Ma'am

By Lue Wyatt

Ma'am is a story of an older woman who has lived a life of hard labor. She was a woman that not only worked hard, she also loved as well.

Raised in poverty, married young with children did the only thing she knew, worked. Later in life, due to curcumstances that has happened to so many women, adopted five grandchildren.
Later she discovered to her dismay, that while caring for children, all her life (siblings, her own children, later her own grandchildren). She had forgotten about her own personal life, needs and desires.
While trying to ignore it, becomes clinically depressed. Youth had slipped away, time had forgotten her.
Once a beautiful red head, and now merely a shell of her former self. Looking into the bathroom mirror one morning, she discovers the answer.

All through her busy life, she held all the emotions in that a woman experiences. She had never talked to anyone before, but now in the privacy of her home, she could pour out all the pain and frustrations, that she had felt for so many years. Talking to the reflection in the mirror, and eventually finds peace of mind.
Ive tried to describe how a woman would react under this stressful circumstances in which she finds herself. In trying to deal with her own personal life and still be responsible for the care of five grandchildren.

I have written of a woman who is strong, life made her that way. She also has feet of clay. Ive tried to portray her as being very human, because we all are.

In Maams story, she deals with the problems of aging, but at the same time, she sees humor in everyday happenings, and has the ability to laugh at herself as well with other people. The adventures of a woman, and Maam, are at times hilarious, but also truthful, but again, it is all part of lifes story.
In my story of Maam, the woman has no name because she speaks for umpteen thousands of women all over the world.

She also believes in her God, but the older she gets, the more issues she has.
Maam is truthful about her triumphs and her failings as in all our lives, there are many.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jun 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781426969041

Lue Wyatt

Ms. Lue Wyatt was raised on a farm, married and raised four children. Later adopted five grandchildren. She lives in Arkansas with kids, dogs, and cats.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The woman opened her eyes, dim early light filtering through the drapes of her room, closing her eyes, and mentally wishing for sleep. The illusive images had danced through her dreams during the night. Covering her head with her pillow, she laid quietly knowing she couldn’t recover the dream of her two sisters. Sobs of frustration build up in her throat. She coughed hoping to stop the flow of tears that lately flowed so easily.

She rose from the bed, walking slowly down the hallway, stopping at her son’s room, turning his light out, and picked up a pair of dirty socks. She walked into the girl’s room, cuddle together entwined in sleep as well as play. Swallowing tears, she touched their faces, whispering, I love you. And adjusting their quilts, she left the room. Stopping at her oldest girl’s room, she hesitated. 16 years old, guard their privacy fiercely. She entered her blonde headed daughter laid cuddled up in her blankets, the headphones still on and television lit up. Switching off the television and removing the headphones she hoped her daughter wouldn’t lose her hearing before twenty.

Continuing down the hallway she stopped at her oldest son’s room which was empty. She walked into the den and found her son lay sleeping on the floor, his head pillowed on his laptop. Sighing with relief she headed for the bathroom.

Finishing with her bath, thinking of the responsibility of the looming day’s work, a heaviness came upon her. In later years she would say, It was like a cloud that swirled around her. Filling her with pain, loneliness, and crushing desolation. Gasping for air she grasped the sink, stood for a few minutes trying to control her emotions. She raised her head and looked into the mirror.

Startled, she stared horrified. Tears streaming down her lined face, My God, what has happened to me? She whispered to the room, Where have I gone? Have you ever imagined you’re someone else, younger, prettier, more handsome perhaps, looking into the mirror? No! Not that reflection looking back at me.

Where is that beautiful red head I used to be? With hazel eyes that sparkled with love of life, teeth once so white like pearls one lover said, my mouth, what has happened to my mouth?" Two lines disappearing into my chin. My neck! Oh don’t even go there. My breast, my beautiful breasts, now empty sacks. Waist, what waist? My waist is gone with my beautiful long legs. Did you have to take them away too?

Depressed turning away from the mirror, the woman shuddered clutching her robe tighter around her she paused, turned, and looking intently at the reflection. Crying softly to herself, Oh God why? Is there nothing to be done? There must be something I can do? And looking into the mirror, she knew.

Ma’am, will you move over please? You’re blocking my view. I know I’m in this mirror somewhere. Please come out from where ever you are. It has been many years since I’ve seen you and I’ve missed you so.

