The Family That Once Was

As I sat at the dinner table last night, surrounded by my wife & five children, I watched each one as they prepared to eat their meal. I saw happy faces, glowing faces & loving faces. There was joy in our lives, hope in our hearts & peace of mind. Time changes everything.

We had regained a shurity that our family was together again in love. We were strong in our beliefs that all would be well. All would work together to keep that peace in our lives. Even things of grace & beauty come to an end. Forever, a fantasy, a misunderstood dream. So it is with love.

A fleeting experience. One that is here one moment & dies the next. Our hopes of a unified family were broken, shattered by unforeseen events. Events & elements that never should have been allowed to enter. 

Fight, pray & dream as you might, nothing is secure no matter how hard one tries. Do we continue to fight for that which is right, or do we, after loosing the battle, fighting for a cause that was lost before we started, continue to destroy our own hearts with fighting for love, or do we just throw up our hands & yield to the truth that the love we were fighting for never really existed? How foolish to keep trying when all is lost. When there is nothing left, what  is there to dream, to hope for?  

We no longer sit together as a family, for the family doesn't exist. It has been cast aside, forgotten as a thing of the past. The family that once was is no longer a reality, but only a memory of happier days. The lost love. A lost dream.Forever gone.

Dalton Lasher

Copyright 2010 Makwa Websites

makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

Loneliness

My heart aches tonight because  of  rejection. I am alone, isolated from the touch of the one I love. The pain is unbearable, causing tears to well up in my eyes. It is the thought of not being able to hold her, to feel that once familiar caress of love. 

Tonight, I am lonely. I feel tortured in my spirit because of the emptiness. I want to say something, to reach out to her, to let her know that I need her. I love love her & I want her.I miss her beside me in our bed. Her touch so special to me. Her love so precious. I am possessed with the haunting scent of being alone, totally alone, because I have no one to care, to touch, to return my love. 

I feel cast aside like a has been, a forgotten love for which no one has anymore use. I was so full of joy & now, I am empty with pain. I am no longer told that I am loved because I am not. I have become the forgotten relic of days of love gone by. 

If only to hold her, to touch her & to know that she loved me. She alone can take away this awful scent of loneliness.  

Copyright  2010 Dalton Lasher
Makwa Websites
makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

Unexpected Company

Copyright 2010

Dalton Lasher

Makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

Sanba, The Jungle Boy

    Sanba, The Jungle Boy
Deep in the jungle of darkest Africa lived a boy named Sanba.The village where Sanba lived was hidden deep in
the very centre of the jungle, many miles from any other tribe. Days & nights were not measured by hours &
minutes as we measure time, but by the rising & setting of the sun.
 Sanba was, as we would say,a loner.He would spend much of his time alone with his animal friends who lived
nearby. There were four of the jungle creatures that wre almost like family to him & he had grown to love
them in their ways & their very nature. They had become so close in their friendship that his thoughts &
theirs were almost as one. He felt at ease in their midst.He was truly the original jungle boy.

