Gilbert Street Ink Sketch and a heartfelt Story

by Reynold Jay

Original - Not For Sale

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1536.000 x 1024.000 pixels

Title

Gilbert Street Ink Sketch and a heartfelt Story

Artist

Reynold Jay

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

~ Never Forgotten ~
Reynold Jay

One never knows what one will encounter on a daily jog through the poor-side of town on an afternoon reminiscing childhood memories where one once lived as a child. I encountered Osborn Street, a forgotten neighborhood with a dead-end at each end of the block. A little boy and girl sat playing with their toys on the sidewalk in front of a home. The girl looked to be about two-years old and the boy a year older. The little girl peered up at me with her baby-blue eyes and said, “Baby died.”
The little boy confirmed it. “Baby sister died...baby in heaven….”
She echoed the thought, “Baby heaven.”
I imagined the tragic loss, and the effect upon their lives….
Memories flooded back at my own loss many years before when I heard the words, “The baby died,” from the doctor. My wife Jo Ellen was devastated knowing she would never bear children. I recalled a baby funeral for a niece who had lost a third child where tears ran like rain.
Tears welled up from within as I made my way down the street.
When I turned, I saw the little girl was following me down the street. She refused to return back to her home. I was but a passing stranger and knew I must lead her back before she became lost chasing me down the street. I took her by the hand and saw that she was properly settled back on the sidewalk beside the little boy.
I told her to remain there and not to follow. “I am a passing stranger, Alicia and must be on my way. Goodbye!”
A grandmother appeared on the porch three doors down. “What is going on? I see her following you!”
Once again, I turned and saw that she was following me down the street!
I explained I was in tears with the memories, “Baby died.”
“I’ll take care of it. My gracious! Autos often race up and down the street! You go about your jogging young man!” She headed down the street to intercept the little girl.
Later that week I returned to the grandmother’s home as I was curious if all turned out well. ‘She is in the hospital. A hit-and-run ran into her the next day.”
Soon, I found myself at Alicia’s side alone in a room at the hospital. She recognized me, “Baby died. I go heaven...be with baby.” I held her in my arms engulfed in tears….
She closed her eyes and was gone….
This was but one more story to tell of my encounters on the poor-side of town. I knew that one day my turn would come, and I would once again be reunited with little Alicia and her baby sister who never had a chance at life.
… My niece’s baby…
… And my baby as well.
… Never forgotten.


~*~
Reynold Jay
Copyright 2023


Charming digital Ink Sketch of a home in RJ's neighborhood when he was a 10-year-old. Reynold spends morning workouts exploring childhood neighborhoods. "These morning jaunts bring back memories for me!" he explains. "No running on endless treadmills for this ole man!

I jog twice a day and often run through my childhood neighborhoods and now take a few photos and add artistic touches.
Reflection, after viewing the entire city of 50,000 or so) I can see I lived in the poor side of town and was not aware of it as child.

Uploaded

March 26th, 2023

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