Ma’am, please move over, you can’t hide my reflection from me. I’m losing my patience. What did you say? My mind! Oh, well of all the nerve. Who are you, where did you come from, and how in God’s sweet name did you appear in my mirror? You’re me? You’ve always been here in my mirror? You’ve got to be kidding. I’ve never seen you before. What, since the day I was born? Get a grip lady. Whose minds are we discussing here yours or mine?

Wait a minute, could it be, Ma’am, I’m sorry have you lost your way? If so, I will give you directions, call a cab, or buy a plane ticket (one-way). Yes, anywhere you want to go. Get out of my mirror. You can’t? You can’t until I’m ready? Ma’am have you been listening to me? I’m ready but you’re not? I think I have a headache. I know what I need thank you. I need for you to leave. Yes Ma’am, I prefer now. You can’t leave until I can cope with who I am? Ma’am we seem to be at odds here. I know who I am and what I look like. Who am I? Well Lady, let me tell you. I’m a beautiful red head, fantastic figure, size eight. Oh yes, great legs, beautiful legs. I’m not in the mirror! You are one rude reflection. I’m in there somewhere. I’ll find my own true self. Good. You’re a strange one. I’ll say that for you. Oh you’ve heard that before? I bet you have. What noise? I don’t hear anything. Oh, my children. They’re getting dressed for school. Please be quiet. They will hear you. Oh please don’t let them see you. You’ll scare them. What, they can’t see you? Ma’am, my children are young but they weren’t born yesterday. How many? Five. Yes, you heard right, I said five. F-i-v-e. Oh, I’m sorry, for a moment I thought you were deaf. Yes, I have a sense of humor. No, I’m not a sarcastic bitch by nature. Only when the occasion calls for it and believe me, this is the occasion. Ma’am, my daughter wants me to lose weight. She says I need to get slim and trim. Well, Ma’am, if you would kindly move over the real me is in there somewhere. I have red hair, hazel eyes, white teeth, and I want my reflection back. I know it’s nice but you can’t have it.

I’m wishing, Ma’am, I know what I’m wishing for. I know what I once had and now I’m going to reclaim what I’ve lost. So Lady, give it up. No, Ma’am, wishing is not bad for my heart. My heart is fine. Thank you for asking, I’ve had a broken heart a time or two. It’s none of your business. It’s personal.

Wishing is a waste of emotion. In this world we have to take charge of our lives, take control of each situation, and get motivated even if it’s wrong. It’s better than being passive and let our lives slip by. Taking charge of ourselves will put spring in our steps and joy in our hearts, not counting the juice flow. Juice Ma’am is the flow of life that pulses through our body. It puts flush in our cheeks and sparkles in our eyes. Yes Ma’am, for the first time we are in agreement. Juice has generated a strong flush in our body many times. I’m not too old for juice. Why I’ll have you know that in my youth, well Ma’am, some other time. I have children in the house.

I know Ma’am. My old momma would wash my mouth out if she could hear me. But Ma’am, she must have had some juice too, I’m the oldest of ten.

How did we change subjects here? It’s you we are speaking of. Will you please remove yourself from my mirror? What? I know I have to diet but with this body it will require more than dieting. Now my true self has good eating habits. If you will let my reflection out it will save me from hunger. Oh don’t tell me that. I’m always hungry on a diet. I’m tired of talking. I have to fix breakfast for my kids. Oatmeal and fruit is the menu. Why? Sure I’ll fix you a plate. You can help with the dishes. Oh, you’re not hungry? For Heaven’s sake, will you make up your mind?

Chapter 2

Good morning Ma’am. Oh you’re still here? I thought it was a dream, more like border line nightmare, this had got to stop. People will think I’m talking to myself. They’re right! Boy, what a mouth you have. You know Ma’am, when you talk to yourself at least you know what you’re saying. There was no one to disagree until you came along. Ma’am, when are you leaving? When I’m ready? Ma’am, we have a serious problem. I’m ready but you’re still here.

I need a cup of strong coffee, a shot of Brandy would help, chicory? No way. I have tea if you prefer. You want chicory. Ok, ok. Tomorrow, I’ll try to find some at Wal-Mart, meanwhile, just have a cup of coffee or tea. Ma’am, people down south want ice water too. Coffee it is? Cream? No wonder I can’t find my true self. You’ll have coffee if it’s hot. Mighty nice of you Ma’am. Yes, sometime sarcasm gets the point across.

