https://nopenotpam.com/2022/08/21/a-letter-a-week-u/
We’ve arrived at the Letter “U”! Click the link for more info, and join in—it’s not too late! I’m using the author’s wonderful drawing, and her 5 prompt words: Umbrella Bird, unnerve, unadorned, uncomfortable, universe
Aunt Umbrella Bird
Was the only person in
The universe I felt safe with…
When I was 3, very shy, she’d
Visit…her first question was
“Who loves you?”
I’d pause, then: “Umm…brella”
Her legal name: Bella Bird, but
“Aunt Umbrella Bird” stuck…
She claimed I was her favorite niece
I’m her only niece, and was over
The moon about her—she was funny
Kind, plain-spoken, usually unadorned
Unless we were being wild & crazy—
Never uncomfortable acting silly
She said she was 16, just looked
Older…and shrugged as though it was
The gospel truth—
When I’d confess horrible things
She wasn’t unnerved…my
Confidante, she honored my feelings…
As I turned 14 and spilled my
Latest sin, she hugged me, said
“Everybody hates their parents
Sometimes—it’s normal!”
My folks split up, good thing…
I lived with “Aunt U-B” till I
Finished school…we had
The BEST times…I almost
Believed she really was a
Teenager—
~
“Let’s go for a walk,” she
Said one Saturday
“It’s raining,” I noted
“So? I’ll be your umbrella”
She owned a humongous
Purple-paisley one…when I
Glimpsed our reflection in a
Shop window, I thought we
Looked like the cover of a
Fabulous book!
I exclaimed this, and she urged:
“Then, get busy writing that
Nobel Prize winner!”
She believed I could do anything
Because she held the same
Opinion about herself…and
After all, we shared the genes—
We walked to our preferred
Little bakery and sat at a small
Table with our chocolate eclairs
She said she had something
Important to tell me…
I was relishing the treat
Barely listening…till her
Words pierced me…
I set my pastry down, suddenly
Queasy—she took my hand
“Now listen to me…we are Not going
To stop living and having a blast
Just because I may be dying…
We’ve always been honest
And open together, ‘Bella Jr’…
~
Her announcement slammed hard
But she would deal with it
As though it was another
Shared adventure—
When she lost her hair, she
Managed to find a hat fashioned
Like a child-size umbrella
And perched it on her head
“How d’ya like it? Perfect?!”
I had to laugh…anyone else would look
Ridiculous, she wore it with saucy aplomb—
I hadn’t realized she was fairly wealthy until
She informed me I didn’t need to work…
We’ll be too busy, she said:
I would write, she decided
She’d paint illustrations…
I had no clue for a story…she
Had faith my imagination waited
Only for my fingers to move
Over the keyboard—
~
That spectacular adventure
Lasted 4 months…I hadn’t known
She was an artist…nor that there truly
Was a writer inside me…
Ever entertaining, she’d wear
Costumes each day, something to match
The umbrella hat, or clash garishly—
I cooked…until her appetite waned
Soon fatigue set in as well
The last thing she asked was
“Who loves you?”
Struggling, I answered
“Aunt Umbrella Bird”
“Don’t you forget it,” she
Whispered, and went to sleep.
~
Grief struck deep…she was
Everything to me…but before
Long I sensed she hadn’t gone…
Her BIG presence was palpable
In the house she’d left to me…
~
Her paintings were shipped with
My manuscript, to the publisher
Who’d mysteriously appeared…
We were a success, had been
Since I was born…
Somedays
I wear her umbrella hat…☂
©Leyde Ryan, 2022 ~ All rights reserved.
Yep, I’m weepy. What a fantastic tale, you’ve really discussed the subject thoughtfully. Very touching
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I almost put an Alert: “have tissues ready” 🙂 I’m SO glad you’re pleased. You really have to keep these prompts going, just start again with A–because each one grabs me and carries me away in one direction or another. Thanks much!!💖
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I’m thinking since I’m starting on the human body – professions. What do you think?
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Give me an example… I’m not sure how creative I could be about professions.
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A is for astronaut?
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I guess it would depend what the other “a” prompt words were… Since I’ve never worked in any profession, it’s hard to imagine coming up with something creative. I guess what I’m saying is that I wouldn’t want to research each profession, in order to have enough facts/knowledge to work around and into my poetry/story. The animals were so easy somehow, for me. And I only joined in the middle, I think.
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I’m kind of thinking an antelope astronaut perhaps, or we could just do reptiles and sea creatures?
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Antelope astronaut–hmm. I could probably go for reptiles and sea creatures–and I’ll even give you an “L” one, if you don’t know it from the Bible: Leviathan!
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PS: I’m heading to bed finally, so I’ll catch you tomorrow. Blessings to you!
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I was thinking there’d be way more animals to fill up the alphabet–but maybe you’re just done with them now😊 What about rocks or gemstones–are there enough of them to complete the ABC’s?
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What a wonderful story, both sad, and full of hope. I loved it.
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Thank you So MUCH for reading, and your comment, Dwight!!
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It was an intriguing story. I am thinking this is your real experience??
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Oh no, it’s fiction–but I confess I got so wrapped up in writing it, that I was tearful when the Aunt died. Thank you So Much for being a great reader and commenter!
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