As
Time Goes By.
pg.
31
The
holiday season found the home bound Porters enjoying—through Mimi and Etienne—tales
of the streets, the stores and the weather. The baby’s delight in exploring
lights, colors recreated for them memories of bygone days.
Then
the phone call: Mr. Porter died in his sleep.
THE
LITTLE FAMILY visited the widow often. The three story house was now cavernous,
frightening in its emptiness. Mrs. Porter lost weight and the last few strands
of gold in her hair went to grey and from grey to pure white in the first few
weeks that followed her husband’s death. Her blue eyes also turned grey,
opaque, lost the special light that had always shone in them. Mimi and Etienne
made it a point to stay on when they visited, to accompany her at dinner as
often as they could. One evening they became quite alarmed when they let
themselves in assisted by the porch light and found her sitting in the living
room in the dark. As their eyes became accustomed to the glow of the street
light shining through the windows they saw her, hands folded on her lap,
completely still. A fallen, wounded bird. As if coming out of a dream she
smiled when she recognized them. Dinner is ready, she said. Seemingly ethereal,
weightless got up and lead them into the dinette. The little table was set for
two. Mrs. Porter had already started on her soup. Mr. Porter’s dish was full. His
main course set on the side.
