A Wish & A Prayer
by Donna L Martin
The park was almost empty by the time the old man got there but he liked it that way. No fighting the early morning joggers paying homage to the latest health trend. No new mommas pushing squawking babies in prams to gather at the sandbox like clucking hens guarding chicks. He had timed his stroll perfectly and now he could take a moment to sit. Just sit and watch the leaves turn colors in the crisp Autumn daylight. He had time. He didn't have to be at the church til later and it wasn't like Jake was going anywhere.
A breeze started to pick up and the old man shivered. It felt like a cat ran over his grave. Jake would have said it was a black cat hell bent on making his life a troublesome one, but that was the way Jake was. Ornery. Cantankerous. And the best friend the old man ever had.
Right now he would have given anything to have that old cuss chewing on his ear again like he had for the last 45 years. Why, he would even let him beat him at their weekly checker game. But it was too late now for that. The only thing left was a stroll in the park and a moment to recall a lifetime of memories.
Like the time he and Jake went skinny dipping at the old Thompson place. Jake almost bust a gut laughing when the branch broke and the old man plunged into that icy water. Somehow they survived those wild childhood adventures and over the years the love between them flowed stronger than brother's blood.
Then came the bombing. Jake shipped out and left the old man behind; a war time reject with a medical history he couldn't overcome but still they managed to keep in touch. Three long years of waiting and wondering if Jake would make it back in one piece. And then it was like he'd never left. Two peas in the same pod, that's what they were, and the years just seemed to run together until suddenly time caught up to the both of them. Now the old man was content to simply stroll through the park and count the blessings piled up over years.
The sound of church bells brought the old man back from his daydreaming and he clutched his cane tighter as he slowly stood up. It was time now. Time to get to the church and make one more memory with Jake...
**Okay, it's your turn! Why is the old man going to the church? Is he saying goodbye to his best friend through death or cheering him on to a new life? Put your creative cap on and add a sentence or add a paragraph. Continue my story or start one of your own. Join the fun and see where this picture prompt takes us!***
I love your story (beginning). You have such a strong voice!
ReplyDeleteHi Juliana and welcome to my blog! Thank you for your kind words. I write these flash fiction pieces around midnight on Thursday evenings when my brain is tired and fully emotional. I never know what I'm going to end up with but I sure do love the ride...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
Jake's granddaughter is being christened today and the old man was going to keep his promise he'd made to Jake. The old man said he would always look after Jake's family and nothing but death would keep him from honoring his friend's wishes.
ReplyDeleteAwww, Janet, what a fabulous addition to my story! I hadn't even thought about the possibility of a christening. Of course that is why Jake couldn't go anywhere...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
I'm here to amaze
DeleteBeautiful. I love your beginning. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Erik! Can I maybe entice you to add to this "beautiful beginning"? ;~) I'd love to see what you would do with it...
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
Jake had gone to meet his maker and now was the old mans time to say his last good bye to a life time friend who had been his child hood friend, the old man's best man, his first child's god father and his sole mate. His last good bye would be his last duty as in a few days he would join his friend and they would be together for ever and ever.
ReplyDeleteHi Glady! Now THAT was more along the lines of what I envisioned when I started this story...kinda full circle now...;~)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
The old man never married but Jake and his family had always given him a place at the table for dinner, for holidays - often they even went on vacations together. The old man sighed and his steps grew heavier as he drew closer to the church. In all his years, he had never felt a sadness this deep. It wasn't just loosing his best friend and it wasn't just feeling for the loss Jake's family was enduring....there was so much more there than he could ever explain. Jake and he had secrets. While the family had remained oblivious, he and Jake had protected them for years and between the two of them it was always doable. Now that Jake was gone, the weight of this undertaking fell squarely on the old man's shoulders. Would they come looking for him now if they found out Jake was dead? Would the family he had grown to love remain safe?
ReplyDeleteHe knew Louise, Jake's wife, had thought it strange when the old man insisted on leaving Jake's obituary out of the paper. Louise conceded, however, with an understanding nod as she had learned long ago to look the other way sometimes. Frances, Jake's daughter, was more difficult to convince but eventually the old man explained that there was a side of Jake that the family didn't know - a side that was intensely private. The old man patiently explained that Jake was funny about death and had told him a long time ago to treat his death with a quiet dignity. After talking with the old man, Frances didn't email her friends or post it on Facebook or Twitter. She honored her father with the private respect she came to believe he had wanted.
As the old man entered the church, he was both relieved and heartbroken to see Louise, Frances and Jake's beautiful grandaughter, Joy. The minister began the services and Jake found his vision blurry as his eyes welled. With a shaky hand, he reached behind him to remove his hankie and caught a glimpse of that black fedora and gold watch in the last pew. His heart raced but he remained calm. How could they have found out so quickly? What was he going to do now?