You want to go shopping with me? Well, I swear! I know it’s not nice to swear, I wasn’t raised in the gutter. I was born and raised on a farm so far out in the country. They had to pump sunshine in. Oh, you’ve heard that one before. Well, I’ve never claimed to be original. It figures with my luck. I get a smart mouth reflection in my mirror. No, I don’t use cream. With a size eight body, you have to take care of it. So what happened? How do I know, you’re the one that’s hiding it from me. In my dreams! Ma’am, we’re not having a good day. You are one disagreeable woman! Have you always been this way? When finished with your cup, please rinse it out. You don’t do dishes? Well I never. I’m about to forget I’m a lady. I’m going to Wal-Mart. What? You can’t go with me, why, what will people say? No, I don’t care if people talk. If they are discussing me, they’re letting someone else have a rest. Well come along but for Heaven’s sake, be quiet. Listen, people are used to me talking to myself but I doubt they would understand the two of us. Well really? I don’t like you either Ma’am. You are one stubborn, opinionated woman and I must say that you don’t look good either.

Thank goodness, we are home at last. I don’t think Wal-Mart will ever be the same again. Well at least we have chicory. Tell me, did you really have to discuss the merits of coffee, chicory, and tea with the sales lady? Well forgive me but the manager didn’t understand either.

Why don’t you get some rest before you leave, you don’t feel well? Well, I can’t force you out if you’re sick. I’m sorry Ma’am, go lie down and you’ll feel better though I must say that you don’t look very good. You’ll have some coffee first, alright. Cream it is. My, my, do you realize how many calories you’d save by drinking it black?

Well forgiveness sake’s, I was just offering advice. Here, have some sugar cookies. It will sweeten your disposition. Aren’t they good? Yes, I’m a very good cook. It shows, huh! You better have another cookie. You go lay down now and get some rest. I will just take a peek in the mirror and see my true self. My true self is a beautiful red head. Yes Ma’am, I realized I had a little help from Clairol. Ok, ok, a lot of help. Oh Ma’am, you should have seen me in a pair of hot pants. No, no, not that kind of hot pants. I have children in the house. Hot pants were shorts, real short Ma’am. Of course I had nice legs in those days, not like the ones I see in the mirror. Ma’am, you have varicose veins. I think more than one or two. Ma’am, you can go to Hell for lying. I saw you cross your fingers. Don’t frown at me. You have enough lines in your forehead. You are a hard woman, Ma’am. My daughter says tea is better for me, so mostly, I drink coffee. I’m stubborn, ha! That’s calling the kettle black. You won’t let me see my true self and I don’t think I like to share my mirror with you Ma’am, so go away and come back in a hundred years. That’s the point, I won’t be here. Well, if you are so clever, why isn’t that redhead staring back at me? You really need an extreme makeover, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. My daughter says I should really mind my tongue. It runs away at times. Well I never! If only I could run with it, oh Ma’am, if it was that easy. You are an old woman. You know we can’t run from the realities of life, though I must say I can do without yours. Shall I make a fresh pot? Do you read Ma’am? I love the news paper. Yes, the news is terrible, horrible things all the time. Yes, reading the news paper can cause stress and cause all kind of ailments, so why don’t you step aside and give back my body?

The cemetery doesn’t want it. You have a wicked tongue Ma’am. I don’t appreciate it and I’m pouring out your coffee. It was too strong for you. Well, the coffee was free so don’t complain. My daughter says that anything that’s free, take it and run. So Ma’am, why don’t you leave so I can be content again? Yes, some people want happiness, I’m satisfied with contentment but I’ll be very happy when you leave. Someone said black makes my skin shallow. Ma’am, I want my true self back. You say I’m determined? Ma’am, they’ve always said I’m a very strong person for my age. My age is none of your business. Let’s just say I’m old enough to know what I’m doing. How or why you’re in my mirror is beyond me. Was I destined to have you for life? Ma’am did you bring baggage with you? What, you are a guest? That’s strange, I don’t remember inviting you.

Ma’am, I don’t even know your name. You can’t move in here, I’m on a fixed income. I have a comfortable income but I earned it, no one gave it to me. Yes, my daughter sends me money, she’s a good daughter. How do you know this? Oh, you’ve been eavesdropping. Better be careful Ma’am, sometimes we see and hear things we can’t handle.

You’ll pay your way? Boy, I’ve heard that one before. My old pappy used to say, Every bucket has a bottom. Ma’am, use yours somewhere else. Don’t laugh Ma’am, I’m serious. You’ve got to leave but before you go, I want my self back again. I know she’s hiding behind you. You’re big enough for two people. I’m testy and nasty. Boy, how you go on and on. If I had my body back, oh the things I could do. No, not that kind of things, I have children in the house.

Ma’am, I’m