The Last Phone Call

Mary's day had been a tense one with its every day strife.

For you see, it was difficult to work full time and still be a mother and wife.

Her mornings at home were filled with madness, with all the rushing here and there.

With having to making lunches, gather books and be sure of her child's bus fare.

No time for Mary, no peace of solitary mind, no not now not this day,

for it was now off to her work, where she would help supplement her husbands pay.

She punched the clock just in time; she made it to her desk and let out a long sigh…

"Oh lord, just ease my way…I can't keep up with the rigors of this day,

Provide for me a speedy escape, one in which I will not have to wait"

"Do it now Lord is my desperate cry, for I am having trouble being a mother and wife,

Find a way for me; please show unto me another way,

and relieve me of the burdens which steal my life this day".

With her prayers, all said, Mary raised her head,

and proceeded to work on the task at hand.

Four client calls by two pm, then a quick call to her husband Jim,

Reaching for her cell phone to which she gave voice command…"call my old man"

Ring..ring…"hello this is Jim"…

"Hi Hon, Mary here, I forgot to tell you, I'll be working late I fear…

so if you do not mind, swing by the school and pick up Brian."

"No problem baby, no problem at all…

Gosh its good to hear your voice…I'm so glad you called."

Give me another ring if you have time, I love you so much…

I am so glad you're mine".

"Ok…OK said Mary, just don't forget Brian…I love you too…bye bye."

Two more client calls, one more page to upload,

then Mary was free to spend some time alone.

It was then that Mary remembered, that she had promised Jim another call,

Reaching for her cell, she murmured once more to the Lord…"God I cant take it any more"

She dialed this time instead of voice command, and on the other end came the voice of a very strange man…" Who is this, Mary said.

This is officer Smith, and whom may I be speaking to?

This is Mary Carver, where is my husband Jim…is everything all right?

"Mam, I am sorry to tell you this, but there has been a bad accident and your husband is dead… {Long Silence}….Mam, are you OK?…Mam…do you and your husband have a son named Brian"?

Mary dropped the phone and slumped weeping in her chair…

and she at once recalled her mornings offering of prayer.

"Oh lord, I didn't mean for it this way, I just wanted a little ease to my day,

Not Jim…not Brian…they weren't the problem…it was all in my mind.

Oh lord…what will I do now with all m time?

* Be careful always in what you pray for…for you may get what you ask of, but not exactly on your terms.

J. Allen Wilson © 2005