 His people were of a tribe whose contact with the outside world was nonexistent, not only because of where
their village was, but because they chose to live apart from modern man. At night while sitting around the fire
Sanba would listen intently as the old men of the village would talk in whispers amongst themselves.They talked
about the secret mountain far removed, deep in the hidden recesses of the jungle.
 They would speak of another tribe that had long ceased to exist. Their talk was very private & hushed because
it was rumoured that within this secret mountain lay the treasures of the gods.Legend had it that entrance to the
area was strictly forbidden to outsiders.
 A spark of curiosity began to grow as he sat there quietly. The light from the fire dancing & playing, causing
glowing sparks to rise & vanish into the darkness of the night, creating mysterious shadows that seemed to come
alive. His face was serious as the light reflected on his young countenance. It was a look of intrique that
possessed him, & he knew that he had to learn more about this strange place. A place that cause grown men to
speak almost in reverence.
 He had made up his mind that he must go to this forbidden land. It was like an uncontrollable burning deep
inside him that drove him to search & find this evasive treasure. He knew that if he didn't obey his inner
feelings,this burning would never be satisfied. 
 It was quickly becoming a part of his life, & he found he couldn't fight the feelings of what he had to do no
matter what the cost may be to himself. It was something that he must do. It was like the choice was not his, but
it lay in the hands of some higher power.
Because of his relationship with the animals of the jungle, he had named each one, claiming them as his friends.
They were Keno, the tiger, Pico a pet monkey, King, an old lion who had bcome too old to live amongst his own kind
& Tusky a very large African elephant. It was a strange assortment of creatures, but then again nothing in Sanba's
life seemed normal.
 It was rumoured that even though their enemies were gone, the gods still possessed the land. Any man who could
brave their anger in getting into the mountain & capture the hidden treasure was destined to rule his people & his
name would live forever. He had to prove himself a man. In his culture it was a sign of manhood to do something
great.
                                         The Forbidden Mountain
The next day Sanba gathered together his friends & they headed into the forbidden land. For many days they walked,
mile after mile, tired & barefoot until near exhaustion started to over take him. Looking up, there loomed
before him two stone statues that glared down at him, silently forbidding trespassers to enter. The silence that
hung over the place spoke of days gone by when their creators would come to worship at the mountain.  It
whispered of fire offerings customs long lost in the far recesses of time.It was a system known only to
those who at one time possessed the land.
 Sanba slowly drew near, his feet barely able to move as he had to force each step he took, his eyes ever
traveling upward until he gazed into the faces of these guardians of time. It was look of vengence that
he saw carved deep into the stone faces, telling him that he was an intruder in this holy place. He had come not
to worship, but to rob & defile & in Sanba's mind he imagined the gods knowing this.
Fear made its mark on his young face.
 As he neared the sacred entrance large beads of sweat ran down, dripping off his chin only to find a final
resting place on the ground below. His knees were weak & he trembled at every step. He was tormented inwardly
& his heart wrenched as he read the writing on the tablet promising punishment to anyone who dared enter this
hallowed temple.
 It was strange, but everything was suddenly quiet.The birds had stopped their singing & there was a silence in
the jungle that was almost deafening. He stood there, staring at the protectors that hovered so high that they
seemed to touch the tree tops.
 In front of him stood a massive rock that was wedged into the entrance of the cave." What now?" he wondered.
He had come so far & now he was stopped from achieving his goal.He had an idea. Tusky, his elephant friend had
the strength to move that huge, old rock.With great concentration & a power unmatched by any other beast he
pushed & pulled on that enormous stone until it broke loose from its resting place. With heart wrenching groans &
tearing the rock unwillingly yielded up its possession of the entrance to our friends.It lay there on the ground
in complete surrender, knowing if it had been a living thing that it had been defeated.
 The cave was huge inside with its immense spheres clinging to its roof awaiting the time that their weight
would be so great as to cause them to come crashing down on anything or anyone in their path, releasing them from
their prison. As he went deeper into the mountain, his excitment grew with what he saw.Along the walls were ledges
cut deep into the stone with statues & carvings, each telling a story of the kind of life this long forgotten race
had lived.
 His primitive torch flickered with each step he took casting errie shadows on the walls. It was amazing to Sanba,
for he hadn't realized that this tribe had been so advanced in their ways of living.It puzzled him as to why they
had completely disappeared from this place.He was drawn deeper into passageways & tunnels. There were many rooms
at the end of the tunnels that also bore strange pictures like he had seen before." But, where was the treasure he
had heard of?" He began to wonder if such a thing really existed or was it just stories that the men of his
village had dreamed up?
 Sanba walked slowly for a few feet trying to make out what was in front of him. What he saw made him jump back
in fear. Before him, protruding from the sides of the cave were two golden statues in the form of serpents. They
spoke of unknown dangers to anyone who dare tresspass beyond their boundries.Sanba was terrified because of the
fierceness of their countenance.As the golden beasts became a reality to him, their eyes shone magically in the
light.
 As he drew near, he could see that the eyes were large, red stones. They held a familiar look about them. His
Grandfather had one that he told Sanba he had found deep in the forbidden hills many years ago. "Yes,it was the
same." If he remembered correctly his Grandfather had called it, " the stone of fire." The eyes appeared to
have a supernatural look about them.
 Beyond the guardians, Sanba could see a haunting light reflecting its presence in the interior of the cave ahead.
It seemed so huge as to cast such brightness & yet,there seemed to be no explanation as to what was causing it.
Ahead, he could see what looked like an old bridge made of wood  & ropes.He knew it had been there a long time
because the wood had become dark with time. Sanba realized it would be a miracle if it held at all with his
weight.
                                           The Cavern Of Doom
Sanba crept slowly past the serpents as if not wanting to arouse their suspicions.His heart was thumping in his
chest.Their long bodies twisted & coiled outwardly toward each other, protecting that which belonged to them &
