Guest Post: indytony – Built To Last

The Matticus Kingdom put out its Want Ad, and indytony from A Way With Words responded to the call for resumes with the following submission:

The rain came down on the tin roof, creating a soft white noise that Lydia found soothing.
That roof is built to last.”  said her Grandfather long ago and again and again in her childhood,
Each time it rained.
“Not everything is built to last.  But that roof will outlive me.”
It rained the day of his funeral and the tin roof held.
Shielding them from the sorrow of their loss.

“Did you remember to give Phoebe her umbrella?” Lydia asked.
“No.  I thought you did.” replied Donald.
Lydia sighed, weary of words that went no where.
Her parents had given Donald and Lydia a week’s retreat at the family cabin,
An anniversary gift for the two of them,
And a birthday present to Phoebe, who shared the day with them.
They hoped it might help.
“It’s the least we can do,” they said.

“Why don’t we go to bed early and save clean up for tomorrow?” suggested Donald.
Lydia was too tired to protest.
She took one last look around the kitchen.
Dirty paper plates.
Crumpled paper streamers.
Half-hanging cardboard signs.
She walked away, leaving the kitchen light on.

As she walked to the bedroom, her eyes fell on the family Bible.
She opened it up and found the rose pressed between the pages.
She heard her Grandmother’s voice from years ago, the day Lydia told her of her engagement.
“Marriage is hard work,” said her Grandmother.
“I want you to have this.”

“This is the holy alphabet for your marriage.”
She gave Lydia the Bible and opened it up to the rose.
“Your grandfather gave me this rose on our wedding day.”
“I want you to keep it.”

As Lydia closed the Bible on the rose, some of its remains fell to the floor.
Some things just aren’t built to last.

(photo: “Our Cabin” from Rick Scully, some rights reserved)

……….

Imaginative, powerful, insightful and tragic, right?  Yeah, he does that.  Want more proof?  Check these out:
http://writingforfoodinindy.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/our-d-i-v-o-r-c-e/
http://writingforfoodinindy.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/the-rain-prophet-a-prompted-parable-2/
http://writingforfoodinindy.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/spring-and-fall-an-excerpt-from-my-upcoming-story-liberty/