RUST ON MY SOUL (22nd episode in series)

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RUST ON MY SOUL (A Novel) (Published by Bridge Press in 1985 & Distributed Internationally)

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INTRODUCTION (Repeated for those new to the series)

In an old loose leaf notebook, Thomas Kettering wrote when there was a cry from his heart. He wrote when his inner longing spilled over into the reality of his days. He did not write every day, only when he felt he must. How often he wrote or when is not important. The journey is what counts, for it is a diary about all of us, to all of us. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” and even a stumble is a step.

Evening

I survive in a perpetual traffic jam. I endure the cacophony of noise that assaults me from the city streets. I grimace and growl at pedestrians as they grimace and growl back at me.

In early pioneer days if a man missed a stagecoach he just settled back and waited a couple of days for the next one. Today a man gets upset if he misses one section of a revolving door.

I fight a losing battle with panic. It surges up and tightens every muscle in my body. It makes me wide eyed at two A.M. I lie in bed with a frantic prayer and a rapidly beating heart. Will it step its churning of my life blood before I learn how to live?

Morning

“Get off my back!” It wasn’t an original comment neither was Billy’s red face nor the door slammed hard and loud. I had watched the same scene on television more than once. Bu then people are never original when it comes to problems. There are only so many ways to foul up a life.

“You knew he was smoking pot!” Nancy shouted.

“You didn’t have to sit there in shocked silence and finally come out with the inane statement, “You know you’re ruining your health.” There were tears in her eyes as she turned to stare out the window.She was right. I have suspected Billy’s sullen silence was more than inability to talk about his sister’s departure. But what am I supposed to say? What words can make a difference to him?

A daughter, already run away, gone for almost a month. Now a son unruly in revolt. Why will not our children be parented? We read the books on child psychology. We protected their egos. We tried to let them know we cared by letter them be free and unrestrained.It hasn’t been a paradise around here, but neither is it an Eden out there. Connie’s seventeen going on twenty-seven and her self-image is a picture painted by bravado. R-rated movies and too much of the unearned “good life.”

She was never sweet sixteen. Indeed, from the first time as a baby she threw a tantrum and got her way, it’s been all downhill.

Connie, will you ever come back? And if you do, what will our conversation be like?
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TO BE CONTINUED ************************************

To view an abundance of unusual stories by Neil Wyrick go to his other blog ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS

Click on the following URL

http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/
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