Shorties: Number 13

This is an excerpt from my story, The Magic Roundabout
It was fortunate that Peter was an auto mechanic.  His new car had a few minor issues come up but he was able to fix them.  Marie enjoyed driving the car and she jokingly told her father she was looking forward to taking it to school when she left later that year. 

Peter looked at her for a moment, unaware of the jest.  He loved his daughter but he really liked his car.  He decided in his mind that he would let her take the car if she felt she needed it.  As he was about to express this to her, Marie laughed and said, “Daddy, I’m joking.  I don’t need a car when I’m on campus.  Besides, I’m only an hour and a half away and have friends who can take me around and back home when they go home on weekends.” 

“Just so you know that you mean more to me than the car.  You can have it if you want it.  You’ll have to pay the insurance but I can find another car.”

“Daddy, I don’t want a car.  I’d rather focus on school and saving as much money as possible.”

Graduation came and went and summer flew by much faster than Peter wanted.  Marie looked forward to starting college but also had some fear of the unknown.  She repeatedly told herself that she would be close to home.  She had a safety net.  Peter, who faced an empty home, chose to ignore the thought and poured himself into his work.  Soon enough, the day for Marie to move into her dorm was upon them.

Shorties: Number 12

This is an excerpt from my story Driftwood


Nick woke up and realized his feet were on the floor as his body went across the bed.  The sun was considerably lower in the sky. His stomach told him it was time go to the hotel restaurant. Since it was low season, there were few people in the hotel. The waitress was very polite but her English was limited. She knew the English words related to the job of waiting tables and food service but when Nick asked about how to get to town, she stammered for a moment and then said, "Sorry, I no know how say."

The hostess spoke English well and suggested Nick take a walk on the private beach behind the pool. She impressed upon him the importance of carrying his room key since that was the only way back through the gate onto the hotel grounds.

Nick always liked the ocean and after charging the meal to his room account, he walked to the rear of the property. He could hear the waves rolling in as he passed the pool. He saw lights from other properties that lined the beach. Once he went through the gate he was unsure which direction to go. He decided to head north, to his right. He walked just a few feet when he noticed a large object on the beach. He got closer and turned on his phone to shed some light on it.  It was a large, worn and torn log. It was a piece of driftwood.  He touched it, felt around and determined it had no sharp or dangerous spots on it. He decided to sit down for a while.

He looked out over the waves that attacked and retreated from the shore. He could see white breakers some distance from shore. He just sat, soaking in the nature around him. He also loved being around water. Something about it soothed his soul. Though his heart was still broken over the loss of his wife, he enjoyed this moment anyway.

Nick still felt awkward being alone. Everyone he saw had someone with them. Either they had a spouse or significant other or a family that accompanied them. Nick was alone.

It was his oldest daughter, Jennifer, who was the most vocal about him traveling alone. Nick complained he would feel like a third wheel. That is exactly how he felt being there alone. Still, Jenny insisted he needed to find out who he was apart from family. She said that since he and Gwen were high school sweethearts, he knew no other life. If he had to stumble around feeling awkward to find himself, so be it. Besides, he already had a hotel and flight reservations.

Nick pondered for a moment when it means to find yourself. Yes, he did feel lost. When you are used to driving a car and you are suddenly forced to start piloting a UFO, the complexities can blow you away. That was how Nick saw it anyway. He said softly, "God I wish You had told me You were going to change things mid stream." Then he felt stupid for saying that. She had cancer. He got a notice of her death years before it happened. A pang of guilt hit him. He didn't feel like crying but all he could think to say was, "Shit!" and started back to his room.

A Child’s Memory

My birthday is in December.  My earliest memory of learning about my birthday was in the month of December.  I don’t remember the year or how old I was.  Someone pointed to the calendar and said something about me being born.  I don’t remember the exact wording they used but on the calendar was a picture of a snow covered red barn.  In my childish mind, I understood them to mean I was born in a barn.  Now, when someone asks if I was born in a barn, I want to say, “Yes!”

Shorties: Number 11

Eleven month old Ola stood holding on to the chair in a furniture store.  As soon as his parents brought him into the store he wanted to crawl on the floor.  He had been crawling for some time and first attempted walking two weeks ago.  He had fallen and gotten up many times.  Each step of growth he took brought adoration from his parents.

Ola bounced up and down as he flexed and extended his legs.  His eyes were intently absorbing the new surroundings.  The store was exquisitely decorated and his mother wanted new fixtures for the living room.  The spotlights in the ceiling were his focus when a woman came to adjust some furniture in the display where he stood.  She said to Ola, “What a sweet boy you are?”

