ALL THEM HOUSES - a memoir - an excerpt
PAGE 68 - 69
My Daddy died the following March. Prior to his death, I was in my parents' bedroom. Daddy lay in the bed and Mommy sat on the bed by his side. I stood near the doorway and I remember overhearing Daddy saying to Mom, "At least none of our children ever stole anything."
I think I recall him saying these words because I immediately remembered a day several years before when I was maybe eight or nine years old. I was playing Truth or Dare with my friends. I was dared to go into Stedmans Department Store on Oakwood Avenue to steal something. I could not refuse the dare. If I refused I would be labelled a sissy. I was a city kid with street smarts. To be called a sissy was unthinkable.
I did go into Stedmans. I remember I stole a pin book. I had no use for a pin book. It had a very small brown leather cover and the book consisted of a few felt pages in which straight pins and needles could be stored. I remember giving this pin book to my mother. "Where did this come from?" she asked. "I found it," I lied.
Mom never questioned my integrity.
But on this day just prior to my father's death, my conscience was heavy. I thought about confessing. But then I didn't dare confess. "At least none of our children ever stole anything," he said. He had said other positive things about all of us to Mom that day but this is the one I remember. I remember because the guilt was so very heavy. ................
ALL THEM HOUSES - a memoir is available on all Amazon sites. You will find it on my Amazon Author's Page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin
or directly at
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