Naiad 1975 - Lake-Sumter Community College

124
MOTHER'S COURAGE
It was now mid-winter and once again mother was ill. Yes, for some reason
or the other her fate seemed always to come at this time of year. But this year her
condition seemed worse than ever before.
"Johnny," mother called feebly. "Come here."
"Yes, mother?" I said inquisitively, waiting for a reply.
But once again she grew silent, seeming somehow aware of a distant caller. I
stood there with tear-stained eyes, feeling totally exhausted from having worked
so hard. Yes, I stood there waiting tensely for mother to embark upon her
departure.
"Johnny," whispered mother once again.
"Yes, mother" I replied, waiting once more for her to complete her call.
" Get me my clothes, son."
"No mother!" I began. "Dr. Daley has said for you to lie in bed for six
weeks."
"Get me my clothes," she repeated, rising slowly from her position.
Knowing that she was determined to have her way, I unwillingly handed her
her clothes and watched her from a distance as she struggled to dress.
"Yes," I whispered, "mother has method in her madness."
"Indeed, I do," she said approaching the kitchen door. "I'm going to Sara's
to get my other children."
"Sure," I said, suddenly remembering that my younger brothers and sisters
had been sent to my Aunt Sara's at mother's insistence.
Suddenly, I began to realize why mother had sent the children to Aunt
Sara's. She had sent them there for somehow she had known all along the
severeness of her illness. Somehow she had!
"Mother," I murmured, "you know don't you?"
"Yes, son," she replied weakly. "I have known since the beginning. For me,
there is no cure."
"But mother," I uttered, trying to interrupt, but seeming to fail.
"Yes, there is no cure," she continued. "But nevertheless, I must make it
well worth the while for .iny children. I really must!"
I stood there seemingly spellbound. It seemed as though mother were an
impossible creature. Yes, for it was not herself that she was thinking of, nor the
long journey of death theft was to summon her. It was us that she thought of. Yes,
it was of us.
"For the girls," she continued, "I have ordered dresses and for the boys ... "
It was at this point that her voice weakened. Once again I took notice of her
frail frame. Suddenly, it dawned on me why mother had gotteh up and come into
the kitchen. And suddenly I realized why she was telling me all this -simply
because she wanted me to act as Santa to my younger brothers and sisters.
"Son," she began once more, "I have already visited the children. I did it
yesterday."
"But I did it yesterday while you were away," she said, seeming to feel
somewhat guilty for not having told me before now.
"But why? Why, mother! Why!" I protested, allowing my voice to rise a
trifle.
"I went because it was a mother's duty," she answered. "I had to go while
there was still time."
"But mother!"
"It was my duty," she repeated, now seeming somewhat more assured.