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Show S~fo Becky finished. "That was very good, darling. You rememberd very well." Becky So she had taught ' * during the times she had tended forme! I felt a rush of g r a t i t u d e for my mother's predictable life - the l i f e that had seemed so suffocating only a few years ago. I wiped my eyes. It was the f i r s t family-type prayer to be said in our house and i t intimated the absences of a ll the past and future blessings that would not be said by the, sweet but forceful voice of my Becky. I thought about the night before. h As I = put her to bed she had told me, "Grandma says we must love J e s u s ." "Does she darling?" I d i d n ' t know what to say to that, but I was glad that my mother spoke about things that still stuck in my t h r o a t. "Do you love Jesus?" "Yes... yes. He was. . . i s . . .wonderful. His message was love. And I love you, sweetie." "Does Daddy love Jesus?" Becky had asked. I thought of Brian's coldness and b i t t e r n e s s . "I don't know." "I want a new Daddy, Mama. I want someone who will be nice to us." T ITIIIIIHII Dogs and l i t t l e children, I thought. "You mustn't say t h a t , Becky! He's our daddy." "Well, I don't l i k e him. He i s n ' t n i c e ." "Becky, l i s t e n to me. Your daddy i s going through a great confusion - a very hard time. He hurts just like you would i f you f e l l down and skinned everything. But inside, where you c a n ' t see i t . rfe have to give him time to get well." |