Thank you Grandpa for the pencils
11:00pm
RCMP Victim service unit
The pager beeps piercingly
Call to dispatch
Sierra in progress.....suicide
What is your ETA
God help me
Mindless drive.......slippery roads
A Mother took her life
Hanging in the darkness of the basement
A scribbled note........I can't take it anymore
Three little ones asleep in one bed
A father who wasn't there to
hear
Making daily rounds at the local bar
The house was locked.... silence she didn't hear
he kicked in the door
Honey I'm home.......no sound
That woman never there......I
need a drink
Trevor, 13 years old...arrives
Where is Aunty he asks
Out drinking I suppose he says
Trevor roams the house....goes
downstairs
Rushes up..... a silent scream
They drop their beer
He lifts her up........his buddy cuts the rope
911........much too late
Piercing screams.....heard blocks away
The little ones sleep on
She often threatened..... I never thought
I feel pity and anger mixed
In my heart I hear my own scream
Where were you when she so needed you
The almighty bottle to help them forget
3:30am............the garage
door opens
Morning is near
I quietly crawl in beside her....she knows
She's is the best part of my life
A new day
Or just an extension of the old
The pager.......please be silent
Work...........to get through the day
Trying to forget.........Lord
where are you
A shower to calm my nerves
Then a phone call
Thank you Grandpa for the pencils
The voice of a child....so
trusting
Fathers..........LISTEN
You may never hear that voice again
Lord Jesus......come quickly