Rocking Chair by Smittee

Rocking Chair

I do not own these Inuyasha characters, nor do I profit from writing this. I just wrote this, because I was listening to this song. I do not own “Down to the River to Pray” either.

This is a time period written piece. It’s during the depression in the U.S.  So, there’s a lot of mention of God. It’s the period and the song.  

“As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol' way
And who shall wear the starry crown?
Good Lord show me the way...”

Back and forth. The rocking chair leaned back and forth as the woman pushed with her feet. In hand was a needle, in which she used to patch a shirt. Her hair was messily up in a bun; small strands were against her peach skin. Her brown eyes left the cloth to gaze on the dirt road before her. Her eye closed, embracing the music from the radio.

“O sisters let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
O sisters let's go down
Down in the river to pray…”

She missed her husband. Every day, she hoped he would return news of finding a job. Then, she could pack up and leave the home that no longer held value. Soon, the bank would take it anyways. She let her family take in her daughter Rin, so that she wouldn’t have to worry about surviving. Her sister Kikyo and her husband were doing well enough to take care of their daughter, but she couldn’t ask more of them. She and her husband will get along. They just needed that bright light.

“As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol' way
And who shall wear the robe & crown?
Good Lord show me the way…”

She continued to sew then. As she did, she looked at the starting hole in her dress. She would have to try and mend it soon. She had to keep her mind on such things. Otherwise, she would start to long for her husband and fall into tears. In her heart, she knew the Lord would find him a job, so they could be together as a family again. That hope kept her going. It kept a lot of others going too. The country was in a bad way, and so many were out of jobs. They all just had to keep hope in what may come.

The woman imagined her husband then, remembering the last time they sat at the fire together. His greying hair hung over his shoulders. She had planned to cut it soon, but his hair was so lovely, when it was long. His goldish brown eyes were staring at the pages of their bible, reciting the words to her daughter and her. She was knitting a dress for Rin, as Rin cuddled up close to her father. They weren’t rich, but they weren’t poor. They were content.

“Kagome…”

She could almost hear his voice now.

“Kagome…”

Out of her daze, she noticed Taron Kouga standing before her. He was the local mail man.

‘He must have gotten off his horse, when I had not heard him…’

Standing up, Kagome placed the shirt on the racking chair, and then patted her dress.

“I am sorry, Mr. Kouga. I was just day dreaming.”

“It’s quite all right, Mrs.  Maru. Here, I have a letter from Sess for ya. I sure hope it is good news. It must be hard for ya waitin’ all the time.” Mr. Kouga held out the letter, waiting for Kagome to grasp it.

Kagome took it, a soft smile on her face. “Thank you, Mr. Kouga. I hope so too.”

As he began to turn away, he stopped to add, “My wife Ayame will be  cookin’ a pot of dumplings. She always makes a little extra, so we hope you will stop by for dinner.”

“Why thank you. Perhaps I will join you both tonight then.”

Taron smile and tipped his postal hat, before walking over to his horse and leaving. Kagome opened up the letter, reading her husband’s hand writing.

Dearest Kagome,

I’m sorry to say I haven’t found anything yet. I heard there were some prospect more west. I plan to check it out. I’m hitching a ride on the train tonight. I am sure God will find something soon. I can feel it. I hope our little girl is doing well. She should be turning nine soon, if I remember correctly. I hope she has a wonderful birthday. I miss you, my beloved. Just keep praying. I will too.

Love,

Sess

Kagome held the letter to her chest as a tear fell. He hadn’t found anything yet. She was hoping this letter would, she be the one. Closing her eyes, she bent her head in prayer. The song on the radio was near the end. As her prayer was coming to the end, she sang the last words of the song, with a slight change.

“Good Lord show us the way”