My Place

(Fiction) (Based on a Prompt)

Here’s my submission for this week’s song prompt, There’s a Place by The Beatles. Thanks to MJ, and Theresa Greene for this week’s prompt. Song lyrics in bold.

There's A Place

I hear the rental car pull into the driveway, so I put a kettle on the stove and a roast in the oven.

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Hey Son! It’s so good to see you, Look at that beard…

“Hi Mom! Yeah, Celia talked me into it. And, look at you. I don’t think you’ve had hair this long since I was a kid.”

Yeah, I’m just experimenting, but I kind of like it, too.

“Hey! Is that a new painting?”

Ah, just something I was working on down at the park.

“So, you paint at the park?”

Yes, I do. I walk over to the park by the lake. It’s so peaceful out there.

“Are you okay, Mom? Everything good?”

Sure Son, why?

“Well, Mrs. Krantz got in touch with Celia. She told her she was worried about you.”

Oh my, Mrs. Krantz… I guess she’s been keeping an eye on me.

“She told Celia you haven’t been acting the same lately.”

No, No I haven’t Ian. And, with good reason, you know?

“I know, Mom. I know it’s been a tough couple of years. That’s why I wanted you to come over to Ireland and stay with us for a while.”

That’s so sweet, Ian, but I’m better now.

“I… I just thought some time away might be good for you. Celia would love it. You two always get along so well.”

It’s funny Ian. After your dad left, I didn’t hear from anyone. No calls or visits. People were even ignoring me at the supermarket. Your father was so loved around here. I guess you can’t be a baby doc in a small town without getting to know everyone. But, now, all of a sudden, they’re worried?

“Sometimes, I think people just want to give you some space. They don’t really know what to say.”

I suppose. Your Aunt Tammy called from Florida the other day. Said a little birdie told her I wasn’t well, and yesterday, Mrs. Thomas stopped by. Said she missed me, even though we haven’t talked in years.

“They’re just concerned.”

Maybe so, Son.

“Mrs. Krantz said you’ve been doing some peculiar things.”

Peculiar things? Is that how she put it? That’s so funny. So, that’s why you flew across the ocean to see me. You wanted to see if I had joined a cult?

“No, Mom, I know you’re not in a cult. I had some business to take care of, but, yeah, they had me concerned too.”

Who else have you talked to?

“Just Uncle Don, and Taylor.”

Taylor?

“Yeah, his mom had heard some things, too.”

Well, word travels fast. I guess I’m just the talk of the town now. Maybe I’d better start behaving, or they might want to lock me away somewhere.

“You seem like your old self to me. You look healthy and fit. Have you been walking?”

Yep, every day, and I try to get out in the fresh air as much as I can.

“That’s excellent!”

By the way, there’s beer in the fridge. Your favorite IPA!

“Avery? Awesome! I’ve had all the Guinness I can handle for a while.”

---

During dinner, Ian tells me all about Ireland.

Then, we sit by the fireplace and play a game of rook.

I taught him that game when he was tiny and he’s loved it ever since.

I look at him, so big now, and all grown up.

He looks so much like his father.

When it was time for him to leave, he put his arm around me and walked me to the door.

---

“Well, Mom, I told Taylor I would go with him to see a late show down in Fort Collins. I’ll just stay with him tonight, and tomorrow I’m meeting Dad down in Colorado Springs. I’ll spend the night with him and then see you on Monday afternoon. Maybe we can watch a movie and make a pizza.”

Oh, I would love that, Son.

“Are you absolutely sure everything is okay, Mom?”

It is, Ian. It is. I promise.

“That’s good… it’s just that… you know, people were saying you…

I know what they were saying, Ian. I hear it. They even say it out loud sometimes. Like I’m deaf, dumb and blind. But, don’t worry. People around here are just so uptight. Anything out of the ordinary, and the lips start flapping. I used to think this was the wild west, you know? Everyone just doing their thing. But, it’s not like that anymore.

“Taylor said his mother’s friend saw you dancing down the street.”

She probably did, Ian. Is there something wrong with that?

“No! No, it’s just so out of character, I guess.”

Yeah, well, that character’s long gone. And, she’s not coming back. At least, I hope she isn’t.

“Celia said Mrs. Krantz also heard someone say you were singing loudly at the park.”

Oh no… singing loudly… and, in public even. The shame! It’s all just so funny to me.

You know, my world was rocked, son.

And, rolled right away from me.

You and Celia move off to Ireland. My only real friend in town passes away… God rest her soul. And, I wake up one day, and your father tells me he doesn’t love me anymore. Straight to my face.

I. Don’t. Love. You. Anymore.

Then, he just turned and walked away like it was nothing.

It was all so shocking. So difficult to comprehend.

“I know, Mom. I know how hard it’s been. I’m so sorry.”

You don’t have to be sorry, Son. You didn’t do anything wrong. You are my shining light. I was just so devastated.

“Sure you don’t want to come over to the land of green and Guinness?”

No buddy, I’m in a better place now. It just took me a while to get here.

“All right, if you say so.”

I’m sure people don’t understand, but, it’s my life. You know? I mean, you get me, but I’m not sure anyone else does. Especially, now.

I wasn’t sure I would ever get over what your father said, and what he did to me. But, I finally realized I don’t need your father to complete me. I just need me. The real me. The me I hid away for all those years.

You know, Son, at sixty years old, I thought life would be running smoothly. On auto-pilot. But, life has its own plans. Its own way of doing things. It tossed some heavy stuff my way, and I had to find ways to adapt. I didn’t know if I could. But, I did. And, now, I’m finding my way to happy again.

I’m sorry you’ve been worried about me, but I haven’t lost my marbles. I still have a few left. And, I’m not going crazy.

I’ve just found a place.

A place I was desperately seeking.

Now, there is a place, where I can go, when I feel low, when I feel blue, and, it’s my mind… and, there’s no time when I’m alone.

I’ve found my place.

My peace.

It was two wicked years. I had so many scary thoughts, Ian. So many places I didn’t want to go to, but my mind took me there anyway.

But, now, I’ve come to terms with it.

I’m finding my footing again, and it feels so good.

Can you believe it? I’m painting again, and I’m decent at it, if I do say so myself. And, I sing. I sing like I used to sing to you. At the top of my lungs. And, I dance, Ian. I do the things I love to do.

I don’t worry about what the busybodies think. I just don’t care, anymore. Don’t you see, son? I paint at the park. I sing on my walks. I dance in the yard. I’m just being me.

“I love that, mom. As long as you’re happy. I’m glad you don’t worry about what people might think. Just keep doing what you do. I’m so happy for you. I knew you would figure it out. I’ve always had faith in you.”

You know what? Yesterday, a pretty handsome chap walked by smiling at me, and then he turned around and told me how much he loved my painting.

I think I blushed.

And, you know what else. We danced!

Right there in that darn park. We danced to What a Wonderful World.

Three times in a row!

“Oh wow!”

Yep, his name is Maxwell, and he told me he would see me soon…

---

Ian gave me a huge bear hug and told me he was proud of me.

I opened the curtains and watched him drive away, waving the entire time.

Then, I walked over to the stereo and put a Staple Singers record on…

and, I sang…

and I danced…

and, I let Mavis take me there…

to my place.

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