Homeoming  Part Two

CHAPTER FOUR

                                                  SINDY

My first night in the new home, in my very own bed, Dexter is at my feet with his head on my lap watching me as if waiting for something. I pet him. I can’t help it. I begin to cry. With that, Dexter jumps up onto the bed, licks my face then lays down next to me with his head on my lap. I giggle. That silly dog broke my scared mood. I wipe my eyes and realize I’ve been scared to death. I was raised to beware of the big nasty, dangerous man. Meeting everybody just confused me because they are all so nice to me. Dad’s wife is kind and loving to him and baby Greg. It’s a warm peaceful home, I can feel it. They haven’t yelled all day. No arguments at all.

“I’m not used to peace” I’m still shaky a little. “Boy, I have to get a grip on myself.

All this can’t be make believe.”

Ann knocks on my door. Nobody ever did that before.

“Come in.”

She has fresh towels and washrag, and says, “I’ll show you to your bathroom, you can shower if you like. It will make you feel much better.”


With that she takes me to the very next room to mine. It’s a big beautiful bathroom with a shower and a tub. Both! Wow. The room is lovely, for a bathroom. I thank her and decide to take a shower. She showed me where the shampoo and soaps are and the lotions. Imagine that. Lotions. I’ve never used any. Afterward I feel billions better and go to my room.

I climb into bed and pull the covers up to my neck. “It’s so comfortable.” Dexter jumps up onto the bed and snuggles against me. He waited here while I showered. Wow.

Then I remember.

Every day of my life there has been yelling, anger over nothing. I couldn’t do anything right. I always felt awful.

I would outgrow my shoes and be yelled at, “They cost money!” I was told. I couldn’t help that my feet grow. My clothes got too tight and I waste food. I always ate everything on my plate, because there were never seconds.

I only had one friend in school. She was Mary Jo. Happy and full of fun. I will miss her. We used to play at recess all the time. I don’t know where she lives because I wasn’t allowed to visit anybody.

I always had a lot of chores to do before and after school.

Now, I am in a strangers home. My family. I keep waiting for something bad to happen.

So far, it’s really nice.

I’m going to try to be calm and watch everything. I remember being told to appreciate everything I have, so I’m going to do just that.

and then my eyes close slowly drifting off,  automatically petting Dexter. and sleep.

 

                                   CHAPTER FIVE

                                    JOHNATHAN

 

I decide to write Sindy’s history. She will be able to read it at her leisure. I sit down to my computer and begin.

For My darling daughter Sindy, I choose to title it.

I’m going to talk to you about why it took so long to have you here, with all your family. You are loved and always have been. You are certainly not a sin at all. I was thrilled when I thought of you coming into my life, very welcome. So I will tell you this.

Your grandma Mimi always was a difficult woman and your mother has had a lot of problems. I have worried about you all your life, living in that environment. I was there when you were born, but Olivia, your mom broke up with me very soon afterwards. You were only six months old. Our whole family was cut off from seeing you with the exception of your first birthday. I was excluded and it hurt.

It all began here:

I was sitting in the park one day reading; I love to read and would get lost in a book.  This girl walked up to me and said, “what ‘cha reading handsome?”  Well that caught my attention so I looked up to see a girl maybe early twenties, cute. Long blonde hair with gentle curls on the ends. She was wearing a bright tie dyed top that fit tightly, and blue jean short shorts. She had bulky shoes on, in style at the time.”

“I told her I was reading one of my favorite authors works.

She came closer to me, “May I sit next to you so you can read it to me?”

“What’s your name, first? I asked.”

“Olivia McShame, she told me and what about yours?”

“Jonathan Hall”

“That’s a nice name, I like it.” She smiled at me.

“What brings you here?”

“I was about to go home but it’s such a nice day and all, I thought I’d go for a walk, then I saw you sitting here and thought you looked kinda cute, so I came over to see if you’d like to take a walk with me.”

I thought she was a bit forward. I placed a book mark where I left off reading. “I like finding my spot right away, I explained. How about you?”

She gave me a flirtations smile,  “Me too.”

“So we walked for a while getting to know each other and I asked her if she had to get home right away, she said not really.  So I invited her to my apartment.  It really wasn’t mine but the guy I’m staying with is out of town so I felt safe inviting her over.

