymore ignoring her.” Mary thought

“George let me make them please. You are making a mess of that sandwich. Frannie doesn’t like it when you make the jam squeeze out the side, and peanut butter? Really George? You know the school has banned peanuts because of student allergies. I can do it with ease if you’d let me.”

“Daddy we can’t eat that. Peanuts are banned. Sheryl has a peanut allergy just me taking that to school could kill her.” Dara complained loudly “Frannie can’ t take that either. Geesh Dad, you make sandwiches all backward”

“I did try Dara. I’ll try to remember that omission next time.” George promised

“Geesh he wouldn’t even look at me when I complained but he jumps when Dara complains.” Mary thought “it was like they didn’t have a relationship anymore. The only thing that seemed to be keeping them together was the kids. He didn’t even yell like he usually did how odd.

“Go tell your sister we are leaving in five minutes for school.” George demanded angrily “I can’t be late for work again I’ll lose my job.”

“If you’d let me drive them like I used to you wouldn’t be late.” Mary sniped

George just stared into space and ignored her after Dara left.
He then proceeded to ignore her some more.
"George really listen to me. I have to go to work soon. I could drive the kids you don't have to worry about being late"
George doesn't answer and Mary gets annoyed.
"Geesh George I make one small mistake and you won't talk to me?"
"Dara we are going to be late."George shouted
"Fine then I'll quit the job. I know you want me to be home for the children."
George just seemed to nod at his head while not looking up from the newspaper he was reading.George then proceeded to the front door to get his shoes ignoring Mary.
“I know I was wrong to do that George. I’m never going to do that again. Why won’t you forgive me?” Mary demanded

“Damn you Mary why did you make me do this?” George asked

“What did you do George?”Mary wondered aloud

Just then there was a knock at the door. George opened to a police officer. Two uniformed police officers came in along with a woman dressed casually.

“George Barnes?”

 George just nodded.

One policeman then took out his cuffs and put George in handcuffs behind his back.

“What’s going on? What am I being arrested for. I have two kids upstairs you know.”

“George Barnes you are under arrested you for the murder of your wife Mary Barnes on May 2^nd of this year. “You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Do you understand? Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand? You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future. Do you understand? If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. Do you understand? If you decide to answer questions now without an attorney present you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to an attorney. Do you understand? Knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you, are you willing to answer my questions without an attorney present?”

“I didn’t kill my wife and what about my children?” George asked again

“Mr. Barnes we are aware of your children Ms. Albert from social services will take custody of them.”

The policeman then took George away.

Mary at first wanted to deny it. She wasn’t dead but when they started reading George his rights she remembered. She remembered the beating she took from George. Thank goodness the kids hadn’t been home but at her mother’s.

George had yelled at her for forgetting to make the reservation. She had made one but they had lost it. Would he listen? No it was like every other time she should have walked away. He hit her first blackening her eye. Then he knocked out two teeth as he broke her jaw. He just seemed to never lose his rage that night.no matter how many times she begged and pleaded he just kept hitting. She remembered becoming unconscious then waking up barely to him chopping her bodies into pieces then fading away.

“The kids would her kids be okay? They must never be with George.” Mary thought

While Mary had been thinking time had passed and she found herself in a courtroom a jurist stood up

“In the murder of Mary Barnes, we find the defendant George Barnes guilty in the first degree.” said the Jurist

“George Barnes you have been found guilty by a jury of your peers. I sentence you to twenty five years in prison.” the judge stated

“Twenty five years, my life was only worth twenty five of his?” Mary asked disgusted to none in particular.

Mary then found herself floating in time and space to her parent’s home.

“Paul I just got the call. The grandchildren will remain with us not George’s parents. We've won.” she heard her mother say excited.

Mary smiled the children would be safe with her parents. She turned and saw and outstretched hand in a luminous light. In her head she heard “Come Mary it’s time you rested and got well.”

Mary wanted to go the light was so bright but she didn’t want to leave her children. Then she looked and saw Gabby and Dara sitting beside her mother smiling and happy. She knew then she could say goodbye. The kids were all right.

©Sheilagh Lee  September 14 ,2011