They had just come home from their weekend donut run. Dad came in and put on a Beach Boys album at full blast and set out to do chores in the yard. Mom came in and looked like the life had been sucked out of her.
I ran to the kitchen to see what I had been brought in the donut bag. Mom collapsed on me and began sobbing. She held me tightly and her body shuddered as she cried.
"Mommy, what's wrong," I said feeling scared.
"You're dad's leaving us." she managed to answer.
She continued to grip me and sob. I felt little zings of glee but knew it was best to conceal them. For me, I knew it meant the end of my parents' knock down drag out arguments with each other.
I suppose Dad was feeling relieved.
I can't hear "Help me Rhonda" now without being transported back to that moment.
Bittersweet.
5 comments:
Songs can be powerful
Moon River always reminds me of my Grandad
Wow, I don't know what to say about that post.
Glad you could see it so maturely while young.
Damn - I wish my parents had done that - it would have been so much better for everyone!
Let's see... what songs don't bring back memories for me?
"Babe" reminds me of riding the Greyhound bus back home from visiting my boyfriend. It was during the strike of 1981 or 82, and I ended up stranded at the L.A. bus station because there wasn't another bus for 10 hours to Santa Barbara.
My dad had to drive down and get me.
Funny how smells and sounds can resonate so deeply in us.
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