We drove her Honda Accord to the apartment. It was pretty close by.  We had to go up two flights of stairs. I remember turning to look at her as I unlocked the door and said “excuse the mess.”

She walked in, glanced around and said, “I can tell this is a guys place Actually.”

We walk into a small one room, sparsely furnished, it had a living room and kitchen in the open space. A brown couch shows wear and sits across from the kitchen. The coffee pot and a jar filled with coffee is on the counter next to the small sink, L’s off to the stove and refrigerator on the side wall.  It looks like the bachelor pad it is. There’s a bright bare lamp in the corner.  Eclectic, not classy 2nd hand. A door that leads to the only bedroom and another door that leads to the bathroom. That’s it.

I begin a conversation with her. “I just finished college and I’m looking for a job. I have a Bachelors degree and plan to be a business analyst.” Then I ask her if she’d  like something to drink, glass of wine or beer or water, that’s about all we have.

“A glass of wine to take the edge off maybe.”

I went to the fridge and grabbed the bottle of wine, turn around and reach up to get the 2 wine glasses from the cupboard then take them over to the 70’s coffee table and set them down; uncork the bottle, pour a glass for each of us and hand one to her.

I wanted to impress her.

She said she didn’t have a boyfriend any more, no fiancé, husband, children, or siblings.”

She thought she was going to have a baby and when she told her boyfriend, he got all crazy upset, mad, yelled and argued, then he stormed off, dumping her.  She found out a few days later she was not pregnant. She tried to make it up to him but he had already moved on. He didn’t sound like a nice guy, did he?

I felt sorry for her and told her so.  We both sipped our wine and I asked her, “How long ago did this happen?”

“Three months ago. You can’t just get over a guy one day and immediately go on to the next good looking guy you see.” she said, then added

“I threw herself into my job at a doggie day care and walked dogs. It was enough money for the time being.  Since I live at home, both then and now, with my mom and step dad, I don’t have much debt. I got bored and lonely and wanted to enjoy myself more, instead of just working all the time. I found out about the new in-thing, karaoke, and it’s really fun, so I go to the local bar with a couple of friends I work with every Friday night.  I don’t like the male crowd that comes in there though.  They’re rowdy and ornery when they’re drinking.  But the fun of doing karaoke over rides the obnoxious guys even now.”

We continued to visit.

“Have you ever done Karaoke?”

“Like at someone’s house?”

“No, like in a bar.  Come on let’s go.  You’re going to love it.  We can get on stage as Lady and Prince Charming .”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Oh, come on you’ll have fun and get hooked on it like I did.”

I caved, I’m not a bar guy. We got in her car and went to a place called “The Alibi”.  There were a few dozen folks scattered around the room, sitting to face the entertainers.  I didn’t notice any rowdy guys. A small stage was set up with microphones and a screen mounted in front of the mikes facing the singers so they could see the lyrics as they sung. There were 3 steps up to the stage.  On the wall behind were posters of bands who had played there through the years.  But to make ends meet the bar has to just let Karaoke draw the crowds.  We found out live bands are too expensive and the crowd changed with the times. It was pretty noisy in there and the bartender knew her from Karaoke night with her gal friends and was friendly to her.

“Who ya got with you?” he asked.

“This here’s Prince Charming,” she said “And I’m Lady tonight.” The bartender laughed.

“Well let me know when you’re ready and I’ll go on stage and introduce you.”

She pretty much tells everyone what to do, giving orders like distributing candy. Those subject to her suggestions always seem to do as told, she seems to get away with a lot, maybe because she is an only child and all.”

We knew your mom was pregnant with you, and married when she was about four months along.  Five months later we celebrated your coming into the world. I wasn’t allowed to help name you when you were born and was told to leave permanently when you were only about 6 months old. I divorced your mom then and was denied custody of you.

Your grandma didn’t like me or anyone your mom ever dated.

So your first birthday party was planned by your mom and grandmother, Mimi.

