Kathleen - Day 3 - Before and After - Emeraude

BEFORE

Her Emeraude perfume wakened me each morning in my early years. With one baby on her hip and calling out to the boys she eased from door to door. Her voice would call out breakfast enticements to leave the warmth of being horizontal and rise to the vertical of the day. Never missing a beat, she changes a diaper, pins in her mouth, commands patience from 4 foggy children and never a hair out of place. She hands me the baby and I follow her lissome form into their bedroom. Ed, good choice of cuff links. Brings a smile to my father’s face. I sit at her dressing table an my eyes take in the burbles of Steve, my father watching my mother as she closes the bed in readiness for the next end of day when we are all asleep

AFTER

Her Emeraude perfume wakened me each morning in my early years. With one baby on her hip and calling out to the boys, she eased from door to door. Her voice calls out breakfast enticements to leave the warmth of being horizontal and rise to the vertical of the day. Never missing a beat, she changes a diaper - pins in her mouth - commands patience from four foggy children and never a hair out of place. She hands me the baby and I follow her lissome form into their bedroom. “Ed, good choice of cufflinks,” brings a smile to my father’s face. I sit at her dressing table as my ears take in the burbles of Steve, my eyes take in my father watching my mother as she puffs the pillows and only later do I realize she has readied the bed in invitation for the next end of day when the children are all asleep.