Phil-bee woke up early. Before his mom. "Before the roosters", like his grandpa used to tease. Actually, it was thoughts of his grandfather that enticed him to carry out his quest.
Philbin Barrett, Phil-bee for short, was grandpa's pride and joy. Gramps was the only father Phil-bee knew, his own "a flash in the pan" as he heard his mother mention on the phone when she thought Philbin was out of the room. A mistake. A one-night stand, mom spoke in confession. Until then, Phil-bee had thought his father had died when the boy was three.
"The only redeeming quality of that man, was the little guy in the back bedroom" she was heard to interject.
So Phil-bee's grandfather assumed the part as role model and teacher. A creature of habit was Jackson Barrett, and he taught his grandson the things Jack felt Phil-bee needed to learn in this life if he expected to go far.
All that changed as grandfather's memory started to fade. Mom blamed some guy, an Al Shimer, for that. Ever since this Al showed up, grandpa just wasn't the same. It was hard for Philbin to watch the only man who mattered in his life slowly become someone else. As Jack deteriorated, Phil-bee had to rely on the lessons learned from this good man. He tried to remember that man more than the person who did not recognize him any longer. Mom called it a "blessing" when Jackson Barrett had passed away.
"Gramps isn't suffering any longer" she tried to explain to a tearful Phil-bee.
Phil-bee knew that along with being his grandfather and his teacher, Papa Jack was his friend. Phil-bee lost his BEST friend. If there was anything good in that revelation, it was that grandpa would live in his memory as long as Phil-bee kept him there.
The young boy's mind was elsewhere as he stood next to his mom at Jack's graveside. Philbin stared at the pile of dirt behind the square hole, watching the worms peek out and scurry back into the soil. The crowd of people that came to pay their respects was small. A few cousins, a couple of Jack's friends from the service, Mrs. Burgess from their old apartment and the undertaker were Papa Jack's only mourners.
Phil-bee remembered the talks he had with Jack as they sat at lakeside with their fishing line in the mossy green water. This was their classroom; where they had their best talks. Philbin needed to talk to Jack. But Jack was no longer there.
Phil-bee dressed quietly, slipping his blue jeans over his spindly legs. He zipped his jacket right up to his chin and grabbed his ball cap. He gave the door knob a soft turn and stepped out onto the back deck. Reaching down behind the deck chair, Philbin took the dented tin can that he had placed their last night.
The sun was coming up over the tree tops as Phil-bee settled on the shore at their favorite fishing spot. The boy nestled into the moist grass as he reached into the tin can that held the wiggly worms that were distracting him at Grandpa's funeral. With a shaky finger, Phil-bee hooked a fat worm. As he baited his hook (just like grandpa had taught him) Philbin started to talk out loud.
"Hey Grandpa Jack. It's a good morning for fishing. I saved your spot..." Phil-bee started his long monologue.
In the early morning mist, a boy and his grandfather shared another moment discussing life and the future. Well, Phil-bee talked, and he was sure grandpa was listening. He had cast his line into the water a few times, but wasn't having any luck. But it didn't matter. Jack always said a bad day of fishing was better that anything he could think of.
Phil-be had talked himself out. He had told Grandpa Jack all he needed to say. He thanked Jack for being his Gramps and for teaching him stuff; for not being "a flash in the pan". Phil-bee was honored to have been given time to be with Jack Barrett. He found peace there. Phil-bee forgave Al for taking Jack so soon.
"I love you, Grandpa!" Phil-bee tearfully whispered.
Philbin felt the tug on his line. He knew his grandfather loved him too.
GONE FISHING - Part 1
ReplyDeletePhil-bee woke up early. Before his mom. "Before the roosters", like his grandpa used to tease. Actually, it was thoughts of his grandfather that enticed him to carry out his quest.
Philbin Barrett, Phil-bee for short, was grandpa's pride and joy. Gramps was the only father Phil-bee knew, his own "a flash in the pan" as he heard his mother mention on the phone when she thought Philbin was out of the room. A mistake. A one-night stand, mom spoke in confession. Until then, Phil-bee had thought his father had died when the boy was three.
"The only redeeming quality of that man, was the little guy in the back bedroom" she was heard to interject.
So Phil-bee's grandfather assumed the part as role model and teacher. A creature of habit was Jackson Barrett, and he taught his grandson the things Jack felt Phil-bee needed to learn in this life if he expected to go far.
All that changed as grandfather's memory started to fade. Mom blamed some guy, an Al Shimer, for that. Ever since this Al showed up, grandpa just wasn't the same. It was hard for Philbin to watch the only man who mattered in his life slowly become someone else.
As Jack deteriorated, Phil-bee had to rely on the lessons learned from this good man. He tried to remember that man more than the person who did not recognize him any longer. Mom called it a "blessing" when Jackson Barrett had passed away.
"Gramps isn't suffering any longer" she tried to explain to a tearful Phil-bee.
Phil-bee knew that along with being his grandfather and his teacher, Papa Jack was his friend. Phil-bee lost his BEST friend. If there was anything good in that revelation, it was that grandpa would live in his memory as long as Phil-bee kept him there.
The young boy's mind was elsewhere as he stood next to his mom at Jack's graveside. Philbin stared at the pile of dirt behind the square hole, watching the worms peek out and scurry back into the soil. The crowd of people that came to pay their respects was small. A few cousins, a couple of Jack's friends from the service, Mrs. Burgess from their old apartment and the undertaker were Papa Jack's only mourners.
Phil-bee remembered the talks he had with Jack as they sat at lakeside with their fishing line in the mossy green water. This was their classroom; where they had their best talks. Philbin needed to talk to Jack. But Jack was no longer there.
Phil-bee dressed quietly, slipping his blue jeans over his spindly legs. He zipped his jacket right up to his chin and grabbed his ball cap. He gave the door knob a soft turn and stepped out onto the back deck. Reaching down behind the deck chair, Philbin took the dented tin can that he had placed their last night.
ReplyDeleteThe sun was coming up over the tree tops as Phil-bee settled on the shore at their favorite fishing spot. The boy nestled into the moist grass as he reached into the tin can that held the wiggly worms that were distracting him at Grandpa's funeral. With a shaky finger, Phil-bee hooked a fat worm. As he baited his hook (just like grandpa had taught him) Philbin started to talk out loud.
"Hey Grandpa Jack. It's a good morning for fishing. I saved your spot..." Phil-bee started his long monologue.
In the early morning mist, a boy and his grandfather shared another moment discussing life and the future. Well, Phil-bee talked, and he was sure grandpa was listening. He had cast his line into the water a few times, but wasn't having any luck. But it didn't matter. Jack always said a bad day of fishing was better that anything he could think of.
Phil-be had talked himself out. He had told Grandpa Jack all he needed to say. He thanked Jack for being his Gramps and for teaching him stuff; for not being "a flash in the pan". Phil-bee was honored to have been given time to be with Jack Barrett. He found peace there. Phil-bee forgave Al for taking Jack so soon.
"I love you, Grandpa!" Phil-bee tearfully whispered.
Philbin felt the tug on his line. He knew his grandfather loved him too.
Thank you Walt!! I always enjoy your stories!!
ReplyDeleteJust a little one. http://miskmask.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/aprpad-day-22-the-earthiness-of-it-all/
ReplyDelete