Renée Owen

Sunday School

Our dad again refuses to join us. Mom, in her old dress, dowdy hat and shoes from the 50s, inspects us in our new clothes and drives across town to the tall pink stucco church. My younger brother and sister and I run to the smaller building to learn about God. Afterwards, we find Mom sitting by herself in the back pews. The late fall sun streams into the dark through a stained-glass window of the bloody cross. We join everyone on the patio for punch and cupcakes with Peace written in pink icing. Mom looks nervous and awkward as she tries to mill about with the society ladies. As usual they ignore her. The next Sunday, and every time after, she pulls up to the curb to let us out instead of parking. She won’t say why.

misting rain
a golden-crowned sparrow
crumb hopping

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About the Author

Renée Owen’s award-winning books include This One Life (Backbone Press), Alone On A Wild Coast (Snapshot Press), and Scent of the Past. . . Imperfect (Two Autumns Press).

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