害羞草研究所淒addy, let害羞草研究所檚 play hockey.害羞草研究所�
It was January in Cornwall, Ontario害羞草研究所攖oo far below freezing to play hockey outside.
害羞草研究所淥kay, let害羞草研究所檚 get moving,害羞草研究所� Daddy said.
害羞草研究所淲here害羞草研究所檙e we going to play?害羞草研究所� we two boys chimed.
害羞草研究所淗ere in the kitchen, with a tennis ball.害羞草研究所�
Nothing was too much work for my Father. He cleared the floor and we played hockey on the linoleum.
害羞草研究所淒addy, you play goal.害羞草研究所�
He played goal, we hit him everywhere with that ball害羞草研究所� no pads in those days. I害羞草研究所檒l bet he was sore that night and black and blue everywhere.
In summer he played horsey, we rode him until he dropped. In fall the crimson leaves of the maple trees were piled high then, all three of us, jumped into them from the porch. He was one of us, until we stepped out of line, then he was a taskmaster. It had to be done correctly or we had to do it again. When we said, we didn害羞草研究所檛 have time to do it correctly then, he害羞草研究所檇 ask, 害羞草研究所淚f you don害羞草研究所檛 have time to do it correctly now, when will you have time to do it again?害羞草研究所�
I never thought much about that statement until I heard my son say, 害羞草研究所淏ut Daddy, I don害羞草研究所檛 have time to do it right.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所⑩赌⑩赌�
害羞草研究所淧op, can I have the car tonight?害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶛May害羞草研究所� I have the car害羞草研究所� not 害羞草研究所榗an害羞草研究所� I have the car? Remember others judge you by the way you speak, so speak correctly. Now, again.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淥hhhh, alright. May I have the car tonight Father, dear?害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淵es, but remember害羞草研究所揾ome by midnight and put gas in the car on the way home.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淵es, Pop.害羞草研究所�
He always let me have the car whenever I asked and I received the same reminder each time. When I came down for breakfast in the morning he asked. 害羞草研究所淗ow was the dance last night, son?害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淕reat, Dad, thanks for the car害羞草研究所� yes, I was home by midnight.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚 know, son. Did you put gas in the tank?害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淯h, no that would have made me late. Thought I害羞草研究所檇 get it today.害羞草研究所�
After breakfast, I went for gas and ran out on the way to the station.
No, I didn害羞草研究所檛 get heck or a lecture, just, 害羞草研究所淢aybe next time you害羞草研究所檒l get it on the way home.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所⑩赌⑩赌�
害羞草研究所淔ather, you害羞草研究所檙e looking better today. How害羞草研究所檙e you feeling?害羞草研究所� I asked.
Mother and I had taken Father into the hospital on Tuesday. He had a low-grade infection and was admitted for observation. During the week he had some spells. It was now Saturday and he was deteriorating.
害羞草研究所淩emember, dad, the kids害羞草研究所檒l be at our place for lunch tomorrow害羞草研究所搕hen home to London. I害羞草研究所檒l see you in the evening.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淎濒谤颈驳丑迟.害羞草研究所�
He watched me head towards the door. I turned and looked back at him. His eyes were sad害羞草研究所� a tear slid down his cheek.
I returned to his bedside, put my arms around him and said, for the first time in my life, 害羞草研究所淒ad, I love you.害羞草研究所�
This would be the last time I害羞草研究所檇 have an opportunity to say, 害羞草研究所淚 love you害羞草研究所� to my Father害羞草研究所� he had a heart attack at two the next afternoon, went into a comma and was gone at four.
Never be afraid to say I love you.
William S. Peckham is a Kelowna author and freelance columnist. If you have a comment or question about his stories or his novels you are invited to contact Bill at peck102mch@yahoo.ca
To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.
newstips@kelownacapnews.com
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