poem28 Feb 2021 05:18 pm
WC Roberts
Tyla's friend is always the same, dressed in that gingham dress trying to get her to dance those old dances Charleston Jitterbug saying not to worry about what's happening "over there" in Germany. President Roosevelt will see us through this depression and keep us out of the war. Tyla tells her friend this is all old stuff but she won't listen she'll only listen when Tyla takes up her Grandmother's old thimble silver pitted the interest clear on her friends face when Tyla holds it. Tyla hears her mother crying at night worry frustration her stepdad, he tries to sooth her, telling her that kids have imaginary friends her mom cries harder sometimes saying, but not to the teens! She hears it all but can't say a thing no one understands her no one cares depression aloneness but her friend, she is different she understands when Tyla feels the pain when she feels the - empty darkness inside 2 Grandmother's old thimble, pitted ALM engraved on the smooth base Grandma's initials worn tired It fits her thumb perfectly helping Tyla find calm remembering Grandma when she still lived and listened "Tyla!" The friend is pushy when she shows up but that's fine, not that she ever bothered to look Tyla in the eye avoidance distraction the thimble brightens like new at her presence sparkling, like the light that once gleamed from grandma's bi-color eyes and that still sparkled in Tyla's memories "I miss Grandma, girlfriend." Tyla says depressed, saddened more than usual --"maybe I should go to her." suicide depression the friend was quiet, then she spoke "don't talk like that, Ty-girl. It isn't that bad here." The friend faced away, at the window --"it can always be worse." "Besides, I think your Grandma wouldn't like that." Tyla couldn't look up. "How would you know-- you aren't even real." she whispers sympathy concern "you might be surprised" the friend's voice the tone older, mature familiar sounds strangely like her mother 3 "I was born right after the big crash of '29 and I lived the Depression. I saw what the war did to our men. It took my brother" sadness concern "I lived through hate and hardship and bad things in life and family," the friend's voice changes, firms yet remains sympathetic, familiar "So you hold that thimble, Ty-girl, take from it some peace. Its feel can be a comfort if you let it. It was for me" realization shock Tyla snaps up to look into brilliant young blue eyes in a craggy aged face Grandma's eyes filled with love and care "It can always be worse, but hold my thimble close I'll always be there with you."
