My father, John, met mother, Linda, 32 years ago. He was 22 years old and she was 17. They fell in love soon after and got married a year later. In the beginning everything fell into place as planned. Dad started working as an accountant and mom became a secretary. Living in the deep south and having few friends, it was pretty much what they expected their life to be. I was born 10 months into their marriage and the celebration having a son was great, as I can still see in the picture album.
Based on their wedding pictures, both my parents looked good. Dad was 5'9", quite muscular and nice hair. Mom was 5'5", about 120lbs, long brown hair, radiant smile and a shapely body. Her chest was her most impressive asset, being bigger than expected for her frame.
When I was in elementary school I occasionally heard them argue. I tried to stay away and except for few words every now and then, I was unaware of real trouble brewing. As I moved to high school their fights became more frequent and louder. I got used to hearing words like 'alcohol', 'drunk', 'fat', 'pig',... I still tried to ignore them, but it became more difficult, because they were quarrelling more often in front of me and even tried to involve me.
I noticed that dad began using hard liquor at all times of the day and gained weight. He was fired from his old job and became an assistant accountant in another smaller firm. But mom rose to an executive secretary and her salary was now higher than dad's.
In my senior year in high school the fights became too unbearable. It was time for me to leave the house. My school grades were average at best, so my chances of getting scholarship to college were very low. I didn't have an inclination toward any available job around. After much thought I decided to join the army.
Both dad and mom tried hard to change my mind, saying that I'd end up in far away places and the risks during war were high. I listened to them, but made up my mind. I joined a day after my 18th birthday,
In the first few years I went through a rigorous boot camp all the way to combat in Iraq. I slowly rose up in ranks. Three years ago I became a staff sergeant and was assigned to train newly recruited soldiers in one of the large army camps in South Carolina.
All these years I occasionally received a letter from mom, usually stating that she loved and missed me. I wrote back less frequently. Initially I lied writing that I was enjoying the tough training, but as time went on, I became proud to announce about my promotions and really liking my job.
About 6 months ago I got an order to transfer to another base, close to home.
I notified mom and she immediately responded, "Rob, please come home. I miss you immensely. Your 30th birthday is coming. Let's celebrate it together at home. Kisses, mom."
The next weekend I got a free pass. My plan was to visit home after more than 10 years of not seeing my old home and my parents.
Friday evening I arrived at our old neighborhood. Nobody was on our street. The yards looked more neglected than I remembered... I walked to our house with my backpack and rang the bell.
Mom opened the door.
"Rob, it's you! You are so big and tall. I hardly recognize you..." Full of tears she hugged and kissed me.
"Mom, it's OK. Let me look at you."
She stood up nervously staring at me.
The truth is that she looked awful... Her hair was disheveled, her baggy clothes were old and ripped in several places, no make up and she gained a lot of weight... I was speechless.
"Mom, is dad here too?"
She smirked, "Honey, he is in the living room with his favorite buddy..."
What was she saying?...
I went to dad's room. He was sitting in front of the old TV with a bottle of Whiskey in his hand. His hair has thinned and his tummy protruded significantly.
"Hi dad. I just arrived, how are you doing?"
He glanced at me with glazed eyes, "Son, I haven't seen you in ages. You look good. Let me finish watching this show and then we'll eat dinner."
As mom was preparing dinner, I walked from one room to the other to see the changes since I left.
Dad's room was one big mess with clothes on the floor, 2 empty liquor bottles in the garbage can that was standing in the middle of the room, several cigarette butts on a small table with others in a large ashtray. The room stank of alcohol, cigarettes and mold... I couldn't stand it.
Then I went to mom's room (Since I left the house they moved to different rooms). Her room was the old bedroom. The cranky bed was still there with a partially ripped cover. Mom's room was cleaner, but it smelled of cigarettes too. I checked her closets and drawers. Everything was ancient! Since I left there was not even one new piece of clothing except for one somewhat newer a DD cup bra, but it's color was starting to fade...
I was shocked!...
As a staff sergeant I got used to order and cleanliness. To see how my parents standard of living deteriorated was appalling! I had to do something about it, but first I needed to know what was going on...
Mom called us for dinner. She removed her apron and smiled, "Rob. I thought that you'd come tomorrow. Forgive me if the food is not as good as you had when you stayed with us..."
"Mom, the food is not an issue at all. I eat in an army cantina and trust me, it's not a Four Season hotel restaurant..."
I looked at dad. He was bent on his chair with his eyes on the table, never meeting my eyes. His bottle was on the table near him.
"Dad, do you work?"
"I work part time. Twice a week I go there and help them organize the paperwork in files. Sometimes they send me to the post office and in my free time I make coffee for the team."
"So no more accounting job?..."
He stared down and stayed silent.
"Mom, what about you? Do you still work in the same place?"
"No. I moved to another company. I am an executive secretary in a bigger and better company. My benefits are better. Now my health insurance covers dad too! My salary went up slightly."
"Mom, why don't you buy new clothes? Why don't you hire a helper to clean the house twice a week?..."
She gazed at dad and then started crying.
"Mom, I didn't want to offend or embarrass you, but what is going on?..."
"Rob, dad spends half my salary on his drinking. We barely have enough for food and rent. I am trying to do the best I can..."
I stood up, "Well guys, things are going to change around here!"
Both of them stared at me. They had strange look on their faces. Was it surprise? fear? Humiliation?
"Mom, I get good money as a staff sergeant in the army. I do not have a wife or children, so it's a lot for one person. From now on I'll give you every month half my salary. However, I expect you to use part of the money to go 3 times a week to a sports facility nearby and buy new clothes. Don't buy too many all at once, because I want and expect you to lose those extra pounds you gained since I left. And find a cleaning person to help you around the house. Mom, is it clear?"
