Take This Tune
Posted: Monday, December 13, 2010 by Travis Cody in
My pal Jamie from Duward Discussion has reintroduced her wonderful meme. Take This Tune provides a musical prompt each week, usually a video with the song lyrics. The task is to write something inspired by the song or something in the lyrics.
This week's prompt is the song The Best Part of the Day from Elton John and Leon Russell. The task is to tell a love story.
Once upon a time, I answered a knock at the front door. I had been staying with my mom while looking for a new apartment after a buddy of mine kicked me out in favor of his girlfriend. A man said hello and asked for my mother by my last name. I told the gentleman that she went by her maiden name now and that she was still at work, but I'd be happy to take a message. He handed me a small envelope.
A message prepared.
I was intrigued, particularly when he told me his name. I thought I knew that name. I recalled it from some of my earliest memories. I told him I would take the message to Mom. He thanked me and walked away.
Closing the door, I turned to the phone. Then I had another thought. I knew who this gentleman was, and I knew I couldn't tell my mother over the phone that I had just met him again after twenty years.
I drove to her office and gave her the envelope. She opened it, read the name and the phone number, and sat there. I can only imagine what was going through her mind.
I could see her thoughts settle. I saw the small smile. There was something in her eyes when she looked at me. I asked her if the man was who I thought he was. She said yes.
I went home. She called the gentleman and made the date. I didn't see her for several days, although she phoned and said everything was fine.
Fine. Silly, inadequate word.
Everything was more than fine. Twenty years before, my mom had said no when this man asked her to leave her unhappy marriage with her nearly four year old son. This man was prepared to leave his unhappy marriage and four young daughters to make a better life for the two of them...and for me.
She didn't do it. She said no. She remained in her marriage. She and my father had my sister. Then they divorced seven years later.
But my mom never forgot the offer she rejected. And neither did the man who made the offer. He found her again after twenty years, when his daughters were grown and his unhappy marriage had nothing left to bind it.
And now, 22 years after he knocked on that door, 42 years after they parted to honor commitments to unhappy marriages and young children, he still puts that little smile on my mom's face.
And I have learned more of what that little smile means.
Travis, that story made me tear up! It so describes that little smile...