Mom said, rinsing plates and stacking them in the drainer.

"I want to order some rugs and curtains".

Daddy stood behind her and put his arms around her

nestling his chin in her neck.

"What say we take the bus into Phoenix

and go to Monkey Ward's

and you can pick out anything you want".

Mom laid out the rules to me and the boys

Don't go to the dump, don't get near those hides, don't go anywhere by

yourself.

. . .

Daddy went back to the store

and got an Indian Head tablet and some pencils

and he and Mom sat at the gray kitchen table

decorated only with cigarette burns

and made plans.

Get the kids registered for school, get groceries, get cleaning supplies.

Get mosquito netting to keep the bugs from crawling on us at night.

Get a fan.

Get a car.

Join a church.

. . .

That night we didn't read the Bible for devotions.

Mom sang for us instead.

"When we've been there ten thousand years"

Bright shining as the Phoenix sun!"

We all laughed.

I loved it when Mom acted silly.

"We've no less days to sing God's praise

than when we first begun."

. . .

Daddy had tears in his eyes

and he kissed Mom on the lips

and we got down on our knees

and Mom prayed

"Thank you dear Lord for this opportunity."

Even I, worried as I was, bowed my head to God's will.



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