Better Days Ahead

She couldn't seem to take her eyes off the clock, with each moment that passed by, Margaret Thompson wondered helplessly where a 17 year old could possibly be at such ungodly hour, her eyes involuntarily darting to clock on the mantelpiece intermittently.it was well past midnight and Jake her son was yet to return from one of this many adventures. He seemed to grow worse with each passing day. She couldn't fathom what any parent could give to a child other than what she and Amos had made available to their three children. They lacked practically nothing money could buy. Yet all their efforts proved abortive and their children waxed worse and worse in their vices. Jake's behaviour gave her more concern however since he was the oldest and was supposed to set a good example for others to follow.

The bang on the door instantly drove the sleep from her eyes. She walked briskly to the door. When she peeped through the keyhole, she discovered it was Jake. Angrily, she walked briskly to the door. The only thought on her mind then was to hit him across his face. But she stopped short as the teenager staggered into the house. He reeked! She felt paralyzed. Her anger immediately turning into frustration, she slumped into the chair nearest to her

"Jay! What's this about? Oh, I feared you would degenerate, but not to the point of walking the streets as drunk as you are now." On he went into the bathroom. He needed to shake off the throb in his head. He was not in the least bothered about her ranting, that was already used to all that talk about how hard she and their ever absent father were trying to provide for them and make them really comfortable. That was their headache. He had his own life to live and did not wish to have anybody bore him with such nonsense as morality.

That night she was unable to sleep at all, she tossed from one end of the bed to another.where had they missed it? She had asked herself that same question countless times. Amos was working so hard to provide for their family. She couldn't blame him for his perpetual absence from home. He had to work. What did these children want that they had not done? If only they would just let her know their mistakes and faults, she was ready to give anything to give anything to restore sanity to her home again.

It appeared she had so much focused on Jake and had lost June, her 15 year old daughter. Before she became conscious of what changes had occurred in her daughter, June had begun hanging out with the wildest boys in town. This really set her on edge. She thought she might lose her mind if something positive didn't happen in her home soon enough.

Amos was billed to come home that week. The thought of her husband's return was the only thing that gave her a little consolation. Within a few years she had lost all three children. Jasmine, her 10 years old child was so withdrawn she hardly talked to anybody in the house. She would just stay glued to television. Nothing interested her. Even her class-teacher had explained that her performance had drastically dwindled and she hardly concentrated in class anymore. She had also lost all her glee and glamour. A once cheerful Jasmine had become a shadow of herself.

Margaret's pain was so great. She felt her stomach lighten every time she saw what had become of her children. What could she say that under her very grasp she lost all three children? She saw engulfed by the interest agony. The pain in her heart was almost physical. She had failed in her responsibility as a mother! She met a whole new and transformed Amos at airport that afternoon. He didn't have to say anything: his looks told her everything. Her heart sunk. Had she lost Amos too? As if he noticed her fear and wanted to abate it, he put this arms around her and smiling reassuringly said "I'm home 'pearl', everything's alright now."

To be continued.............

Check for the rest in my next post thanks for reading.