Almost everyone says that he could know his mother very well, but I never knew how well Mother could keep a trust until I was going through her things after she died.
I discovered something I had long forgotten, something that 1 to me as a child.
One day, as I went to sleep after my sisters and I had said our prayers, I recalled the events of the day how 2 I had behaved toward Mother. "I must make things right now," I thought.
Quietly I 3 out of bed and picked up the pencil and paper from the dresser and then tiptoed into the hall. The 4 from the living room shone dimly. I knew Mother was downstairs still doing some sewing.
I quickly 5 a note asking Mother to excuse me for being so 6. I didn't want my sisters to know my 7 so I added a postscript, “Please don't let anyone else see this.” Then I 8 moved into my parents' bedroom and put the letter under Mother's pillow.
The next morning when I 9 my bed after breakfast, I 10 found a return note under my pillow. Mother wrote that she loved me and 11 me.
This became my way of apologizing whenever I talked 12 or disobeyed. Mother always left a return note, but she never 13 Our under-the-pillow messages in front of the family. Even when we were 14, she never mentioned them when we sisters 15 our childhood.
When Mother passed away, I had to go through her personal belongings. In her desk was a bundle of notes tied with a faded ribbon. On top was a message in handwriting which read, "In the event of my death, please 16 these."
I 17 the package and glanced at the handwriting on the bottom. To my 18, I recognized my childish writing, "PS, Please don't let anyone else see this. Love. Edie."
I gently placed the unopened bundle in the 19 along with other things for the rubbish burner. "Lord," I prayed, "make me like 20."