them alone.As he passed, he saw a stone with words of judgement written on it. It told of the hand of wrath &
warned that anyone who dare travel beyond that point would stir the indignation of the gods & in their fierce
anger they would swallow up anyone by the fires that keep the mountain alive.The fire,it is said was the very
heart of the gods & to provoke them would mean certain death. It was a warning that seemed as if it had been
written just for him.
Sanba was terrified at what he read & beads of perspiration stood out on his forhead in giant bubbles of moisture.
He knew he must not venture further. His mind realed with confusion, but at the same time his overwhelminng
burning grew stronger & stronger as each moment passed. He was tortured from within. His desire to go forward
mounted more & more as he yearned to see the unknown. It seemed like there was no way to extinquish this force
that drove him on.
 He had lost control of his will, making him the possessed of the possesser. It was his destiny & he must
fulfill it.The silence was deafening, & yet, it seemed as if a multitude of voices from a thousand years were
crying out to him to leave this place of doom & dispair.Judgement was upon him. He had dared to intrude in that
which was forbidden.
 As he drew near the inner cave,he could see a huge pit dug deep in the centre of the floor.It was not manmade,
but in its greatness seemed to have been brought about by the hands of that which is not natural. He stared
straight ahead, not daring to look down for fear of what he might see.Sanba mounted he old bridge, & as he took
his first step he realized that he might not make it across.It creaked & shook with every move he made.The
vines that held it together had become threadbare & the wood was so dry that pieces would break off,causing them
to fall into the depths of the pit below.It seemed as if his doom was sealed & in his mind he somehow knew he
would never leave this place alive.
 At the bottom lay an eternal fire.The flames violently licking their way upward until it seemed as if they
would consume the very place were Sanba stood. Mustering the courage he desperately needed,Sanba managed to
lower his eyes & what he saw caused him to freeze in his tracks.At the bottom, lay a red, hot, bubbling bed of
lava,dancing as it were, with a life all its own.He nervously moved across the ancient bridge wondering where
his path would lead.Whether to the lost treasure of the ages or to the bulk of eternity itself.The huge billows
of thick, black smoke rose in unimaginable horror.Each fighting their way to the top of the pit as if they wanted
to lay claim to their victim.It was as if a giant hand was trying to smother him.He couldn't breath, & whatever
air there had been was quickly loosing its power to life.
 The scalding, hot lava angrily boiled in torrents below as if each in turn tried to seek release from its greater
being.The place had become a giant torture chamber, & Sanba knew he must turn back,but it was too late.The deed
was done & all he could do now was to keep going ahead.There was no turning back.Suddenly and without warning the
mountain began to move,slowly at first,then with each passing second it rumbled louder until it was in
uncontrollable spasms,causing huge rocks to rip loose from their resting place,inching their way out of their
lodged positions.The gods were being awakened from eons of slumbersome sleep.They were angry & nothing could
appease them.Their wrath was being poured out in total vengence.
 Sanba screamed in terror as he watched his surroundings crumble before him, barely holding on to the side of
the bridge as it swayed from side to side in violent jerks. It seemed that it might be ripped apart like a thread
because of the throws of pain the mountain was experiencing." How would he ever survive?" he wondered. It was as
if his own presence had started it all.This lash of fury was being heaped on him without mercy.He would now pay
the keepers of the mountain with his life.
 He was nearing the other side when his foot broke through one of the old boards with a thud.He found himself
dangling, barely able to hold on.His life literally hanging by a thread.They were determined to get
him no matter what the cost.They were willing to sacrifice their own existence as long as it meant getting
the revenge they sought.Their anger was fierce & their judgement filled the place with stern consternation.The
fires were rising higher & he knew that if he were to escape,it must be now.
 Something was happening though.The jerking began to ease & the bridge slowed its swaying.With new found strength
exibited only when the will to live is aroused to its fullest potenial,he pulled himself up,landing on his
stomach.And then it stopped. It was as if the gods had spent their last bit of energy in revenge. He lay
there, totally exhausted. His energy was spent.He had given it everything he had.Sanba lay there in total
surrender.Just as suddenly as it ended, the rampage of terror began again, throwing him from side to side until
he thought the ropes would snap, causing him to fall to his death in the depths below.It seemed as if the gods
were toying with him,making him suffer until they were finally ready to grasp hold of him in final victory.
 He could almost touch the other side. Just a few more feet, & with one last burst of energy he lunged forward,
throwing himself headlong on the ground. He was finally clear of his tormentors grasp.
                                            The  Secret Is revealed
Sanba sat there, half stunned by his experience, trying to recapture his thoughts. He stared  in disbelief. It was
as if by magic. His eyes growing wider as a stone panel began to open near him. Slowly it creaked & ground its way
open to its full capacity.It had been centuries since this passageway had moved. It literally screamed surrender
as if the pangs of release tore at its inner most being.The stone ground its way with horrifying sounds until it
had nowhere else to go.
Sanbas eyes widened as he looked in, disbelieving what was before him.For there,in all its glory was a secret room
filled to capacity with gold & jewels of every description.Their brightness almost blinded Sanba & he covered his
eyes against their brilliance, Piles upon piles of riches had been kept hidden for such a long time.Jewels by the
thousands,topped with ivory & golden statues lay in giant mounds emiting myriads of mini rainbows of beauty.He was
so shocked that for awhile all he could do was stare in disbelief.He dare not move incase it was only some kind of
weird dream. Slowly, as he began to approach the treasure he fell on something sharp.As he picked himself up,
there lay at his feet the biggest & brightest diamond he had ever seen.It danced with clarity all its own
as he turned it in his hands,fondling & admiring it.Its brilliance portraying itself like nothing he had seen
before.Looking up at the treasure that lay before him, he realized that he had found the very heart of the gods.
He had faced their judgement & won.He had accomplished what no one else had & he felt an overwhelming sense
of joy & fulfillment at what he had done.This was truly the day that Sanba had become a man.
April 1992 Copyright Makwawebsites


