TAKING MAMA HOME
Excerpt
My son Todd and I had picked Mama’s body up at the funeral home in Alabama, and we were traveling South on our way to my childhood home in Louisiana where Mama was to be buried. Todd, who had just turned 16, was driving…
As Todd and I drove on, I pushed my selfish thoughts aside and focused on what a tragic life these illnesses must have made for Mama. Finally, my brain could no longer think, and I dozed as we sped down the highway. Periodically I would be awakened by Todd talking to truckers on the CB radio.
"Boy, are you haulin’ what I think you’re haulin’?" the truckers asked.
"That’s a big 10-4," Todd responded. "I’ve got me a corpus delecti." I smiled to myself. Todd was taking Latin.
I awoke with a start to see the speedometer pushing 80. We had just passed the latticed border sign saying, "Welcome to Mississippi." "Todd," I began with irritation. "These Mississippi state troopers are thicker than tits on a sow’s belly. And if we get stopped, they might think we’re runnin’ drugs. The last thing I want to do is open that coffin. I can bring Mama home, but I don’t want to display her on the way!"
But it was too late. The flashing blue lights and siren behind the car signaled we’d be caught. Todd pulled over and stopped the station wagon. He got out and walked back to meet the trooper, his wallet in his hand to show he was a legal driver.
Looking over my shoulder, I saw the trooper step out of his car. He was muscular, much taller than Todd, who was 6’1", and he had a sun-worn face. He appeared as fearless as he did determined. When he put his hat on, he looked as huge as Hercules. I met the two at the tailgate just as the officer began to speak.
"Son," he was looking Todd squarely in the eyes. "Do you have any idea how fast you were going?"
Todd looked down at his feet, then he shuffled them. He did his best to look innocent while shaking his head. While Todd was looking innocent, the officer took note of the "cargo," in the back. He pressed his nose against the glass of the hatch to get a closer look. A curious expression brushed across his face, the kind of expression that a person can’t quite read – the kind of expression that made me wonder, "What will happen next?"
TAKING MAMA HOME
AND OTHER UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCES
By Rhonda Borman
Very excellent. Rhonda is a gifted writer, speaker and
storyteller.
– Thom Rutledge, author of Embracing Fear
Rhonda’s stories are full of good humor and insights
into human nature. She has you laughing out loud as she manages to touch your
heart.
- Carol McSwiney, reader
For years, my mama promised to write. This is a great
coming-of-age book.
- Todd Borman, Rhonda’s son
I can hardly wait to see what Rhonda says about me next.
She’s been sitting on the front porch, typing on the laptop and laughing!
- Mack, Rhonda’s husband
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