Family Secret

He knew that there must be something wrong

From the time he brought her home,

His mother had turned her back when he

Announced her as Alice Frome,

‘She lives in the vale by Abbeville

Where I met her at the dance,

Mother, you have to greet  her for

This may be a true romance.’

 

His mother had pursed her lips, and turned

Surveying her up and down,

‘You shouldn’t get carried away,’ she said,

‘There’s plenty of girls in town.’

Then Alice blushed, was taken aback

By this woman’s cruel jibe,

‘What have I done to you,’ she said,

And the lad, he almost cried.

 

She left, and swore she’d never come back

And the lad had left as well,

His mother watched throught the curtains

Knowing she’d put her son through hell,

‘Just what in the world were you thinking of?’

He said, when he came back home,

‘I meant, she wasn’t the one for you,

That girl, that Alice Frome.’

 

‘You don’t even know her,’ said the lad,

‘You wouldn’t know what she’s like,

She’s good at art and she’s awful smart,

She’s not some terrible dyke.’

‘I know her sort, I’ve seen them before

And she’s not the one for you,

Take your mother’s advice, my son

Or she’ll tear your heart in two.’

 

But he went to meet her secretly

On the odd nights of the week,

And when his mother had asked him where,

She found that he wouldn’t speak.

He woke one Saturday morning late

His ankle chained to the bed,

‘You won’t be going to visit that girl

Unless I’m already dead!’

 

He cried and ranted and called for her

But his mother wouldn’t come,

She locked the door to his bedroom

And the windows, every one,

She brought his meals but she wouldn’t budge,

‘You will lie here ‘til she’s gone,

‘Til she has another boyfriend, and

I’ll bet, that won’t be long.’

 

She kept him chained for a week in there

Then Alice came round to call,

She beat and beat on the panelled door

Then sat on the old stone wall.

‘I’ll not be leaving ‘til you come out,’

She yelled, so the neighbours heard,

And soon, the mother had let her in,

Face grim, but her eyes were scared.

 

They sat and talked in the kitchen there

For an hour, or maybe more,

Then Alice walked with a tear-stained face

Slamming the old front door,

His mother let him off from his chain

But she made him sit downstairs,

‘That Alice Frome said leave her alone.’

He said, ‘I know she cares!’

 

‘It isn’t a question of caring, son,

But a question of what is right,

You just can’t marry that Alice Frome

And I’ll tell you why tonight.

I felt let down when your father left

And I had an affair or two,

And then I fell, you should know as well

For I am her mother too.’

 

‘I had her swiftly adopted out,

Burying past mistakes,

I couldn’t care like I cared for you

We do whatever it takes.

But I knew the people that took her in

And I’ve watched her from afar,

You couldn’t marry your sister, son,

You’ll find there’s a legal bar.’

 

‘Why didn’t you tell me this before,’

He cried as he turned his back,

‘I didn’t want to reveal my scar…’

He said, ‘It’s too late for that!

We think she may be expecting now,

It’s not just affecting you!’

‘She’ll have to have an abortion, son,

That’s what she’s gone off to do.’

 

He left the house in a flood of tears,

His mother cried in the dark,

The worst had come of her secret fears

She was losing her son, her Mark.

A week went by then they found the two

Curled up in a four-post bed,

Their pale young faces were tear-streaked,

A brother and sister, dead.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[MomzillaNC]

The choices the mother made gave birth to the brother and the sister, and to deceit that gave birth to breathtaking tragedy. Very poignant tale. It's like those old stories and movies where only black tragedy ever comes to those who transgress societal norms -- the wonton always had to pay the harshest price.

Secrets are always betrayed, sooner or later.

[A Soap Mess Stories]

a tragic romeo and juliet romance except for the incestual twist...excellent job...

[Avinash]

For the first time I was able to guess the ending of your write. It was tragic the way parents dark secrets come down to haunt the children. A very deep and believable story.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A most telling and informative tale that guides one to tears and heartfelt emotion, another great story, well done, good read.

[Jane Winters Rogers]

Oh, what a heartbreaking story of love, this was their only way to all remain together...so real one can picture the great love they felt and the despair that finally overwhelmed them in the end

[R Smith]

that's a real sad one David, what are the chances, falling for a long lost sister, a brilliant story and an equally brilliant poem, thank you :)

[Marie]

Oh dear, what a tragedy. That witch of a mother should have told them both the truth right from the beginning. She not only ruined her own life but destroyed two others. Some secrets have to be told.

[The Twin Arenas]

Good Lord, David.

What a tale.

Classic melodrama.