Playing Poker with Irene

I’m all busted up… Broken bones and nasty cuts…

Accidents will happen, but this time I can’t get up…

She comes to rescue me… making sure I’m on my knees…

“What’cha sing’in honey?”

“Oh, hi Irene… just a little Green Day.”

“What’s a Green Day?”

“Today’s a green day; beautiful outside!”

“My my, you’re certainly in a good mood. What’s going on?”

“Aw, we’re busting Mom out of jail next week; moving her into her assisted living facility.”

“Oh that’s great! I’ve been help’in her in physical therapy.”

“Yeah, I know and I wanted to thank you.”

“Oh my, your welcome.”

“So how you do’in there gorgeous.”

“Aw, about as well as an eighty-three year black woman in a wheel chair can.”

“Well, you look beautiful.”

“Honey you just keep right on say’in that. You got a few minutes to chat?”

“Um, well, I’ve really got a few things to do… Aw alright. Here, let me push you back into your room.”

“Thanks sugar, here, you can sit on the bed. So, what’s going on in your life? See’in anyone?”

“No, no… two divorces are enough for me.”

“Too bad, I wanted you to meet my daughter.”

“Does she date white guys?”

“You white?”

“Whiter than Vanilla Ice caught in a snow storm!”

“Aw, I don’t hold that against you. But you should meet my daughter. She’s beautiful.”

“Does she look like Jennifer Hudson?”

“Why yes she does.”

“Hmm, I’ll have to think about that.”

“So how’s your mom?”

“Do’in great, a little depressed, but given her Parkinson’s, who wouldn’t be.”

“She’d never do anything bad, would she?”

“Like what, commit suicide?”

“Yeah.”

“Naw, although at some point, when her quality of life deteriorates, who could blame her? I mean, I wouldn’t want to live that kind of life, being nothing but a burden to everyone.”

“Chile, don’t ever think like that, that’s just plain selfish, and it ain’t God’s will.”

“Did you know that my Dad took his own life?”

“No, how’d he do it.”

“Sat in his car, inside our garage, door down, and turned on the engine.”

“Oh honey, I’m so sorry… Why’d he do it?”

“He was in a deep dark depression, a deep black pit with Teflon sides. I guess he just quit trying to get out.”

“That tore you up, didn’t it.”

“Yeah, that was the most significant event of my life.”

“It’s rough growing up without a dad, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, I’ve had my ups and downs. Things might’ve been easier had he lived. But I’m not complaining… I don’t think he was being selfish, he had bad brain chemistry.”

“You think that was God’s plan?”

“I don’t see how. It devastated our family.”

“Did it? I see you and your sisters here every day. Ya’all love your mother…”

“Yeah, and I’ve been able to reunite with my sisters and Mom, something I was always too busy for.”

“To selfish for… See, it was God’s plan. Things would’ve been different. God took your father knowing that it would eventually put you on a path to find your family and faith; to truly love them and him.”

“Maybe… I know that when Mom was seizing for thirty-six hours straight, my sisters told me that they thought I was the only one who could get through to her.”

“How’d that make you feel sugar?”

“Weird… and blessed.”

“I know.”

“In fact, while I was looking for work, before Mom’s fall, I was taking care of her, feeding her, dressing her, bathing her, helping her to the bathroom and cleaning her up afterward.”

“Oh honey, you’re a good son.”

“I’m trying to be, I’m trying… You know, that was a blessing too. I mean when I talk to my friends about this, they crinkle their noses. But others I know who’ve done the same thing have all said that it’s just the opposite... I mean I’ve grown to love my Mom even more, gotten to know her as a person; shared her life, a life that I never really knew that much about.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. In some weird way I feel I’m not nearly as selfish as I used to be. I’m much more sensitive to the needs of others. I feel good about myself.”

“See honey, your mom taught you all that.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I can see that. You know, it’s been a long way around the barn. But now I feel like I’m home, with family and friends. And I found my faith… I still have questions, but I believe.”

“And don’t that feel good? You don’t think God put all this in motion when your father died? I know he was a man of faith.”

“Yes he was. How’d you know that?”

“God’s plan sugar, God’s plan.”

“But you said suicide was a selfish act?”

“It is honey. But your dad was suffering. He was sick, not sane. Believe me, God knows he didn’t go against his will. It might’ve been God’s will…

“Uh huh…”

“Look sugar, if your mom took her life, she never would’ve taught you to be a better person. Are you perfect yet?”

“No, far from it.”

“So, your mother has more to teach you.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“She does. That’s why suicide goes against God’s will. Why just look at Martha, your mom’s roommate. She’s in a comma you know.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“You see her husband, kids and grand kids come and visit?”

“Yes…”

“You see’em talking to her? Telling her they love her? Touching her?”

“Yeah…”

“You think they’re learning to be less selfish and more caring for others by doing that?”

“Yes I do.”

“See honey, God’s plan. God knows she’s still worthy of living. He knows it ain’t her time.”

“Irene? Did I ever tell you you’re beautiful?”

“Aw honey, you should see my daughter…”

“You think I’m worthy?”

“You’re get’in there honey, you’re get’in there. Want to play some poker?”

“Aw, I really need to get going. I’m already late for an appointment…”

“You sure?”

“… Aw... um... I can always make another… Let’s play some poker.”

“See honey? You’re learn’in. You’re learn’in…”

“And you Irene, are a beautiful woman, a beautiful woman indeed…”