My Mom and Dad

She was getting ready for a dinner dance

At the Candlewood Country Club

Painting her nails bright red, of course

They were always bright red

Her dress was a silky straight black one

With glistening black shoes to match

She was tan from playing golf all day

Olive skin a beauty

She gave me a sweet smile

Gentle and kind

She smelled of perfume

As she told me good bye

And she and my dad

Walked excitedly out the door

Hand in hand

I had watched them dance before

What a pair

I had been surprised

When they did the Jitterbug

I hadn’t known

On that night so long ago

The lights at the pool

Had glittered on the water like stars

In the background somewhere

Someone was playing a xylophone

And a piano was tinkling in the night

We were eating steak

And drinking Shirley Temples

It was always steak there at the Country Club

They danced on

And I could tell they were in love

Once I asked her who comes first

Or who was most important to her

My dad or us kids

Knowing what she’d answer, of course

But she surprised me

Cheerily she said,

“Your dad and I were together before you children came along,

He will be here when you leave home,

So I will have to say your dad.”

My feelings were hurt

But somewhere deep inside I was glad and felt secure

I’d known a girl in my class

Whose parents were getting divorced

I’d never even heard the word

But knew it must be something like a war

Now when she gets ready for a dance

It’s in stages

First the shower in the morning or day before

Later the make-up

Then a little rest

Now she gets dressed

Not the black dress anymore

Now solid sensible shoes

So she won’t fall

Same good smell and sweetness

I sometimes do her nails

“a light pink”, she says

My dad comes and helps her to the car

It’s a long way to the car

They stay just an hour

And do one dance by the chair

So they won’t fall

So they can rest

And come home early