book- louie

(Place on page 277, after para. that ends with "lifeless home")

On those late summer afternoons, as the van dropped me off from work each day, I could almost see Mom waiting for me on the front porch. She often read the local newspaper until I arrived, or sat admiring her flower garden in the front yard. I swear I saw Louie sitting in the driveway, patiently waiting for the van and his plastic bottle, the same routine each day for over 13 years. I missed tossing him the empty bottle, watching him pick it up after one bounce in the driveway, and proudly carrying it into the house as Mom held open the front door.

I missed Mom asking how  my day went as she helped me take off my tie.  I missed Louie finally greeting me in the living room after he was done crunching the plastic bottle. I wished they were back so I could tell them how much I loved them.