I dream of blue skies and an endless cloud of white birds. They all form into a v shape as they pass overhead, they tell me to keep going. I remember the day, I was an EMT and we were called to a drunk driver incident. I remember walking along the road, it was eerie dark, 3am. There was a red road flare glistening in the rain. I saw the car on its wheels but it had rolled many times. I saw their hushpuppies scattered down past the yellow lines of the roadway and I thought that’s sad, they never got to eat them. As I walked up to the driver’s side door I looked inside and I could see her face.
“Does he always tell this story?” The nurses looked at the old man. “Yes, and according to family he was never an EMT.” They walked up and tapped Mr. Jones’s arm. “Mr. Jones, it’s time for you to eat.” The old man smiled a smile of empty teeth. He looked into the face of his daughter, behind her stood his wife. His daughter was only 11 and his wife was as beautiful as the day they met, their hands felt cold today. “Thank you Lulu, I’m so proud of you.” His daughter smiled, “Yes, Mr. Jones I know you are.” The nurses led him down the hall and towards the cafeteria. He looked up and saw the blue skies and the endless cloud of white birds. A tear formed in his eye, for he didn’t know what it meant. He just hoped he did all he could. The years flashed by again, in a blurred response to a life he wasn’t sure he’d lived at all. “Lulu I’m sorry. You never got those hush puppies.” He whispered. The nurses struggled to move Mr. Jones as he came to a stop. “Mr. Jones, please continue, we need to get to the cafeteria.” He heard the noise but all he could see was the driver’s side door and her face.
Housed and Fed 