Prayers

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Today
also
my complaint
is bitter,
His hand
is heavy
in spite
of my
groaning.
[Job 23:1-2]
*****************
"So......
I guess You're not
gonna HEAL her*,
huh."

"No,
My child."

(Nod.)
"Is there SOMEBODY
ELSE, I can PRAY TO...
UP THERE?"

"No.
Just,
Me."

(Nod.)
(Frown.)
(Pause.)
"I wish I was CATHOLIC."

"Why,
My precious?"

"Cuz, then I'd have
more PEOPLE,
to pray to. They
tell me you can pray
to Mary. I bet she's
a lot NICER, too."

[PATIENT SIGH.]

"Yeah;
but, I'm JEWISH.
I'm probably lucky
I get LISTENED TO,
at ALL."

[CHUCKLE.]

(Sigh.)
"YA SURE,
THERE'S NOBODY
ELSE,
UP THERE?"

[NOD.]
"Hm,
hm."

(Pause.)
"It's all a bunch 'a
lead BALLOONS."

"What,
My child."

"My PRAYERS!
MY PRAYERS!
THEY'RE NOTHIN'
BUT A BUNCH 'A
LEAD....BALLOONS!"

[SILENCE.]

"HOW MANY PRAYERS
HAVE I GOT UP THERE,
LORD? HOW MANY:
SINCE I WAS A KID?"

[QUIET VOICE.]
"I have them all
Right Here,
My beloved."

"YEAH.
WHAT: IN SOME
OLD, TATTERED
BASKET?
WHERE: TOSSED
IN A DUSTY,
OLD...CORNER,
SOMEWHERE?
FILLED WITH
COBWEBS?"

[PAUSE.]
[TENDER VOICE.]
"No,
child.
They're
Right Here."

(Shout.)
"WHERE?"

"In the
Palm,
of My
Hand."
******************
I cry
to Thee
and
Thou dost
not answer
me....
Thou
liftest me
up on the
wind,
Thou makest me
ride on it,
and Thou
tossest me
about
in the
roar of
the
storm.
[Job 30:20-22]


__________________
*A small, gray,
eight-year-old cat:
currently at the vet's,
getting an IV of fluids.
The author has to decide
whether to have her
put down,
or
not.

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