Whisper Voice
“What’s wrong, Missy?” Mommy said. “You know you can tell me everything.”
Melissa hesitated. She wanted to tell Mommy. But she was a little scared.
“Sometimes I can’t sleep,” Melissa said. “Sometimes I have bad thoughts that keep me awake.”
“What do you mean? What kind of bad thoughts?”
Melissa didn’t answer.
“Say it in a whisper voice,” Mommy said. “If you say it in a whisper voice, the bad thoughts can’t hear you.”
Melissa lowered her voice to a whisper. “What if you don't come home again?” she said.
“Is that what this is about?” Mommy said. “You know I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
Melissa stared at the picture of Mommy on her nightstand. It was her favorite picture of her. She was standing on the beach, holding Melissa on her shoulders. She continued to stare at the picture. Then she picked it up and tucked it under her pillow.
She closed her eyes and thought about the last time she promised to be home soon. That was eleven months ago.
Not having Mommy around made Melissa feel sad. She missed her, and wished that she were home with Daddy and her. Some nights she would try and remember every detail about the day Mommy left.
It was a Saturday morning. And Mommy was dressed in her special clothes. Daddy was busy trying to make sure that her ribbons and medals were all lined up on her jacket. Melissa was playing with the straps on her duffel bag.
Just before she had to leave, Mommy picked up Melissa and gave her a big hug. Then she put her beret on Melissa's head. Mommy and Daddy laughed. The beret was too big for her and drooped over her eyes.
But Melissa didn’t laugh. Not being able to see made her scared. Like now.
Tonight the bad thoughts were back. What would happen if they stayed with her? Would they keep Mommy from coming home?
“You said you weren't going to have to leave anymore,” Melissa said. Her voice started to quiver. “You said…”
“Missy. Listen to me. If I could be here with you, I would. You know that. But I have to be there. I’m sorry.”
Melissa pulled the covers of her bed to her chin.
“But I have an idea,” Mommy said. “Whenever the bad thoughts come, I want you to think about these words: ‘look at me and I’ll see you, look at me and I’ll be home.’ Do you promise to think about those words?”
Melissa took the picture of Mommy from underneath her pillow and put it back on her nightstand.
“I promise,” she said.
Melissa hesitated. She wanted to tell Mommy. But she was a little scared.
“Sometimes I can’t sleep,” Melissa said. “Sometimes I have bad thoughts that keep me awake.”
“What do you mean? What kind of bad thoughts?”
Melissa didn’t answer.
“Say it in a whisper voice,” Mommy said. “If you say it in a whisper voice, the bad thoughts can’t hear you.”
Melissa lowered her voice to a whisper. “What if you don't come home again?” she said.
“Is that what this is about?” Mommy said. “You know I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
Melissa stared at the picture of Mommy on her nightstand. It was her favorite picture of her. She was standing on the beach, holding Melissa on her shoulders. She continued to stare at the picture. Then she picked it up and tucked it under her pillow.
She closed her eyes and thought about the last time she promised to be home soon. That was eleven months ago.
Not having Mommy around made Melissa feel sad. She missed her, and wished that she were home with Daddy and her. Some nights she would try and remember every detail about the day Mommy left.
It was a Saturday morning. And Mommy was dressed in her special clothes. Daddy was busy trying to make sure that her ribbons and medals were all lined up on her jacket. Melissa was playing with the straps on her duffel bag.
Just before she had to leave, Mommy picked up Melissa and gave her a big hug. Then she put her beret on Melissa's head. Mommy and Daddy laughed. The beret was too big for her and drooped over her eyes.
But Melissa didn’t laugh. Not being able to see made her scared. Like now.
Tonight the bad thoughts were back. What would happen if they stayed with her? Would they keep Mommy from coming home?
“You said you weren't going to have to leave anymore,” Melissa said. Her voice started to quiver. “You said…”
“Missy. Listen to me. If I could be here with you, I would. You know that. But I have to be there. I’m sorry.”
Melissa pulled the covers of her bed to her chin.
“But I have an idea,” Mommy said. “Whenever the bad thoughts come, I want you to think about these words: ‘look at me and I’ll see you, look at me and I’ll be home.’ Do you promise to think about those words?”
Melissa took the picture of Mommy from underneath her pillow and put it back on her nightstand.
“I promise,” she said.