After 40 years... part one http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/82158/1.ashx
After 40 years... part two http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/82208/1.ashx
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We stopped off at Denny?s in Temple City. As the host asked, ?How many??, Bryan rang out, ?Two!?. As if he just found a new girlfriend.
We sat there across from one another and we talked about family, the past and the future. I listened and stared as deeply as I could into his dark eyes. I thought of all the stories of his alcohol abuse, beating my grandmother and their children. I wanted to see this man. I wanted to see him so I would know where to stand; find my own footing. I have read the letters, I know his past. But all I could see was a gentle old man. A grandfather, excited as a crisp Christmas morning, to see his long lost grandson.
Though, his eyes were black as coal, I could see no demons. His face was filled with deep lines; not anger. He was sober and caring. He was simply my grandfather.
I mentioned my mother to him and I could see his joyful smile change to a shamefull frown. He admitted the last time he saw her was, just before she and Jack left for Oklahoma, in the early eighties. I told him of all the family I had found in just the last year: his daughter Sherry, niece Judy, sister-in-law Vera, and her kids, Greorgina, Kathy and Colene. I told him of his other two grandchildren, Little Sherry, Little Lola, and their father, Eddie. I could see he knew everyone had a story for me, about him. But he didn?t approach the issue; and neither did I.
Bryan helped me to understand more about the first time my mother left with me for California. She had called her sister, Sherry, and asked if she and her husband, Eddie, could pick as up. They made arrangements and Bryan tagged along for the ride. They left on Friday afternoon and drove strait in to McLoud, Oklahoma.
His story was almost exactly the same as both my aunt?s and uncle?s. The one new bit of new information, though, was that they didn?t know where we lived. They were directed to stop at Cheyenne Road?s home, my father?s boss. Bryan also knew Cheyenne and where he lived. He was to give them directions to our home.
They arrived at our house at about midnight, August 1964. I was three months old. Only the three of us where there. I asked Bryan about my father?s demeanor.
?Was he angry or upset?? I asked.
Bryan said my father was rather cool, yet agitated. My grandfather assumed they argued all they could up to about that point. They were there for about an hour getting mom and me loaded into the car. Once we were loaded up we left as quickly as they had arrived.
Again, I learned, my mother did not steal me away, as my father?s back was turned, as he had told me for decades. He knew she was leaving with me. My father once again has been proven a liar.
He soon asked if my father was still in that religion. I confirmed his query and told him that after years of being in the organization myself, I was able to escape.
?That?s good.? He said.
?That religion was the reason for most of our fights; between Lola and me.?
He told me how she continually tried to convert him, and told her she could do what ever she wanted but, he wasn?t converting.
He recalled one year, when my mother was just a little girl, how he asked what everyone wanted for Christmas. Lola, my grandmother, came back at him with, ?We don?t celebrate Christmas?. Bryan told her, under his roof, they do celebrate Christmas, and he was buying gifts. He told her to think of the gifts as she will, just plain presents if she had to, but he was buying Christmas gifts for everyone. This was a story I have heard through the years from many families.
We discussed all the family we could conjure up and how so many are dying off.
?I?m gonna be left here all alone.? He said.
Soon enough, the waitress came around with the check and we both grabbed at it. She smiled big as she heard Bryan say, ?I?ll get it. It?s not everyday I get buy my grandson breakfast.?
?That?s so sweet.? She said walking away.
I didn?t fight. I let the proud grandfather treat his grandson and we went our way; no one the wiser.
Leaving Denney?s in his boat, he asked if I had time to spend with him that day. I told him I had nothing planned and he asked if I?d like to accompany him to see Bella.
I knew where she was, and I was happy he invited me.
To be continued...
Bryan
Have You Seen My Mother