Mom Smiled Too

Mom Smiled Too

“I’ve been here before.”

“Honey, you haven’t,” said Dad, I would know if you’d been to Massachusetts before.

Ten-year-old Jessie looked out the car window. “It all looks like I’ve seen it before.”

“You probably saw it on the TV. I would know if you’d been to Massachusetts! It’s not like you could pop over here from North Carolina and back while I was at work.”

“I guess…” they continued on. “Are we moving in with Auntie Lois and Uncle Don?”

“Maybe, they want us to. I want to see what it’s like first.”

“Mom never lived here?”

“Actually, she did, when she very young, your age.”

“Maybe I saw pictures…”

“Maybe.”

They arrived at Aunt Lois’s house a while later. Jessie knew the house as soon as she laid eyes on it. Dad telling her it was because they had sent a picture.

“I know you want this to be about Mom,” Dad said, “I know you miss her. But it’s also about Aunt Lois, make sure you are nice to her. She lost Mom too, remember?”

“Yes,” Jessy said, softly.

Later, after the reunion of the families, Dad fell asleep in the living room. He was tired from the long drive. Aunt Lois took Jessy’s hand and led her out of the room.

“I have something to show you, now would be a good time.”

“Should I wake up Daddy?”

“No Honey, this is just for you.”

They walked into the den and there stood Mom. Jessy ran to hug her, but her arms went right through. She was like a cloud.

“I can’t let your dad know, it hurts him too much that I’m gone,” she said. “But if it’s OK, I can still talk to you…”

“Yes, yes!” Jessy said, smiling.

Mom smiled too.