The Essence of Time Chapter 7

[mystdogs]

The Essence Of Time

Chapter 7

“No I won’t go! It’s not fair; I don’t want to visit with her.” It was a rarity to hear the normally mild mannered child raise his voice in anger. Soon to be ten, Ezra though had good reason for his anger and could sum it all up into one word, Maude.

The southern lady had called last night about visiting with her son, of course her being missing in his life the last few years didn’t seem to bother her in the least. She gave no excuses about her missing part in Ezra’s life. Maude hadn’t changed; she did what she wanted when she wanted. It seemed now that she wanted to spend time with her son as he turned ten years old.

Chris and Sarah had been wary when Maude had called but had reluctantly agreed to let Maude spend some time with her son. They decided to let Ezra visit her after his baseball game. They would spend the morning together as a family to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately Chris had to go into work so would be unable to make it to the game. Chris and Adam both had games that day and Sarah would drop Ezra off after they were over. Maude was more than pleased that she would have her son delivered and wouldn’t have to watch that boring baseball game.

Now the night before Ezra was fighting them tooth and nail about visiting his mother. While Sarah and Chris would prefer he never see the woman again, they knew that Ezra would grow to resent them if they kept his mother away from him. No matter how much he protested they knew deep down he longed for his mother’s acceptance.

“Ezra it’s only for one evening, you don’t even have to stay the night.” Sarah tried to ease the boy’s mind. “We’ll spend the morning together as a family, then you and Adam will have your baseball games, and you can spend the rest of the day with your mother. I know you’re afraid of being hurt by her again, but do you really want to give up the chance of being able to repair your relationship? You never know you just may enjoy some time with her.”

Ezra listened thoughtfully to Sarah’s reasoning and could only sigh in response. He knew there was nothing he could say to change their mind. He had no doubts as to his mother’s sudden resurgence into his life; she wanted to make sure her baby boy hadn’t forgotten all his lessons. The problem was that he had forgotten a great deal of them and knew she would be deeply disappointed in him. “Okay mom if it will make you happy I’ll go visit with mother.”

Sarah sighed, she had hoped that he would want to visit her because he wanted to, not because she asked him to; but she figured he would be happy once his mother showed some interest in him. “Thank you Ezra. Now why don’t you head up to bed; tomorrow’s going to be a long day for you birthday boy.”

Sarah watched the boy make his way up the stairs and to bed. “Chris do you think we’re doing the right thing by letting him spend time with that woman?”

“I don’t know, but I do know that if we don’t one day Ezra will resent us for not giving his mother the chance to be a part of his life.”

“You’re right honey, how about we head off to bed as well. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a trying day.”

~~~~~~~7~~~~~~~

Swish…flip flip flip…..swish

“What’re you doing?” A voice bellowed from the doorway.

“Shh Adam, You’ll wake mom and dad.”

“Sorry. So whatcha doing? When are you going to teach me to do that? That looked pretty cool, how come you haven’t done that before? You haven’t even touched cards in a really looooooong time.”

“I’m going to visit mother tomorrow after the game.”

“Huh? You see mom everyday silly.”

“Not mom, mother. You remember when I first moved in with you guys?”

“Oh yeah the old lady that dropped you off, sorry I forgot all about her.”

“I wish I could too.” Ezra said under his breath. “She wants me to spend some time with her tomorrow.”

“But it’s your birthday we had lots of plans. I know dad was going to be at work and mom’s been tired lately, but you and me was going to go riding and have a day of it. Now what are we going to do? Can’t your mother have you visit some other day?”

“I’m afraid not, mom and dad have it all planned out already.”

“Oh bummer, so what are you playing with the cards for?”

“I need to brush up on my lessons, mother will not be pleased though, I’ve gotten very sloppy.” Ezra sighed.

“Oh, well you look pretty good at that to me.”

“Thanks”

“You don’t want to leaves us do you?” Adam asked seriously.

The tone had Ezra looking at his brother sharply, “Adam I have no desire to live anywhere but her with you, mom and dad. Mother would just dump me at some relatives home anyway when she got tired of having a kid around.”

“Oh well we’d never get rid of you, besides who would help me with my homework if you were gone?”

Ezra snorted at his brother’s humor. “All right brother how about I teach you some card tricks. Now be prepared to be amazed!”

~~~~~~~7~~~~~~~

The morning time with the family came and went much faster than Ezra could have believed. Standing on third base he waited to steal home. Home he thought, he hoped his mother’s arrival wouldn’t disturb his now peaceful life. All he could remember from his mother before was the endless lessons and hours of time spent by himself. He figured he would try one more time after the game to get out of seeing his mother.

Adam was in a bad mood, his strike out at bat had been the last chance for his baseball team to advance for the season. Most of his friends were supportive over the loss, but there were a few that seemed to blame him for the loss. Sure, like I was the only one to strike out. Just because I was the last one to strike out it’s all my fault. Adam sighed as he watched Ezra steal home and score the run that would clinch his team a spot in the playoffs. He thought his brother was one of the best baseball players he’d ever seen. He had dreams of Ezra one day playing professional baseball. His happiness over his brother’s win dampened with the thought of their day changed from their previous plans. Dad assured him that tomorrow Uncle Buck was coming over and the four of them would take off for the day.

Sarah was never happier as when the baseball game had finished. She had been feeling sick since breakfast and only wanted to lie down after she dropped Ezra off to Maude. Rubbing her head she got up from the stands when she noticed her boys coming to join her.

“Great job Ezra, your team should do very next weekend.”

“Thanks mom”

“You played very well too Adam, I’m sorry your team didn’t advance.”

“That’s alright mom, we’ll get there next season. Besides without us there Ezra’s team might have a chance.” He laughed at his brother’s sour look.

“Very funny Adam.”

“Alright boys let’s get loaded up I need to drop Ezra off at his mother’s hotel.”

“Ah mom do you have to? Can’t we just forget and go home?”

“No Adam, Maude should get to spend some time with Ezra.”

“I really wouldn’t mind missing the excursion to mother’s.”

“I’m sure Ezra, now let’s get going boys.”

~~~~~~7~~~~~~

Sarah sighed as she listened to the boys grip in the back seat. They had both been relentless since they left the baseball field in trying to get her to go back home and forget dropping Ezra off with Maude.

“Alright boys that’s enough groveling.”

“Ah but mom Ezra said he’s gonna be a disappointment to his mother for not remembering his lessons.”

Ezra was mortified; he had never wanted that shared with mom or dad. “Adam” he hissed, trying to get his brother to stop talking.

“Adam, Ezra’s mother would never be disappointed in him. Besides Ezra is making straight A’s”

“Not those kinda lessons mom, his card game lessons.”

“Adam” Ezra hissed louder, he now knew he shouldn’t have told his brother so much last night. Adam could never stop talking sometimes.

“Enough boys, we’ll talk about this later.”

Adam sighed knowing that his mom wouldn’t budge any. Turning he implored his bright eyes on his brother, trying to convey to him to plead their case.

Oh sure tell all my secrets then give me those puppy dog eyes to get you what you want. Ezra sighed knowing it was a lost cause trying to ignore his little brother.

“Mom I really don’t want to go, I barely know her anymore anyway. She hasn’t even contacted me for years.”

“Ezra I said that was enough, now you and Adam need to…” Whatever else Sarah was about to say was cut off when she suddenly lost consciousness.

“MOM” the two boys yelled when they saw their mother slump in the seat. Adam quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and started to climb in the front of the car.

Ezra tried to pull his brother back into his seat but it was too late. Ezra watched as time seemed to slow down; he watched in horror as Adam was thrown through the windshield before he lost consciousness.