Final Rights
The legacy our mother left seems to have something missing.
Is it just coincidence I think I saw you kissing
her lawyer shortly after her funeral today?
It reminded me of earlier behavior, I must say.
Your high school English teacher whom you later held at bay
only after he had raised your grade from F to A.
Do I mean to insinuate it may have been a factor
in the raising of your grade that you’re such a primo actor?
Feigning school girl crushes until you’ve achieved your aim
and seducing gullible lawyers? Do I think that’s your game?
I must admit this codicil that you have lately found
gives rise to questions. You should realize that we are bound
to question her late change of mind, leaving the bulk to you
when all the time that she was ill you never were in view.
The lawyer swears it’s aboveboard. These were our mother’s wishes.
Did she forget those countless times you would not do the dishes
but left the job to me as you hurried out the door?
The times you defied curfew, tracked up her just-mopped floor?
Because I was her favorite, was it, then, her guilt
that made her deed to only you the house that Grandpa built?
Sister dear, your goose is cooked, for just a month ago
Mom fired the lawyer you seduced and hired one you don’t know.
He filed a new will signing the house over to me.
Mom foresaw your shenanigans and said they would not be.
Your lawyer’s response to your wiles? A small sin of omission.
Who could blame him for collecting his amorous commission?
Prompt words today are legacy, missing, reminded, insinuate and factor. Although the poem is fiction, this is actually the house I grew up in.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
As usual, this is brilliant. Great story Judy.
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Thanks, Sadje. Another where I didn’t exactly know where I was going until nearly to the end.
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You’re welcome!
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Wow — the stuff of so many family squabbles!
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Luckily, never in mine…
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Love the twist
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OMG. So painful. But, a rightful outcome
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So glad this was not your family. I’ve watched it unfold so many times over the years. A great piece of prose that speaks so clearly of the ability of families to place the value of stuff over relationship. Thank you. All my best.
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Thanks, JoHanna. Hope all is well there now..
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All well in my home. Enjoy your website so very much. All my best. Stay safe.
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;o)
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Well done Judy. I like the twist in your story !
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Luckily, this story is fiction.
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Sounds like a tricky situation!
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