Ann's Key

It’s one of those evenings when Beth doesn’t know the woman beside her who talks soft and slow of happy times SOMEbody had long ago. If Beth’s feeling anything, it doesn’t show. Ann brings out an album and says, “Mama, see,” your favorite pictures.” She whispers a plea, “If just for a while, Lord, let these be the key that unlocks the treasures of her memory.” “Here’s you with the ribbons you won at the fair and pictures of Daddy back when he had hair! Here’s you giving cookies to us kids to share.” Did Beth just smile slightly? Could she be aware? “Here’s one of your sisters and you. Y’all would try to out-prank each other—grown women, so sly, while lying in wait.” What Ann saw made her cry-- "a smile on her face and a gleam in her eye!" * * line from "Batter Up" by Eve Roper March 28, 2020, entered in Silent One's contest placed 2nd Poetic Lines from a Poetry Soup Poet--Eve Roper May 22, 2020, entered in Brian's Choice Q Contest