Time passed and Maggie-May and Vickie's grieving hearts slowly began to heal, although their grief left scars that they always would have, scars that would sometimes reopen unexpectedly. One of those moments was the day Abraham became a teenager. Maggie-May decided that they would have a simple family party and Vickie agreed that the family could use some fun. At the start they enjoyed themselves and then Abraham blew out his candles.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561884392_91f86b45c0_c.jpg Even then, the wounds opened slowly. One minute Abraham and Vickie were talking, getting on fine and then Abraham complimented Vickie on the party she and his mother put together. For some reason this caused her to cry and move away from him.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561883747_0ef5e6e7f7_c.jpgAbraham followed her to see what was the matter, but she wouldn’t speak to him and eventually shut herself in her bedroom.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49561156518_9307bf8fe5_c.jpgAfter Abraham turned to his mother who was on the ground teaching Florence to talk. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked.
His mother shook her head. "No Sweetie. She probably just realized she was having a good time and felt a little guilty since Clifford isn't here to enjoy it or Henry, who knows. I know I still feel that way sometimes even though its been a long time since your father died," she said.
After that, she turned her attention back to little Florence and Abraham was left feeling confused, but figured Vickie needed space, so he gave it to her. The next few days passed with few words from Vickie who only came out of her room to eat. It was Maggie-May's job to keep the house running since she wasn't in any state of mind to help or even teach Florence her life skills. Maggie-May and even Abraham's younger sister, Thelma picked up the slack, whether it was teaching Florence to talk or simply keeping her entertained while her mother grieved.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49596592543_c35b8409ab_c.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49597090241_cce78783d8_c.jpgAbraham just did his best to stay out of the way and grieve in his own way. Even if it meant sitting outside and just thinking, talking to God, asking him why Clifford was taken away so soon before he could even meet his daughter, leaving his wife to care for her on her own.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49597090346_b3caf0a6e7_c.jpgEventually, Vickie came back around and dove right back into raising her daughter. It was a good sight to see.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49596592563_ca4b6bfbd1_c.jpgShe was even able to have fun towards the end of winter when Thelma was set to age up into a teenager herself. Vickie arranged her birthday party completely by herself since his mother had a political article due the next morning and was stuck in her room editing all day. Vickie had also invited several members of their extended family since she figured they needed some fun as well since their family wasn't the only ones with losses or sons, husbands, and fathers with whereabouts unknown. Vickie's party allowed them to temporarily dress up a little nicer and forget their troubles.
Abraham couldn't help but smile as Vickie dashed around the house, keeping everyone's glasses full and entertaining them with stories about the latest funny thing Florence did or the skill she learned. She even danced with Abraham, a glowing smile on her face. It was nice to see his sister-in-law happy again.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49597090201_c8a0b7ef13_c.jpg"I think my mother better watch out or she'll be replaced as mistress of the house," Abraham said.
"She taught me everything I know," Vickie said.
The party started to come to a close after Thelma blew out her birthday candles.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49597090231_21b1941124_c.jpgThe guests lingered a little longer after that to thank Vickie for a good time they sorely needed, but a few moments after that all hugs were exchanged, the guest left and Abraham and his family went to bed.
Early the next morning there was one final, ominous knock at the door. This time Abraham answered it and his heart sank as soon as he saw the military official.
No, not again He thought, but sure enough the official handed him the letter and left. Henry wouldn't be coming home. The next few hours were a blur of yet more tears and hugs.
At some point, his mother was gone for a few days visiting his Aunt Emma, as if she couldn't stand the thought of staying in the house where so much loss happened. Abraham simply felt numb and guilty for feeling numb and not shedding a single tear, he wasn't sure why.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49596598323_613d0446a3_c.jpgHis mother eventually returned home and explained that it was nice to see Aunt Emma and her family since it had been a while and she'd been really lucky that both her husband and her sons came home. His mother began to drone on and on about how well they were all doing, how much his cousins had grown and something in Abraham just snapped. He needed to be alone, the house was suddenly stifling. He ran outside and a rush of rage unlike anything he'd ever experienced overwhelmed him and he took it all out on a snow angel he'd made the day before.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49597348842_2c965ee3e7_c.jpgIt was all so unfair. Why had Aunt Emma and his cousins been so lucky? Abraham had lost both his brothers and his father and yet Aunt Emma remained untouched by the war! By the time he'd completely destroyed the snow angel he was left feeling hollowed out and tired, but resolve also hit him. He refused to allow his family to experience any more loss so he would not go to war. He was the only man left in his family, so he would protect and care for them, whatever it took.