He remained still.  Her eyes and sweet voice burned into his memory.  He looked for his parents.  He wanted to hide behind them.  She spoke to him again, “Hey cutie!”  His face turned down in a shy display.  She continued, “Oh, you little cutie.  You’re gonna break hearts someday.”

Then Ola’s father and the woman briefly spoke about the lad when his mother joined in.  For the next hour while Ola’s parents shopped and narrowed down purchase options, the woman worked in the area near him.  Whenever he could, Ola tried to get her attention.  She would wink or smile at him.  Each time she did, he wanted to hide. 

Since Ola’s mom had the final say on the furniture, his father was charged with watching the youngster.  More than anything, Ola wanted to walk.  He clasped his father’s thumbs as they moved about the store.  When they neared his mother after a stroll across the hall, Ola reached for a couch to balance himself.  Once he had a hand upon it, he released his father’s thumb. 

At this time, the woman exited the back room.  Something was different about her manner.  She had a purse and another bag with her.  Immediately, Ola knew she was leaving.  Ola waved he free arm as she neared him.  She stopped and gazed at the toddler and said, “It’s time for me to go home now, little cutie.  You be a good boy, ok?”

Ola recognized the words.  He understood she was leaving but didn’t want her to go.  He began to remove the hand that steadied him but felt his balance go as the grip loosened.  He gripped the couch firmly.  Ola reached his free hand to her in an attempt to get to her.  His arm would not stretch to her.  He couldn’t reach her.  He had no verbal skills yet so he made incoherent noises to get her attention and explain his desire to be with her. 

His father didn’t know why but knew he wanted to be with the woman.  He said, “Let go of the couch, Ola.  It’s the only thing holding you back.  You gotta let go of it if you want her.”

Both adults stood there looking at the toddler.  Ola’s head oscillated between them.  Couldn’t they see the desperation in his eyes?  Didn’t they know how important this was to him?  She bent to his level and rubbed his shoulder.  She smiled as she said, “You are so cute.  I wish I could take you home with me but your mommy and daddy would never allow that.  Good bye little one.”

Ola cried as she exited the store. 

Shorties: Number 10

Life crashed after a comedy of errors.  Actually, they weren’t errors.  It was a parade of life moments.  There was a flat tire and then a broken water heater that flooded the lower floor of the house.  They were blows easily absorbed but the cards were stacked higher.  Then an insignificant illness was followed by a small car accident.  These set the balance and fulcrum to the scales.

The coup de gras which crashed the house of cards happened in May.  It was a Monday.  An innocent comment was made.  It was simple conversation between friends.  Similar exchanges happen every moment of every day around the world.  The cause of the crash wasn’t even part of the discussion.  She was in the right place at the right time to overhear.  After hearing, she had to speak loudly.

As she berated, he sat there too stunned to move or reply.  With a face that registered no emotion, he sat, endured and absorbed the barrage.  He heard every word but his mind processed faster than she could spew venom.  As her salvos crashed upon him, he thought, “This is my breaking point.  I really can’t do this anymore.  I won’t survive the year.  I really can’t do this anymore.”   

Nature

My closeness to nature often requires one of two elements, fire or water. I normally would have to travel to truly enjoy either one. Not too long ago, I purchased a fire pit and have had opportunity to sit in the back yard with the family and roast hot dogs and marshmallows while gazing at the canopy of black that arches above us at night.

At first it was hard to get the kids to put down their iPhones long enough to enjoy what was in front of, above, and around them. Now they more readily embrace the moments we share around the fire. We listen to the popping and snapping sounds emanating from the logs as flames lick and consume them bit by bit, turning them to ash. The smell of burning pine or cedar wafts through the air, filling our nostrils.

We turn our heads up and ponder the diamonds fixed in the night sky. Here we are, passing vapors. We commune with the eternal governors of the night. It is peaceful. It is stable. Crickets sing, my daughter points out a constellation, and I am at peace. One with nature. It is where I belong.

Shorties: Number 9

Fatigue pounded Jason’s senses.  After hiking to the peak of Mt. Elbert, the second highest mountain in the continental United States, he was plodding down the trail to his car.  He always believed himself a fit person.  He trained and pushed himself in preparation for this climb.  After hiking for nearly eight hours, he knew he was reaching the limits of his endurance. 

