Filled with tourists this time of year, the old green trolley meandered along the edge of the beautiful Garden District, a neighborhood of wonderful old homes with verdant courtyards and ancient oaks. After the hurricane, he was glad to see the streetcar up and running again.
“I guess you haven’t changed your mind about moving down here with me,” he said. Mom loved this part of New Orleans.
“No, son, I haven’t. Everything I know is here. My church, my friends, our house. I’m too old to start over.”
Responsibility was a heavy thing. Ian adored his mother. He’d been so lucky to have great parents and he knew it. He’d been the center of their universe, but now that he lived in New Orleans he felt bad about leaving his mother alone in Baton Rouge. She’d always been there for him. He wished he could do the same for her.
Because they’d had this conversation a dozen times before, his mother said, “You have your own life, Ian.You are right where God called you to be. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Your daddy and I are so proud of what you do.”
Mom still talked about Dad as though he was in the living room.
“I know, Mom. I know.”
Her sweet encouragement made him feel even guiltier. He never wanted to disappoint her. “So, did you make that doctor’s appointment like I asked?”
A momentary silence told Ian she hadn’t.
“I’ll try to get to it next week.”
“Mom, you need a checkup.”
Last week at the health club, she’d had a “spell” as she called the episode of dizziness and fainting. If the proprietor hadn’t phoned him, Ian would never have known she was ill.
Mom, apparently, wasn’t going to discuss the incident further. “George Bodine passed on Tuesday. Do you remember him? He used to give you gum in church.”
Ian remembered. In fact, those were some of his earliest memories. He couldn’t have been more than five or six when Mr. Bodine snuck Juicy Fruit to him over the pew. Mama couldn’t figure out where he was getting the gum for the longest time. It was a huge joke between him and Mr. Bodine.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Should I send flowers?”
“Peggy would appreciate it. Or a card with a note about the gum incidents would be even better. She’d cherish the memory.”
So did he. “Consider it done.”
“The funeral was so nice,” his mother went on. “Afterward the ladies’ auxiliary fixed a wonderful dinner for all the family. Their daughter from San Antonio asked about you. You remember Sara.”
At the mention of dinner, his belly growled. Refusing to take the bait about the still-single Sara, he glanced at the clock on the dash. Had he eaten at all today?
“Mom. You’re avoiding my reason for the call. I insist you go for that checkup next week.”
“Trying to make me feel old, aren’t you?”
“You’ll never be old.” He pulled the van into the parking space behind the mission. If he hurried, he could grab a bite to eat before heading out on the streets for the night. “But everyone gets sick now and then.”
“All that’s wrong with me is a pair of empty arms. As soon as you get married and give me some grandchildren, I’ll be right as rain.”
He chuckled into the flip phone. “In God’s time, Mom.”
“You keep saying that, but I don’t even think you’re looking. You’re so busy with those street kids—and I’m not complaining about that—but son, you need a social life, too. You need to get out more. Maybe even get an apartment away from Isaiah House.”
“Can’t afford it.”
“I can.”
“Not a chance.” Dad had left her well-set, but Ian didn’t depend on his parents’ comfortable income. Not since graduating from college. In truth, he had a decent enough salary, but he plowed most of that money back into the mission.
“You have the assets Dad left. You’ve barely even touched them.”
“Someday, Mom, when I get married and have a family. I’ll need that money a lot more then than
“I guess you haven’t changed your mind about moving down here with me,” he said. Mom loved this part of New Orleans.
“No, son, I haven’t. Everything I know is here. My church, my friends, our house. I’m too old to start over.”
Responsibility was a heavy thing. Ian adored his mother. He’d been so lucky to have great parents and he knew it. He’d been the center of their universe, but now that he lived in New Orleans he felt bad about leaving his mother alone in Baton Rouge. She’d always been there for him. He wished he could do the same for her.
Because they’d had this conversation a dozen times before, his mother said, “You have your own life, Ian.You are right where God called you to be. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Your daddy and I are so proud of what you do.”
Mom still talked about Dad as though he was in the living room.
“I know, Mom. I know.”
Her sweet encouragement made him feel even guiltier. He never wanted to disappoint her. “So, did you make that doctor’s appointment like I asked?”
A momentary silence told Ian she hadn’t.
“I’ll try to get to it next week.”
“Mom, you need a checkup.”
Last week at the health club, she’d had a “spell” as she called the episode of dizziness and fainting. If the proprietor hadn’t phoned him, Ian would never have known she was ill.
Mom, apparently, wasn’t going to discuss the incident further. “George Bodine passed on Tuesday. Do you remember him? He used to give you gum in church.”
Ian remembered. In fact, those were some of his earliest memories. He couldn’t have been more than five or six when Mr. Bodine snuck Juicy Fruit to him over the pew. Mama couldn’t figure out where he was getting the gum for the longest time. It was a huge joke between him and Mr. Bodine.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Should I send flowers?”
“Peggy would appreciate it. Or a card with a note about the gum incidents would be even better. She’d cherish the memory.”
So did he. “Consider it done.”
“The funeral was so nice,” his mother went on. “Afterward the ladies’ auxiliary fixed a wonderful dinner for all the family. Their daughter from San Antonio asked about you. You remember Sara.”
At the mention of dinner, his belly growled. Refusing to take the bait about the still-single Sara, he glanced at the clock on the dash. Had he eaten at all today?
“Mom. You’re avoiding my reason for the call. I insist you go for that checkup next week.”
“Trying to make me feel old, aren’t you?”
“You’ll never be old.” He pulled the van into the parking space behind the mission. If he hurried, he could grab a bite to eat before heading out on the streets for the night. “But everyone gets sick now and then.”
“All that’s wrong with me is a pair of empty arms. As soon as you get married and give me some grandchildren, I’ll be right as rain.”
He chuckled into the flip phone. “In God’s time, Mom.”
“You keep saying that, but I don’t even think you’re looking. You’re so busy with those street kids—and I’m not complaining about that—but son, you need a social life, too. You need to get out more. Maybe even get an apartment away from Isaiah House.”
“Can’t afford it.”
“I can.”
“Not a chance.” Dad had left her well-set, but Ian didn’t depend on his parents’ comfortable income. Not since graduating from college. In truth, he had a decent enough salary, but he plowed most of that money back into the mission.
“You have the assets Dad left. You’ve barely even touched them.”
“Someday, Mom, when I get married and have a family. I’ll need that money a lot more then than
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