Grandma Donna met your mom only once, and it was at your first birthday party. She was introduced to your grandma Mimi the same day. Your grandma and aunt Joan had been sent invitations and went together. Those were the meanest folks all of us ever met. Your grandmother and aunt didn’t have a clue what to expect, they had never experienced snubbing like they got from your grandma Mimi’s friends. Games were spread out in a family room because they expected children to show up, but not that many came, really.  Nobody introduced your grandma or aunt to anybody and that seemed to be okay with them. They were a rude crowd.

Your aunt was asked by your mom to bring all the party favors and to invite grandma Donna.

There were family, friends and baby pictures spread out all over a table and none of your aunt,  me or your grandma. There were pictures of baby blankets made by baby’s “grandma, Mimi,” but there was no picture of the blanket, sweater and cap grandma Donna made for you.  They tried to talk to the other family members but could tell they didn’t want to speak to them at all. They were openly shunned. They shut me, your daddy out.”

Your grandma and aunt were anxious to see you and willing to put up with their nasty behavior.

When it came time to open gifts, your aunt said rather loudly that two of the gifts she opened were from the baby’s real father, Johnathan.  I was never so proud as I was then.  They passed you around to others and when they finally brought you to your aunt Joan to hold, you were wet and ‘fragrant’ with a loaded diaper.  You had a pair of healthy lungs on you and cried until Olivia took you away to change you.  Tough love for sure

Olivia showed up at your first birthday with some new guy, I heard about the rock on her finger but figured it wasn’t real. She proudly showed it off to everybody.  I was branded the “loser” by her family for getting their “precious” but precocious daughter pregnant.  Your grandmother and mother replaced me as the real father by the new beau, whose background shows he worked as a cook for quite awhile in a truck stop cafe. He didn’t make enough money to afford a place for the two of them or to include you, so they decided to move back in your

grandmother Mimi and her latest husband, of many husbands, I was told. I got a divorce but wasn’t allowed to have custody of you. The judge believed you were better off with your mom, but actually barely spent any time with her at all.

I wondered how long your mom’s beau would last before getting the boot. 

Your mother disappeared when you were very young. I didn’t know for a few months that she was gone. The last I heard, she was in Houston, working in a cafe and arrested several times for drugs. We couldn’t locate her. I even helped in the search when I found out she was nowhere to be found. Your last step-grandfather died several years back.

I’ve always been curious to know what happened to Olivia and her new fella.  When she and this new guy moved out they left you with Mimi who raised you. Your mom never came back.  Maybe the new guy and your mom stayed together or maybe not. Could it have been that he engaged in arguments with her instead of being lead around by the nose.  Poor guy, I wonder how long he stuck around or if he did and lived with her need to be the boss. I certainly got tired of her temper and control.

All these years, I have been in the background. I watched you in your plays at school, your soccer games, and the Christmas Chorale put on each year at the school.  I tried every which way to be a part of your life. Now, we are family, together. You will be in a home filled with love.

Today is your new life, your new beginning and your family will always be here for you and with you.

I sign this with great love.

Daddy

                                           CHAPTER SIX

                                                SINDY

Now my darling children, I have read this many times through the 20 years I’ve had it. Since then I  have continued the history of our family. Registering marriages, deaths, graduations, your births and so many important moments in your lives.

You have had security and love from a warm, giving, kind family. Sadly, we never found out what happened to or where my mother ended up. She never contacted us again.

We will always remember great grandmother Donna, her generosity and kindness. Her laughter resinated across the room, contagious and genuine.

This is a continuation of our daily lives that matter. The interesting times we have shared.

This Memory of Life book is yours to enjoy and add to as you wish for the next generations.

You all have benefited from your father’s family as well. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, grandparents all so generous with their love and affection towards all of you.

Your father has been an exemplary dad to you. With you all your days, as toddlers, pre-school, grade school, helping with your homework, all the together time possible. Fun vacations, laughter, united as a warm family always looking forward to so much more.

I give you great love, and wish you happy experiences, with joy, and wish you wonderful days ahead. Be kind to each other.

Love to you,

——————————————     EPILOGUE       ——————————————————

A dusty trunk in a forgotten attic corner holds a memory book, re-discovered by a young man in his twenties. He opens up the pages, begins to read and smiles………………………..

© Copyright 2026 J.Price   Used with the permission of the author.