 







































makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

Copyright 2010

Christmas Eve

makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

God Help Me.... I'm Serious

Note: The pic I chose in my mind, is a depiction of how I envisioned this kid after the show. lol.

Believe it or not, this is true story. Years ago, I was in show business as an entertainer. I performed various acts that included everything from singing, & I'm not that bad they say to clowning for little kids.

 One show I did, involved a private birthday party in a little boys home. The party went well except for one boy who was about 12 years old. He was a guest. On the average, shows usually go well, but there are times when you run into a snag, as I call it. There is always someone who is a total bug. Someone who constantly interrupts or causes havoc & disrupts everything. This was one of those times.

I was half way through the show when he struck. It was like an all out assault attack on the poor, helpless clown & I had no idea what was ahead. Had I known, I would have applied for asylum. Have you ever been in a situation where life is suddenly against you, dinner is ready & you are the main course? If you can answer " Yes" to this honestly, then welcome to the club.

As I said, everything went well up to this point. I did magic for them, animal balloons, funny character voices & so on & so forth. I can laugh now, but then, it was hell on earth. Do you know how hard it is to perform  when your the centre of a miniature terrorist attack?

 It was awful. No, I take that back. It was like being attacked by Stripe from the Gremlins movie. Satan incarnate. He bugged me. He tortured me. Kept interrupting  & made my one hour that  I was there a living hell. You don't think it was that bad? Well, when I got done, no, I take that back, when he got done with me, I was ready for a psycologist, a psychiatrists, a spiritual healer & a witch doctor all roll into one, not to mention a good stiff drink. Where's the Valium? No, it wasn't for him. It was for me. I was a nervous wreck. The only thing I could think of was to make a balloon poodle & pop it over his head . I didn't, but the thought was there, trust me. 

If anyone ever tells you there are no such things as demons, tell them their a liar & send them my way. That day I met one face to face. I love kids, can't you tell ? I didn't know whether to meditate, hope to God for a bottle of scotch from my magic bag or perform an exorcism.

Usually, when a person acts that way, they say they are looking for attention. Don't believe it. In  reality, they simply want to make your life a living hell & he did. I even invited him up front, hoping if he became part of the show he would calm down. It didn't work. So much for psycology.

When you're in a situation like that, time can't go fast enough & trust me it didn't. The show finally ended, thank God. I was emotionally drained , physically exhausted, spiritually depleted, & I'm sure not quite in my right mind. The lady of the house graciously thanked me . "What the hell for? " The kid needed a straight jacket & an armed guard. Oh sorry, that was for me. 

 I packed up my gear & headed for the door . I had already been paid  & was about to walk out  when suddenly I heard a sound that I had quickly come to dread, not to mention fear, " Mr. Clown." "Oh no!!!!! " PLEASE GOD NOOOOO." It was him. The one & only. The menace that I dreaded the most. I would sooner have kissed a dogs butt than to face him again. I couldn't take it. I was about to loose whatever sanity I thought I had left, but there he was, in the flesh. Alone with me by the door..  my only escape & I was trapped like a mouse cowering in front of a cat. 

