And Thats Alright By Me....

I work down at Ashberry Hills
Minimum wage, but it pays the bills
Cleaning floors and leading hymns on Sunday

Katherine Davis, room 303
Sweetest soul you ever could meet
I bring her morning coffee everyday

She calls me Raymond
She thinks I'm her son
Tells me get washed up for supper
before your daddy gets home
She goes on about the weather
how she can't believe it's already 1943
She calls me Raymond, and that's all right by me

She talks about clothes on the line in the summer air
Christmas morning and Thanksgiving prayer
Stories of a family that I never had
Sometimes I find myself wishing I'd been there

When she calls me Raymond
She thinks I'm her son
Tells me get washed up for supper
before your daddy gets home
She goes on about the weather
how she can't believe it's already 1943
She calls me Raymond, and that's all right by me

There's a small white cross in Arlington
Reads Raymond Davis '71
Until she can see his face again
I'm gonna fill in the best I can

When she calls me Raymond
She thinks I'm her son
Tells me get washed up for supper
before your daddy gets home
She goes on about the weather
how she can't believe it's already 1943
She calls me Raymond, and that's all right by me
She calls me Raymond, and that's all right by me

Mike Mizanin was an older man, living at the Ashberry hills old folks home. He had no family to care for him, all his kids to busy. His exhusband unable to deal with him but Alex did com by and see him some times along with some of his kids. Mike was not all well, he had a bad memory...To Mike, every day was new, Alex had just gone to work and thats why he wasn't there, the kids were all with an uncle except Alex Jr who had always stayed behind with him. Mike didn't know any better, he had no onoe to talk to....well....He had one man he could speak to, his son Alex Jr who took care of him every day...At least in his mind thats who it was caring for him.

Bright lights shown through the window into Mike's face, the old man was humming and looking at the daises Alex had sent him only a day earlier. He was waiting for his morning visit from his son....

Rick McGuire worked at the Ashberry Hills old folks home. He loved taking care of those who were too sikc to help themselves. He loved every single person in the home but he'd grown close to one man. Mike Mizanin. He was the sweetest man you ever met. And it was time to go visit him. Rick took off his nametag and slipped it in his pocket. According to Mike, his name was Alex Jr. He never had the heart to correct him...
"Hey there..." He smiled as he walked into the old man's room.

Mike greeted him with that large bright smile, reaching out a soft wrinkled hand to pat Rick's chest
"Good morning baby, did you bring me any coffee?" Mike inquired hopefully, his baby blue eyes trained on Rick....The man he thought was his son...his baby...

That smile always made Rick's day... he grinned right back, nodding.
"You know I always do momma." He sat the mug down on the table beside Mike's bed.

Mike took the coffee, being careful not to spill it on himself while he looked his child over.
"You need to be eating more Alex, I don't think you should be that thin." Mike nodded to himself. "You remember how I used to make you sit at the table until you had finished off of your plate? Maybe I should have you start doing that again."

Rick smiled softly.
"I'm plenty big momma. If ya start that again I'll get fat."

Mike nodded, his eyes soft on Rick.
"You were an adorably chubby child Jr." The man cooed.

Rick chuckled softly.
"I bet I was momma." He knelt down and kissed the old man's cheek.

Mike reached over with a wavering hand, picking out a perfect daisy and handing it to Rick.
"For my son."

"..." Rick paused as he took the flower, looking it over. "Thank you momma..."

Mike nodded.
"I always loved Daisies....."
His head was tileted to the side, his hand gently rubbing Rick's.

Rick smiled.
"Because daddy always got them for you, right momma?" He asked. He paid attention when Mike rambled about some family Rick had never known.

Mike nodded happily.
"Yes, your father has me hooked on my Daises. He is always so sweet to me...such a good man your father is...you should look up to him baby, you were named after him...my precious boys...." Mike sighed softly.
The Daises were actually from Alex...
The man sent them often enough.

"I love you and daddy." Rick nodded, the smile refused to go away when he was around Mike...

Mike gently tugged Rick down so he could peck his cheek.
"We love you too Alex."

Rick held the daisy to his nose and inhaled deeply.
"Well momma, I think I have to head home for the day, I'll be back tomorrow." He smiled and kissed Mike's temple.

Mike nodded.
"Goodbye Alex, ill see you tomorrw....." He leaned back on his bed and let his eyes slip shut.

Rick smiled and walked out of the room, slipping his nametag back on. He put the daisy in his pocket. At home, he'd put it in the vase along with all the others.

Mike was someone every one seemed to love, so sweet....
But he was lonely....He had friend around the home but he missed family...
Late at night he missed Alex, and Rick because he wasnt there.

Rick smiled when he was around Mike but... he truly felt awful for the man. He cried sometimes when he was alone.... So sweet, so alone...

Mike smiled for Rick, he wouldnt want his baby to see him hurting but he was hurting, every time he was left alone in his room. He had a picture of Alex by his bed, and then one of Rick or Alex Jr as Mike called him. He kissed the pictures every night before bed...,

Rick loved the old man with all his heart. The first time Mike had called him Alex he'd been confused but he put all the pieces together and just went with it. He laughed when Mike told him stories of funny things he'd done as a kid. He acted sad if Mike mentioned some relative's death. He acted like he knew this family Mike always spoke of, as if he was a part of it. And in a way he felt like he really knew this family...

And Mike descrided the family perfectly, he made Rick feel like he was part of it. To most Mike was a sweet, senial old man but in his heart, he knew Alex Jr was not there, he knew Rick was not his but Rick had his own special spot in mike's heart, Mike loved him like a son but it just wouldnt get to his head that Rick was not his Jr.

The next morning Rick was back as always, with his mug of coffee for the old man.

Mike was gazing out his window, phone in hand, speaking to someone on the other end.
"No im fine honey."
"Its only a small tumor."
"No, the doctor said he would do something to help it."
"Kevin sweet heart thats not...But....You have....Kevin baby please don't go through all that trouble."
"Kevin sweet heart..."
"You know the number."
"Same one as last time.."
"Tell Biddy I love him."
Mike sat the phone down with a sigh and small shake of his head.