LOVE STORIES: A COLLAGE
The assignment is to write a love story. There are so many love stories that could be written, so many kinds of love, so many misinterpretations of love. So, here is my offering; a collection of snapshots of love. A small sample from a shoebox full of snapshots of love.
Snapshot #1
It had been a very bad day for her. She was in her last semester of nursing college, pursuing a long held dream, in spite of having a husband and three small children. That day the Director of Nursing had informed her that she would not be allowed to graduate because there was no record that she had ever met the prerequisite of high school chemistry.
She had only been home from school a few minutes when the phone rang. It was her husband, making his usual call to her shortly before heading home from the office. It was his way of testing the water to find out what he might be dealing with when he arrived home.
“Hi hon, how did your day go?”
“It was effin goddamned terrible! That bitch, Barentson isn’t going to let me graduate because some damned lamebrain somewhere has lost my record of taking high school chemistry. I’ve been there two years, and six weeks before graduation she decides I’ve never had chemistry! The senile old bat won’t believe I turned those records in when I applied. Just because she wasn’t Director of Nursing at that time, she basically accused me of lying about it. I swear to god, I’m gonna hire a hit man!”
By this time she was sobbing and screaming. When she stopped to take a breath, she realized he had hung up on her. This had the effect of a slap in the face, pulling her out of her hysteria. She was taking a deep breath, trying to calm down, when the phone rang again.
“I’m sorry I hung up on you honey, but you were so loud, they could hear you all the way down the hall.”
Snapshot # 2
Mike’s cat had been sick, constantly sneezing and coughing. The vet had prescribed some antibiotics, which helped for a few days, and then the symptoms recurred. Another trip to the vet, plus several lab tests revealed it was more than a simple virus. It was feline leukemia. His only recommendation was a blood transfusion, something that would do no more than extend Henry’s life for a short time. It was two days before Christmas. Mike was holding Henry and crying. The transfusion would be expensive. His dad hesitated only a few minutes before calling to make arrangements for the transfusion. He later told his wife, “I’m not going to let his cat die on Christmas.”
The transfusion seemed to work wonders…for about two weeks. Then Henry became sick again and quite lethargic. Another transfusion was discussed. Mike said no. By now he had accepted that Henry was not going to live. He had also learned that there was no feline blood bank. For a transfusion to occur, another cat had to sacrifice it’s life. His soft heart just couldn’t allow that.
Henry died quietly a few days later, with Mike by his side.
Snapshot #3
“Kathy and Warren sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”
“Shut UP!”
“All right kids, that’s enough. Get up to the table, it’s time for supper.”
When they were all seated, Kathy’s mom asked, “So who is this
“He’s a boy in the sixth grade, and he likes me.” Kathy was in fourth grade.
“Is that right?” her dad asked. “How do you know that?”
“Because when we were all coming in from recess the other day,
Snapshot #4
Judy was admitted to the alcohol treatment center due to a court order. During her initial interview with the staff, she went to great lengths to explain the only reason she was here was because her daughter had gotten her committed.
“I occasionally use a little valium and will have a glass of wine now and then. I raised two kids on my own by working six days a week in my own hair salon. But, just because I need to relax now and then with a glass or two of wine, or sometimes need some valium to sleep, she’s decided I’m an alcoholic.”
The lab tests that were done as a routine part of treatment told a different story, indicating a fair amount of liver damage.
She continued to complain about her daughter, and how ‘uppity’ she had become since getting a degree in social work.
“I should have left her on her own like I was instead of handing everything to her on a silver platter.”
Judy never admitted to having a problem during her month long stay, and refused to allow her daughter to visit. “She can see me when she admits she was wrong, and apologizes to me.”
Snapshot #5
Matt had spent the afternoon playing at the house of a schoolmate who lived two blocks away. It was a beautiful day in late May. When Matt returned home he began talking about all the neat toys Bobby had. An electric train, an elaborate Hot Wheels set up, and Nintendo.
“So, did you play in the house all afternoon?” his mom asked.
“Yeah, Bobby’s mom wouldn’t let him go outside because it was too hot.”
“Really?” his mom replied. The temperature was 78 that afternoon.
Matt and Bobby were in second grade. Matt walked to school every day unless the weather was really bad. Even though Bobby lived two blocks closer to school, his mother wouldn’t allow him to walk to school. He was also not allowed to go play at anyone else’s house, or be outside if it was over 75 or under 70.
When the boys were in fifth grade, Bobby’s mom called Matt’s mom to ask if Matt could stop on his way to school, so Bobby could walk with him
“He really wants to walk to school, but I don’t want him walking alone.”
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