His look of innocence wasn't fooling me. Not this time. Then he looked up at me & said," Mr. Clown, when you die you're going to go to Heaven with me. 
HELP!!!!! 
NO PLEASE NO..  I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. 
The only thought that ran through my mind was, " My God..  What did I ever do to you." 

PS: As far as I remember, I never did meet that child again. Do I miss him? WHAT! Are you nuts? I'd sooner have a case of  hemorrhoids

End of story. 

Dalton Lasher 

Copyright 2010 Makwawebsites 

You can contact me at : makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

                                                           

Self Defence

This is a true, but very painful story. Not painful for you, but painful for me, even when I think about it. I have 5 children. We have cold winters in Canada. Brrrr !  Have you ever heard about how Canadians whine about the weather in the winter? Hunny, I'm cold ..... cuddle me. Now, you know why I have 5 kids. What the hell. Works for me. 

Anyway, my youngest son who is now well over six feet tall, took the longest time to grow. He sure made up for it. Must be the fertilizer I used. Damn stuff will ' cause anything to grow. I kept hearing about how short he was & how he would never grow, so I got the bright idea when he was about 6 or 7 to teach him how to protect himself against bullies. He was short, skinny & needed guidance . 

Now, I wish I had of done it in another way. Trust me. Here he was, three feet nothing, looking up so high at Dad. I'm sure to him I looked like a tree. I had him stand in front of me. I had decided to teach him martial arts for his own protection. Yeah right. It wasn't that I didn't know what I was doing, it was that I forgot to expect the unexpected.    

He patiently listened to everything I had to say to him. Now, it was his turn to show me in action what I had just showed him how to do. Next thing I knew, I was on the floor. It was a simple frontal kick. The bugger had dropped me. The thing was, he had kicked me in the ....... well, you know. What do I call it? Family jewels, my pride & joy, life line ? What ? 

 There I was, bent over in ....  shall we call it pain. Hell, no. It was worse than that. It was excruciatingly different. What the hell? I looked up, trying to be as calm as I possibly could. Have you ever been in agony & tried to talk while the pain surges through your body ? You end up sounding like Micky Mouse on drugs. "Oh my God Adam, ' ' Why did you do that? " He looked at my with a look of innocence that I had come to know so well & said, " But Daddy, that's as high as I can kick. " 

End of story. 

PS: I'm much better now.    OUCH !!!!

Dalton Lasher Copyright 2010 Makwawebsites

You can contact me at :

makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

What Matters The Most

As I have said in God Help Me .... I'm Serious, I for years was an entertainer on stage. To be honest, most people who are in the audience, you don't remember. Simply because you meet so many, but then again, there are times & people you do remember very well. Such was the case when I was performing one afternoon at a park show. I was under the gazebo making animal balloons for the children. The day was sunny & the kids were happy. We were all having a lot of fun. Sometimes, life adds a bit more to remind us of the honest & simple things in our lives & how important they are. I never forgot. 

 There had to be around  fifty children all crowded around me & I was totally surrounded. As I continued to do the show, I happened to look up & noticed the crowd forming a path right down the centre. I had no idea what was happening, but continued with the show. 

All the children who attended were in age of up to about 12 years old. I looked up from what I was doing & saw this girl coming down through the middle of the group who was around sixteen years old. She just stood before me, saying nothing.  I was starting to feel abit uncomfortable because of the pressure of the show & as I said, she just stared at me intensely. 

It was evident she had Downs Syndrome. It wasn't her condition that made me uncomfortable, but being stared at so intently. I momentarily stopped the show to see what she wanted. As I said, I was handing out balloons, so that naturally crossed my mind. I asked her if she'd like an animal balloon. " No." Did she want her face painted? " No." That neither. 

I was at a loss then, so I simply asked her what I could do for her. Her answer came back so perfect & simplistically. " Can I have a hug?"  I set everything aside, stopped the show & wrapped my arms around her as she did me. In front of a waiting audience, I gave her what she wanted from her heart. It was as simple as that. She walked away with a smile as big as the world. That simple act had made her day as it had mine. An act of love in action & it is something that no one will ever be able to take away from her. 

I never saw her again, but one thing I do know is I never forgot her nor her request for a hug from a clown. 

Love in action. It can never be replaced. 

Blessings to her where ever she may be. You touched my life that day also. xo 

Bojo the Clown.

