The Voice of Southwest Louisiana September 2018 Issue

ADVENTURES of the Lake
Train Up A Child
By Lela Gholar Tizano
A Tribute to Grandparents
Whoever was
banging on Irene's
door at this time
of the morning better have a
good excuse for disturbing her
sleep. "Who is it?" She yelled
with a firm voice. She was not
some helpless, defenseless,
frail, old woman. She had
means to defend herself and
whoever was on the other
side of that door was about to
find that out really quick. The
pounding on the door was
more forceful. She said a few
choice words under her breath
before demanding an answer
again. "I said, who is it!"
"Mrs. Irene Gladstone?" The
voice asked with authority.
"Who wants to know?"
"Ms. Gladstone, I'm Officer
Peters with the County
Sheriff's Office. Will you open
the door please?"
"And what is the nature of this
visit?" She asked as she lifted
the curtain to confirm his
identity.
"Ms. Gladstone, I have your
two granddaughters and I
need to speak with you about
placing them in your custody."
She yanked open the door
and looked into two sets of
scared, weak eyes staring back
at her.
"Hi Gram-mommy," Mae
and Maya said. They looked
nothing like the little girls
she had seen almost a year
ago. Their hair was mangled,
their clothes were dirty, and
they smelled like they hadn't
bathed in days.
She brought them inside and
put her arms around them.
Their gram-mommy's hugs
were as warm as the oven
she used to bake bread. They
needed that love.
"Y'all go in the room back
there and wait for me." She
ordered before turning her
attention back to the officer.
"Where's their momma?"
"Well, ma'am, I was hoping
you could answer that
question. We got a call from a
neighbor in their apartment
complex saying the youngest
one was begging for food.
Looks like they've been on
their own for a few days.
"A few days?" She shook her
head in disbelief.
"Yes, ma'am. I bought them
a couple of burgers and they
wolfed them down pretty
quickly."
"Lord have mercy. What in
the world is going on with
that daughter of mine to just
up and leave her children like
that. I did not raise her to be
that kind of woman."
"Ms. Gladstone, if you should
hear from her please contact
me. Here's my card."
She stood there frozen and
watched the door close
behind him. And just what
am I supposed to do with
two little girls at my age, she
wondered.
That was five years ago...
Irene didn't think she had
the strength nor the energy
to take care of the girls but
God made a way. They were
a family - happy, healthy
and thriving and for that she
thanked the Lord every day.
Finally, the girls had stability,
and structure.
"Aaaaammmaaaazing
Grace, How Sweet..." Irene
sang. Sunday mornings in
her household always held
the aroma of homemade
biscuits, bacon and eggs and
the sounds of gospel music
belting through the house.
The girls knew if they were
going to be to Sunday School
on time they had to be out of
the door by 9:10 sharp. Irene
was serious about Sunday
School and church and
whoever was knocking on her
door would either join them
or wait until they returned.
"Gram-mommy, somebody's
knocking on the door, " Maya
yelled.
"You tell them we are on our
way to church and they can
come back later.
Irene turned off the radio,
grabbed her bible and her
church purse and headed for
the door.
"Good morning," a voice
echoed from the living room.
A chill suddenly entered the
house. Irene slowly turned to
meet the voice.
"I'm back and I came to get my
girls," Diane informed.
"Momma's back?" Mae asked
in disbelief.
"Diane, you can't just come
strutting in here after all this
time taking those girls away.
Why don't you just leave them
here with me?
"You ain't their momma. I am
taking them and there ain't
nothing you can do about it.
Girls, let’s go!”
The door slammed, and just
22
September 2018 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 6 • Number 2