One Flight of Steps

At the top of the steps is a crowded little room
Four little girls lay silent, full of gloom.
As the car pulls into the driveway that night
They stare in the dark and stiffen with fright.

Mom went to Bingo and left them again,
To fend for themselves and deal with the pain.
The nightmare begins as the door hits the frame
And they ready themselves for Dad’s so-called game.

Dad staggers around - thinking no one will hear
So drunk he cannot sense or feel the girls fear.
At the bottom of the steps he staggers once more
His steps unsteady as they hit the floor.

The first step creaks - the girls shake and cry
The second step brings that old question “Why?”
By the third step each girl curls up tight
The fourth brings the landing and the switch for the light.

These four little girls keep quiet with hope
That he doesn’t pick them so they don’t have to cope.
They try as they might to block out the noise
Of the creaking steps he takes without poise.

Each girl is lost deep inside - the bedroom gone
Each takes a trip somewhere completely unknown,
To imagine a place that is safe and warm
Where people care and mean you no harm.

The fifth step is next, bad things enter their head
What if he fell down the steps and was dead?
That only adds to their low self-esteem
For thinking such thoughts and feeling so mean.

As Dad enters the hall grabbing hold of the wall
The knob turns - silent screams - “PLEASE LET HIM FALL!”
As it opens each little girl feigns they are asleep
With eyes shut tight they pray their soul to keep.

Dad approaches the beds and damn - HE PICKED ME!
I stiffen with fear and beg to be set free.
His grip is tight but I am no longer there
For the others are safe – that’s all I care.

As Dad exits the door of our little room
I grab at the door jam to prolong the doom.
He heads for his bedroom where he feels at ease,
I hear the clock ticking and feel my body freeze.

The clock is my key to surviving the night
As my father does what he wants in his plight.
“Only ten minutes,” he pleads in his lust
“Remember I love you!” I hear in disgust.

The time is now up but a lifetime is gone
I will soon be returned to my bed all alone;
For the three girls left are only a shell
Dad’s choice tonight has saved “them” from hell.

The four little girls know tomorrow will come
One of them will be chosen to replace their Mom.
Mom will go to Bingo and enjoy the night
While four little girls lay in bed filled with fright!


B .