Ross, Dennis

English

SWOSU Digital Commons (Southwestern Oklahoma State University)

Volume 25Issue 1 Spring/Summer Article 286-15-2006The Smithfield BoysDennis RossFollow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/westviewPart of the Fiction Commons, Nonfiction Commons, Photography Commons, and the PoetryCommonsThis Poetry is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals atSWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Westviewby an authorized administrator of SWOSU Digital Commons. For moreinformation, please contact phillip.fitzsimmons@swosu.edu.Recommended CitationRoss, Dennis (2006) "The Smithfield Boys," Westview: Vol. 25 : Iss. 1 , Article 28.Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/westview/vol25/iss1/28The Smithfield Boysby Dennis Ross“Could you take the four boys this weekend? Bob and I are having problems, they’ve nowhere to go,” she said.They all came, quiet, thin,ages four to eleven with teddy bears,toy trucks, and sleeping bags,bedded down on the floorof the farm-house. The farm-wife,small and thin, had four boys of her own,cattle and hogs to feed, full-time jobat the grain processing plant,husband in the hospital.Make do. All eight boys helped.“When is Momma coming back?” they asked a week and then a month and another month later.Hard to answer. Do what you can.Four months later. Momma returned, tan, saying it had all been too much, she had needed to get away for a small vacation.The farm-wife hadn't had a day off in nine years, said nothing, had tears in her eyes as the boys gathered their belongings and left.She saw new sadness, wariness in their eyes.They had grown accustomed to real love.Poor little Smithfield boys.6 1W E S T V I E W

The Smithfield Boys

https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1804&amp;context=westview

The Smithfield Boys

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