The Repentant Warrior

The smell of fried speck, cheese grits, hush puppies, swamp cabbage, and blackberry cobbler. Mmm, momma's Wednesday night after church meal. I haven't smelled anything that good in a few years; true Southern cooking. Amy opens the screen door to enter the screened in porch. As she enters the first thing that catches her gaze is the honey colored wicker porch swing where she had sat many of times as a girl with her daddy. And he would tell her stories about his time in the Marines- Parris Island, Camp Lejeune to Okinawa, and Vietnam. Also, stories of his boxing days as well, her dad was a fascinating man. I miss him. The last she had sat in that swing was with Mark after they had come back from Wednesday night service, and he promised her the world, and they sat and talked about religion. Little did she know at the time he was deluding her. The memory of her and Mark sitting there was so vivid that she started to feel trepidatious as though Mark were here. Mark belied everything he told her, and she was so exasperated with herself for belying her traditions and beliefs in most everything especially religion to attune to what Mark wanted. “Please God, please let me overcome my fear?” Ring-a Ding-Ding. Amy almost jumped out of her skin as her mothers ringing phone broke into her day dream. Well, what started out as a day dream and ended more like a day terror. “Hello.” Her mother said to the mystery caller. “Oh yes, that will be fine; bring her on in..., Amy? Oh my baby is home; praise the Lord! Her mothers face lit up; brighter than the lights of the Las Vegas Strip. Seeing her estranged daughter standing on her porch; filled her with joy. My youngest daughter is here. Yes Amy. Okay I'll see you in a few minutes Aldin; okay bye.

“Hey Momma.” Another experience she hadn't had in sometime; standing face to face with not only her mother, but a real life cowgirl. Her mother completely epitomizes the look of a cowgirl; from her long braided blonde hair, down to her Lucchese boots. My mother is beautiful; Amy thought. With her close fit whitewash denim tucked into her boots. Her gray tank top under a whitewash denim vest, and the pink bandana around her neck. “Hey baby” Randi says as she wraps her arms around her daughter. “It's great to see you. Where's Mark; will he be on in?” “No ma'am; he didn't come on this trip.” Amy answered. He wouldn't ever be on any trips, or anything for that matter with her again. But there's no need to tell her mother yet; if ever. “Well that's okay honey. Are you okay Amy: your heart is racing?” Randi said. No I'm not okay, but if I tell her that she'll just worry and be upset; Amy thought. “Yes Momma; I'm fine. It's just all of the excitement of surprising you, and the happiness of seeing you.” Amy said. Randi smiled. “Okay; you sure surprised me, and a great surprise at that. It is just so wonderful that you're here. The Lord has answered my prayers.