Story of the Moment

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The Story of the Moment comes from:

Abilene and Kerrville, Texas

I heard Courtney read this piece at an open mike at a Schreiner University coffeehouse a couple of weeks ago and was moved by it. I asked her to submit it to The Black Widow and she graciously did so. Courtney has lived in Abilene, Texas her whole life, graduating from Wylie High School in 2001. Most of that time was spent on a farm outside of town, where she occupied herself writing songs and poetry. She now attends Schreiner University in Kerrville. Courtney wrote The Calming of the Storm as a gift to her father for Valentine's Day 2001. "I hope it will help someone who is going through what he went through."

The Calming of the Storm

Like a flash it happened. My whole world came crashing down with three words: “I need help”. I'd

already been there, the 'needing help' part, myself. But this time, it was for something else. It was

There was no way this was real. Yes, I was the stubborn one, but I got it from her. See, Momma

always drank. When I was younger, it was normal for her to have a little of whatever. In these past few

months, she wasn't having a little . . . she was having a lot . . . a lot more than she used to.

Daddy had quit drinking three years before. I was so proud of him. Drinking seemed like his second favorite

thing -- I was his most favorite thing. He went to this little place in town where you stay for a month, and

come out all better. Things changed around here: Daddy came home in the afternoons and played with us,

and he was a lot more relaxed. He didn't yell for no reason anymore; instead he gave hugs, and if someone

messed up, he would sit them down and talk to them.

Lately, though Momma and Daddy weren't getting along like they were in years before. Maybe they just

hid the fights from me, since I was a little kid. But now, the fights were obvious . . . they could go two days

without saying as much as “hello” while still living in the same house. Finally Daddy came to me and said

that he couldn't live like this much longer. I was terrified. This is my family . . . they can't split up!

Daddy and I cried when he said that if things didn't change soon, he would have to leave; otherwise, he

would start drinking again. I didn't want him to drink again, but I sure didn't want him to leave. I

told him to do what was best for him, and everything else would take care of itself. He didn't say

anything for a few months, so I thought everything was better. One word: WRONG! Daddy pulled me aside one

day, several months later, and said that things weren't getting any better, and it was time to act.

I cried again. This time though, Daddy didn't say he was going to have to leave. He said Momma needed

help with her drinking. I didn't understand, she wasn't drinking anymore than normal for her. I didn't

understand that it's not normal for someone to drink like that. Daddy said she needed to go to a school

like he did, to learn not to drink. He said that if she did, and it worked, I would have a Momma like all

my friends have. I knew Momma wasn't happy, and so did he. He told me that if she went to this school,

it would make her happier, too. I guessed Daddy was right . . . Momma needed to go to this school. Now we had

to convince her of that.

The hardest thing is to convince someone who doesn't think they have a problem that they actually do.

Fortunately, Daddy talked to her. He figured it would be best if I didn't say anything first, because I

might say the wrong thing, and turn her off the idea completely. He talked to her all morning one day, and

they cried a lot. Momma said she needed help. That was a good sign . . . he got the ball rolling anyway. The

hard times weren't over though. Daddy found a school that would take her in four days. We were excited, but

Momma wasn't as happy as us. She just packed her bags and made arrangements to take care of all the stuff

she had to do every day. I didn't realize how much she did until I got my list of new responsibilities. It had

me doing dishes, and helping clean . . . yeah right!

Soon enough the big day came. Valentine's Day was coming up, so we opened our gifts early, so Momma

could see. She was distant, and didn't seem like she really cared about how much we liked our gifts ('cause

we really did). But I know she did. I think she was just scared. We all were. No one would talk about

what was happening the next day. The morning she left, Momma came in and woke me up for school like

normal. Before I left for school, I gave her kisses, and told her “I love you” more times than I can

count. I cried again, but I didn't let her see. Daddy took her to her the school, because it was far away. I didn't

get to see it, or make sure Momma would be taken care of.

I may not be her favorite child, but she is my favorite Momma.

When Daddy got home that afternoon, he was tired, and his eyes were red. I didn't know what to do for him,

so I left him alone as much as I could. But Daddy was upset about something, and he kept yelling at me for

little things that shouldn't matter. It made me cry, because he hasn't done that in a long time. I knew

why he did it though . . . he was sad about Momma too. We both missed her already . . . we couldn't even cook

dinner. Aunt brought it to us, and brought Daddy's favorite pie. He acted happy when she was here, but I knew

he was faking. I hid in my room. Aunt was nice to bring us dinner, cause if she hadn't neither one of us would

have even bothered to eat. After she left, he was just like he was when he got home. I had to make him eat,

'cause I knew he hadn't in the past few days. I kissed him good night, and told him that I loved him. Then I went

to my room, put on my pajamas and got in bed. I cried myself to sleep.

The next day was Valentines Day. I had to wake myself up, and get ready for school. I tried to be really quiet

since Daddy was still sleeping. I wrote him a note to remind him to feed the animals, and that I loved him. I was

off to school, without my morning hugs and kisses. Everyone was so happy at school. All the girls had gotten

flowers from their moms and dads or boyfriends. I didn't, but I knew Daddy had a lot on his mind this year, so I

didn't mind him forgetting. School seemed to last forever, and it was stressful; tests and notes all day, no fun

at all. There should be a rule about that. Someone asked what my dad got my Momma, and I cried. No one knew

why. I couldn't tell them the truth, that my Dad gave my Momma a new chance at living her life. They wouldn't understand. I went home to an empty house that afternoon, and I just sat in Momma's chair and cried. I didn't

like her not being there to greet me after school.

Daddy cooked dinner that night, but he wasn't up for talking much. Neither of us wanted to talk about her,

but that was all we were thinking about. After dinner, I did the dishes, like Momma asked me to. It

was different without her there to talk to. Then, Daddy called me to the living room, and we sat and

talked. He was lonely too. We talked and laughed, but we mostly hugged each other and cried.

I know it's not over yet, but I know it'll start to get better now. When Momma comes home, we'll start

all over again, like she's a new friend. I know the storm's still raging. But we're working on it -- the

calming of the storm.