Ascending brought expected challenges.  Each step required his legs to reach for a spot and lift the weight of his body and backpack to that level.  Every movement demanded oxygen usage.  Since the trailhead was at an elevation of 10, 150 feet, oxygen was in shorter supply than Jason was used to.  This fact was highlighted when trying to sleep the night before the climb.  At rest, he awoke during the night to take deeper breaths to supply his oxygen needy body.  This concerned him greatly.

Jason felt much better when he began the hike at 3:30 AM.  He had to walk slowly but controlling the pace created no issues.  He was happy to reach the tree line just before the sun peaked over the mountains to the east.  He reveled in the beauty of the moment.  He thought of creation and all the wonderful gifts God gives His tiny blue speck. 

Shortly after clearing the tree line, Jason stopped to rest and eat.  He surveyed the expanse before him.  He could see a lake and the town of Leadville in the distance.  Off his left shoulder was Mt. Massive.  The power of the sun warmed him a little but the wind blasted steadily.  Therefore, he kept his jacket and gloves on.  An individual breached the tree line as Jason packed up to continue the climb.   

For most of the climb, he could see a false summit.  Having researched the trail ahead of time, Jason knew there were a few of them.  Therefore, he knew not to hope for the end at that summit or the next.  Or the next.  Or the next.  The trail had many switch backs as it zig zagged up the mountain.  He simply put one foot in front of the other, pushing his way on. 

As he neared the steepest part of the trail, perhaps 2/3 of the way up, people were coming down.  Many gave words of encouragement.  Nearly all mentioned it “wasn’t much further.”  Sadly, “wasn’t much further” still meant an hour of climbing.  When someone told him it was just beyond a false summit, Jason finally felt some hope.  By this time, his breathing still labored in the thin air but he was accustomed to it.  When he made the final push, Jason gave extra effort because he wanted to exert himself and feel triumph in the moment. 

He smiled at the other climbers who conquered the mountain as they stood around taking pictures of the vistas before them.  It was the first time in his life he was at the highest visible point on earth.  He knew everything within his vision was below him.  There were many mountains spread out in every direction.  He, and those with him, was above all.

Going downhill requires different muscles than up.  It also demands control at all times or a person will tumble over.  Though lighter than during the ascent, the added weight of his backpack which required compensation to keep his balance.  Each step needed control and a slowing of the momentum gravity exerted.  After hours of climbing, descending feels like a blessing at the beginning.  It soon shows its true colors and exacts its toll. 

Forty five minutes after reaching the tree line, Jason looked at his surroundings, trying to determine how much trail was left.  Not only was he anxious to just be done with the hike, he needed to urinate with great urgency.  However, there were many people on the trail and Jason felt there was no place he could go without being seen.  He had to wait until reaching the parking lot. 

Since it was pitch black when he first traversed the area, save the shine of his headlamp, nothing looked familiar.  Jason tried to occupy his mind with thoughts of the climb.  He remembered mossy grass on rocks, small rodents scurrying about and yellow and purple flowers that sprouted here and there.  The views during the whole climb were amazing and he took many pictures with his phone.  It was nice to text with family to give them updates. 

Jason thought of something his brother once told him.  He said,  “When you do a grueling hike, toward the end you hate it because you are tired.”  Jason completely agreed with that point.  His brother continued, “Just like women who give birth to a baby, you don’t ever want to do it again but you do forget the pain.  Eventually, you want to do it again.”  Jason thought to himself, “I know women who never wanted to have any more children.” 

He clenched and released his fingers.  They were red and swollen.  Jason removed his gloves just before reaching the summit when the climb was steep and slippery.  Perhaps they were red from sun or wind burn.  Maybe both.  For the rest of the day, his eyes were dry.  His left Achilles tendon hurt but Jason was happy he had no pain from blisters.  His whole body felt weak and he could only keep going by placing one foot in front of the other. 

Finally passing the sign that pointed to the Mt. Elbert and Colorado Trails, Jason knew he was close.  Two men on mountain bikes headed toward him.  Were they going to the top of the mountain this late in the day?  On bikes?  Are they planning to camp somewhere?  Jason would never bike the trail he just did.  Then he caught the first glimpse of the parking lot.  His bladder was overjoyed. 

The remaining hours of the day were spent trying to recover.  After munching more food and sucking down a sport’s drink at the car, Jason drove to the hotel where he showered and napped for an hour.  Later, he went to town to get something to eat.  Every sip of water and bite of food took great effort.  He was completely spent.

The following morning, he walked like an old crippled man.  Each step down the stairs to breakfast produced stabs of pain.  More jabs hit him when he returned to his room.  It was more than a week before he felt back to normal.  Then he was ready to do it again.