( Dalton )    

    Dalton Lasher

Copyright Makwawebsites 2010

Contact : makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

   

The Simple Acts Are What Affects Us The Most

Years ago, I used to travel over various parts of Southern Ontario, here in Canada performing for children & adult audiences. Never, ever be afraid to put yourself out for the good of others. I'm going to tell you why.

I was performing a Christmas show for CFB Kingston, military base for the kids. Actually, I was booked solid that day. I had just finished doing one show & had been driven by military staff across the main compound to another section to perform another show at the other auditorium. We were packed. I had my father - law plus a lady working with me that day, & I'm glad I did. 

Shortly after we had started the show, a call came through for me. The gentleman on the line told me his name & that he had a group of children at one of the churches gathered for their Christmas show. He had had another entertainer booked but they had cancelled on them when they found out that it was a charity show.

He told me the children that were there all had Cystic Fibrosis. I didn't know what to do as I was totally swamped with where I was. He literally begged me to come to the church for the children. No one else would go.

After a few minutes on the phone, I agreed. I had no idea how I was going to pull it off but I had promised I would do what others didn't want for the children, & I'm so glad I did. He was overjoyed. I told my staff what had happened & I let them know they would have to do the show we were in the middle of by themselves. It was ok with them. 

My driver helped me pack up some stock I needed & we headed out for the church. Halfway there, the car broke down. " Oh no." I was stuck with all these children waiting for me. A half hour later or more, I managed to get a cab to finish driving me there. The snow was deep & the day cold, with me in nothing but a clown suit on & huge red clown shoes. 

When I arrived, I went ot the church basement where the show was to take place & there they were, a roomful of children, some on breathing tanks & others not. They couldn't do some of the things in the show because of their condition , so we improvised & made it work with other things. I played guitar, did face painting, animal balloons & magic for them. They clapped,. They laughed  & I saw the joy shining from their young faces. 

At the end of the show, the co-ordinator told me he would be happy to drive me home. He repeatedly thanked me as others there did for coming & doing the show. I didn't understand though as to why he was so grateful. It obviously meant a lot to him. 

We packed up my things & drove to my house. We approached my driveway & stopped, sitting there for the longest time talking. He told me about the children whom I had just left. About Cystic Fibrosis, which at that point I knew nothing about. And then he dropped the bombshell. 

He said, " The reason we are so grateful to you for coming is most of the children you performed for today will not be alive by this time next Christmas. The condition they have will have taken its toll. " 

I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what to say. I was at a loss for words. " Oh my God." I had given those children their very last Christmas. I had given them joy that the would never again know like that. The children were disappointed to see me go. If I had known, I would have stayed longer, just for them. 

I never forgot that day, nor will I ever. It holds a very special place in my heart & so do those children. When I look back, I am so honored to have met those people & performed for them that day. 

Each time I tell this story, I have to hold back the tears. We never know how our actions affect anothers life. We either build each other up or tear each other down. 

The choice is ours.

To all my friends from that special day. Blessings to you.

Bojo the clown.

( Dalton ) xo      

 Dalton Lasher

Copyright Makwawebsites

Contact : makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

Memories Of A Dead Soldier

I am a soldier.  I am every soldier who has ever put on a uniform.
I am the living & the dead who lie lifeless without hope nor breath.
They told me about being a soldier.
That I would serve my country well.
They did not tell me that I would have to die to do it.
I heard the sound of thunder in my ears.
But no, it was the sound of bombs all around me.
Terrified men screamed while I watched them fall to the ground.
Dead, forever dead.
 I saw the blood pour from their gaping wounds.
Little children ran in terror while parents suddenly stopped dead in their tracks.
Mommy is gone. Daddy is dead.
No life. I am alone.
I watched as men suddenly fell, as the sound of bullets rang in my ears.
There was no escape, only death.
Why did they send me here?
When you are here in the battle zone, you have no future.
You may be dead tomorrow.
Nothing but today to live for. 
Time has no condition for us here.
Only by minutes and seconds. 
You may have nothing else for your life.
I hid in terror, paralized, as they raped that girl.
I cried for her pain.
Will they come after me next?
That's what expect when you live in a war zone.
I cried as I was dying.
I saw mom & dads face.
Their smiles.
Things I will never see again.
They are many miles away & I am alone in this wasteland of death.
I am part of the forgotten.
Of the raveges of war.

