The Messenger
08/31/06
It’s strange,
I’ve never been close to dad
and he called me
from across the country
minutes after mom died
since I work at home,
he told me I was the only child
he was calling
so it’s my job
to tell the brothers and sisters
they’re off to work now
scramble to leave them messages somewhere
call cell phones
act calm
break the news to everyone
it’s my job to be the calm one
that’s what I have to do
I have a flight to see mom and dad tomorrow
I guess I’ll only be seeing dad now
left messages for my sisters,
the teachers at their schools
got through to one brother
broke the news to him
while he was standing
in eight inches of water
doing concrete work at his job
left a message with my oldest brother
he called back shortly afterward
I told him the news
he started to break up immediately
then told me
“I have to hang up the phone now”
oldest sister called back
I told her the news
she just couldn’t believe it
mom was doing so well the day before
this doesn’t make sense
then she realized
what I had to be going through
that I had to be the messenger
that I had to be rational
and tell everyone that their mother just died
she’s my mother, too
asked me if there was anything
I needed
I couldn’t think of any words
I’m the messenger
and I couldn’t think of any words
Copyright © 2006 Janet Kuypers.
All rights reserved. No material
may be reprinted without express permission.
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