God Does Not Want Me Yet

God isn’t calling for me yet,” Ninette 
said humorously  to her century old 
body on it’s birthday.  

Ninette has no children.  Her husband passed 
10 years ago.  All her friends too. Ninette 
is use to celebrating things by herself. 

There will be no birthday cake, just 
the usual one skillet dinner of 
pasta with sausage and vegetables. 

After dinner, Ninette will read the Bible 
with a large magnifying glass, praise 
the lord for her long life, her wonderful 
husband and once very good friends. 

If there is still light out, Ninette will watch
the cars and people stroll the boulevard, her-
self a shadow seen through lace curtains. 

Otherwise, it will be a night of listening to 
vinyl Mozart and Pucinni operas on the old 
stereo, placing her husband’s picture (after 
dusting) back on the plastic cover when the
needle finishes spiraling the last note. 

Before she goes to bed Ninette will lightly water 
the rose in the blue vase- taking a gardener’s
pride in how it still blooms, straight and tall.

The television remotes will be placed in neat 
rows for the next day’s viewing, and the silver 
coffee set will be arranged in perfect still life 
for the morning meal and dawn birdsong.

Ninette will wash her face  with a lavender soap,
rinsing the plate and sink with paper  towels. 
She will  put the soap and face towel back  centered 
and straight on the plate and rack.

Finally, she will put rainbow  curlers in her hair,
making herself beautiful for the lord and the next 
day’s market shopping, then praying the rosary 
until she falls asleep.

In the morning,  she realizes, 
how blessed she was to 
be granted another day.