Dalton Lasher

Copyright 2006 
Makwawebsites
Contact : makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

                                              

A Slip Of The Knife

For those of you who haven't read about my family life yet, I have five kids, ( we have cold winters here in Canada. )  & this is a true, but weird story about when one of them was born. This story has to do with my youngest son, Adam.

When he was born as usual, I was ecstatic, just as I was when all of my children were born. I was there for the beginning..  the conception I mean... & I was there for the birth, & many years after. He still lives with me.  I don't miss much. " My God... will they ever leave home ???? " 

My eldest daughter who was about ten at the time, one day said to me.. " Daddy, I'm never gonna leave home. " In joking, I turned to her & said..  " Jennie, don't you ever threaten me like that again. " She has left home though & has three beautiful children of her own. This is now God's way of showing her what I went through as a parent.  Kinda cool how life turns around. 

Anyway, back to my story. Nine months later, here I am again, back at the hospital for yet another birth. The kid's Godfather had told me that when the time came, he would drive us to the hospital. The time had come, & I was in a panic. What else is new ? I had sworn that I would be calm. HAAAA ! Don't believe it. I was like an obsessed person who couldn't get a grip. I knew what was happening. I had been through it three times before. 

Ok ! I can handle this....  I think. I got on the phone. That was good. I called their godfather & in a very calm, relaxed voice.....oh hell... I lied. I freaked like a wild man over the phone. " Mom's in labor. The babies coming. Her water broke. Oh my god. 

Was it her water or did I just have a case of bladder failure ? And then... and then.. I slammed the phone down right in his ear.  No " Good-bye." No, " Kiss my a_ _, " just SLAM. I don't think his hearings been the same since. 

Next thing I knew he was at the door, the godfather, not the baby. He was still inside screaming,

" I WANT OUT. "  We loaded mom in the car. Kinda makes her sound like luggage. We made sure she was comfortable & took off like a bat out of Hell. Luckily, we only came across one vehicle on the road that night. Seriously. We almost hit him in the ass. He was stopped for a red light. Where are the cops when you need them ? Not one. We looked for an escort but there was no one. It must have been half price at the donut shop. 

Ok. We arrive at the hospital safe & sound. In we go with mom. Delivery room here we come. Mom's going through the last pangs of labor. I'm standing there with her, holding her hand & trying to be a comfort to her. The woman's in massive pain. This mini me is about to make his grand entrance from this nine centimeter exit & I think I'm a comfort. I'm just lucky everything hard was out of her reach. Thank God. I would have had to be treated for a possible concussion. ( By the way, he is exactly like me in who he is. I feel sorry for him. 

She pushed. The baby moved. She pushed again & POP. Ok, Ok. There wasn't any sound effects. Our beautiful son had been born. What a kid. There he was, naked as a shaved bears butt. Of course, what was I thinking , they came with jump suits ? NO, I don't take drugs. 

Everything was there. I should know, I counted everything. Toes, fingers, ears, eyes, nose,  & one mouth.  What the hell did I expect to do if he was short of something , send him back & ask for a refund ? 

The doctors were doing their thing with mom & I was beaming with pride like a chessy cat. No, I don't always look that way. And then it happened. The doctor turned to me & asked that ultimate question....

" Would you like to cut the cord ?  "What ? ' 'Are you kidding ? " I was like a kid in a candy shop. This was the first time they had ever asked me this. You know what ? It was also the last time too. 

By this time, I had calmed down. I was relaxed & very professional, as the doctor handed me the scissors to make that all important separation of life. I was the chosen one. 

I turned to the doctor & said, "I cut between the clamps, right.? " He confirmed that, yes, I knew what I was doing. I'm just glad that he didn't ask me to do a circumcision. 

There I was, scissors in hand, ready to cut along the dotted line. Snip. I did it. I was almost sad at the thought that as fast as that, it was all over. I had just started practicing medicine. I was feeling like I had found my calling in life... to snip umbilical cords. 

WHEW ! That was that. Too bad I didn't have someone to send my bill to besides myself. That job within itself was probably worth a few hundreds bucks, by the standards that doctors make. 

All the while, mom's laying there shaking her head & repeatedly saying, " No, no, no. " " What the hell ? " I just thought it had something to do with what the doctors were doing. I was confused, perplexed, unnerved, emotionally distressed.

All of the above. 

In about a half hour, we were back in her hospital room. Everything was done. Baby was delivered & mom was ok. I sat there with her just thinking & talking about what had just happened. I kept wondering about this... " No, no, no" coming from her a few minutes ago, so I asked. " What was that all about? ' ' Shaking your head & saying, ' No, no, no?"

