James Babbs

It’s Been 40 Years Now

since the last time he was here
and there are some things that I’ve forgotten
his toolbox out there
still sitting in the garage
I know
it’s not really his anymore
but I still like to call it that
and I keep looking through the photographs
wondering
why there aren’t more of them
and there are even fewer pictures
of me and him together
sometimes
I try to imagine
if he were still here
what he would be doing now
almost 70 years old
and probably retired
and I think about
how my life would be different
if he were still around
I imagine us
getting together
every now and then
maybe
drinking a few beers
and talking about our lives
it was 40 years ago
and I was still in high school
when the police came to our door
in the middle of the night
and gave us the news

                                    August 5, 2023

 

Near the End

near the end she was too weak
to even get out of bed
she just laid there
looking up at me
giving me a tired smile
whenever I entered the room
she said
she had been thinking
about a great big hamburger
with a big piece of onion on it
do you want me
to make it for you
I asked her
she gave me another smile
and slowly nodded her head
later
when I came back
and set the plate
down in front of her
she said
she wasn’t really hungry
and she told me
she was sorry
she said
she thought about food
all of the time
but when she got it
in front of her
she couldn’t stand to eat it
I told her
it was okay
picking up her hand
and holding it
in my own

 

James Babbs continues to live and write in the best way he knows how.  For the past four months or so James has lived across the street from a large antique mall but still hasn’t walked over to check it out.  If you’re interested you can find a lot of his writing on the internet.