Long Ago & Far Away

 

              As Charley got into his white van, he pulled off saying, "send her my love."

             Yet none knew exactly who Charley was speaking of.  For as far as everyone knew Charley had

never loved a girl before.  Oh, there was the one girl a long time ago when Charley almost got married 

to a girl from Nuclear, Kansas.   That, however, was long ago, and far away.  As for now Charley lived 

in a small town called Other, Oklahoma, near the Texas/Oklahoma border.

              As far as everyone knew Charley had grown old and bitter loving none, but himself and God.

You see Charley had been hurt long ago by love.  So, Charley felt it best to leave the game of love to

others.  He felt it best to give any love he had to his dog.

              His dog was his child, but as for a human companion that was not meant to be.  When 

people would ask him why he never got married he would just hang his head and say, "It was never 

meant for me.  It was almost once, but that was long ago and far away."

             So, when Charley would every once in a while, say "send his love to her" none would know 

who he was talking about.  For as all people knew Charley was celibate, neither giving his love to men

or women.  Then came an end to Charley who had left no heirs, only the people who had bought off 

his possessions.   A woman came from far away who was dressed in black, and she dropped a red

rose on the coffin, and took the dog back far away to Nuclear, Kansas, with her.

Paul D. Eccles