I soon found out my answer & the great mystery was solved. her exact words to me were, " I didn't want you to cut the babies cord." " Why not?" I did it right. What I got back was, " I was afraid you were going to cut off the wrong thing. "    

Dalton Lasher

Copyright Makwawebsites

Contact : makwawebsites@yahoo.ca

                                                       

The Picnic

Picnics are fun & the most enjoyable times are when you can share the food & fun with your friends. Blacky, the bear cub decided he would like to have a picnic. It would be a perfect day, with lots of good food, great friends & lots of fun besides. What a wonderful day they would have sharing their time together. Blacky got in touch with his friends & made the necessary plans. They would hold the picnic tomorrow morning. Everyone would be there & they could all enjoy themselves. It would truly be something to look forward to.

The day had arrived for their big outing. It was going to be warm, & the sun was shining brightly. Blacky, the cub was all set, as he left his house with is fish, berries & a little pail of yellow, golden honey. It was summer now, & the bees had been hard at work making the sweet treat.

Chipper Chipmunk had his share of nuts to bring. After hearing about the picnic, he had set off gathering what he wanted to bring for the special day. The last our friends had seen him, he had been scurrying along an old wooden fence, his tiny feet travelling as fast as they could go. His little pouches were packed as full as he could stuff them with nuts for the feast he would attend. He wanted to bring his share of goodies & had worked hard to do his part. 

Pokey Porcupine brought along his choicest twigs & barks to munch on, Pee U Skunk of course, brought along his tasty, roasted chicken. Pee U Skunk is the little stinker of the group, letting his presence be known where ever he goes. He's black in color with is long white stripe running down is back as if someone had taken a paint brush & with one stroke started painting him, but never finished. He's a mischief maker, but at the same time, he can be as gentle as a lamb, as long as you don't get to close to him when he's upset. 

Pee U lives in a hollow log with as white mailbox trimmed in pink, standing proudly outside. It's his pride & joy because it stands so tall & straight bearing the words, " Pee U " on it's side. For years, it wasn't his real name, but a nickname that seemed to have stuck with him. For some strange reason, poor, little Pee U couldn't remember nor understand why anyone would give him a name such as that. But, that was the title he had & he was determined to wear it proudly. 

The friends met under the old oak tree that was near the meadow for their outing. Each had their own treat with them & it was sure to be a great time shared by all. It had rained the night before, making the world seem fresh & new. The trees were nice & clean & the flowers seemed to have brighter colors than usual. Blacky & his friends were having fun as they marched around playing games & enjoying each other's company. 

Someone suggested they go down to the river's edge to play. It would be great fun & they could leave their food without worrying about it being touched. So, down they went, one by one toward the river bank. They romped & splashed covering each other with floods of water. There they played for the longest time until they decided it was time to eat. Ever so slowly, & not really wanting to leave their fun, they began to march back to where they had left their baskets of food. They had come only a short distance from where their goodies were waiting for them when they heard a big crash. Bandit the raccoon had stumbled across their picnic baskets. 

Bandit was a funny creature with short, stubby legs & a long fuzzy tail. The strangest thing about him is the fact that he always wears a black mask to cover his eyes. This way he thinks that no one will know who he is. Usually, you would find him busy at work gathering clams & shell fish for his dinner, but he will steal when he doesn't want to work for himself. He is sly with his shifty eyes & quick moves, always sniffing the air in hopes of finding a tasty morsel of food whether it belongs to him or not. When he walks, he moves about with his head bent low, making himself believe that no one sees him. But, there are always eyes watching him, for you see, Bandit is the kind of creature you don't leave anything around if you want to keep it safe. 

When he found the picnic baskets, he had become so greedy in wanting to carry off his find that he fell head long in his excitement into a patch of poison ivy. At hearing the crash, poor Pee U Skunk turned to ask Chipper Chipmunk what was going on. He got so nervous that his tail went straight up, making him spray the air with his foul smelling perfume & catching Bandit right in the face. Bandit was busy trying to scurry around to get out of the troublesome weeds. He wiggled & twisted, going around & around in circles, trying to shake the ugly smell that clung to him like glue. 

He had been in trouble before, but never anything like this. His coat reeked from the smell of skunk & nothing seemed to help. The sight of Raccoon acting so foolish made our friends roar with laughter. It was guaranteed that after today Bandit would be changing his ways.     

  

Dalton Lasher

Copyright Makwawebsites 2010

Contact :  makwawebsites@yahoo.ca