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What If: Vol 3-1

Dear God

In bed

hands crossed behind my head;

“Dear God,”

I whispered 

“I know I don’t talk to you a lot,

and I’m sorry for whatever bad things I do

and that the only time I do talk to you is when I want something.

But tonight, God,

tonight I don’t want anything.

Tonight, God,

 I want to thank you for bringing Susan to me.

And please, God,

please keep us together forever.

And always let her love me as much as I love her.

And help me get into Rochester.

And to do whatever I have to do to make Susan happy.

And please, God,

please let us be married someday…

Well, God,

 I guess I did want to ask for something after all.

Anyway, God,

thank you for Susan and today.

Amen…

Oh, yes,

and God,

as long as I have Susan I promise to never do ‘it’ again.

Amen.”

Turning onto his side,

imagining the pillow is Susan,

hugging it,

he fell asleep with his face next to hers.

Already asleep,

Susan Friedman slept with her face next to his also.

Sunday, December 9, 1951

Too good to be true ,

afraid it was a dream

or that she’d changed her mind,

making the call with apprehension,

“Hi, Sue, it’s…”

“Hi, honey!”

Honey, I thought

She called me ‘honey’.

Each knowing the other was on the line,

both silent a moment.

“Sue… Honey,

I’ve got the car

and whenever you want,

me’n’the kids…”

“Mom, Dad,”

Susan called.

“Mitchie’s on the phone

and he’s taking his brothers sledding

and wants to know if Butchie and I want to go.”

I heard the muted background voices,

then…

“Yes, Mitchie.

They told me to tell you

 they think it’s very nice of you to ask

and wondered,

if later,

when we come home,

if later

if you and the boys would like to,

to go for hot chocolate or ice cream.”

Now whispering,

“They’re crazy about you!

They think you’re the nicest boy I’ve

ever brought home.

And you know what?

So do I!

Hurry up,

I miss you.”

Oh, God! Thank you, God!

To be continued

©February 3, 2012 / Mark M. Lichterman