The following story entitled An Old Man's Tale is fictional. Certain characters and street names however were scirpted from my family. The plotline however is fiction only.
An Old Mans Tale
He sits down and orders a meal. As the waitress leaves his table he opens the paper and reads. He is in a small diner. He sits in the non-smoking side where fake plants hang from the ceiling. There are two paintings on opposite walls. One is a painting of some fruit and the other a painting of countryside. Beside him is a door that leads to the bathrooms.
He has a gray receding hairline that matches his moustache. Years or worry cross his forehead. Across from him sits a couple in front of him a mother and daughter and across the room a family. He watches the little girl. He overhears it is her fifth birthday today. She is tall for her age and her pigtails are braided halfway down her blue and pink jumper suit.
He is no longer in the restaurant. He is at a mall. A girl is tugging on his arm. Come on papa, she pleads I want to see the new pet store!
A loud thump brings him back. His meal is ready. He eats a few bites but he is no longer hungry. He orders it to go and leaves. In the car he turns on Brookshire. Realizing where he turned he curses under his breath and looks up to see the house.
He is no longer in the car. He is outside and it is winter. An uncompleted snowman sits in the yard.
Papa look! Frosty is almost done! she yells. Her checks are red from the cold air and shivers run down her back. She is really cold but she wants to finish the snowman.
His checks are wet. He is back in the car. He wipes his eyes and turns the car around. Later at home he is watching the news. The newscaster was at a big fair covering the inside story. The old man is no longer in the rocking chair. He is in a line waiting for snacks. The little girl runs up.
Papa papa! Daddy gave me a new necklace lookie! She pulls the cord out a little too hard and it snaps. Realizing she broke it she breaks into sobs.
Dont worry little one Ill fix it. He says gently. He takes out a small pair of pliers from his pants and pinches the broken pieces back into place and hands it back.
Oh papa thank you! Thank you! she cries out. She hugs the old man and runs off to her seat.
Back in his chair the news is off. The old man decides not to stay up anymore. He heads off to bed hoping that tomorrow might somehow be better. Waking with the sun, the old man walks into the bathroom. The image in the mirror isnt him. Not this old. Not this thin and sickly looking old man. He storms out. Unable to stand it anymore he leaves the house. Skipping breakfast again.
He stops at a local flower shop and pays for a single rose. He gets back in his car and drives for what seems like hours. Soon he whispers, soon. He reaches the field. Graves scatter the land. He looks for only a moment but finds what he is searching for. A small angel marking the spot.
Lindsey
2000-2006
Taken tragically she will never be forgotten
The old man sits and waits. He closes his eyes and it is not long before he hears the voice.
Papa? Papa! Youve brought me my favorite flower! the little girl cries.
The old man smiles as he takes her hand and they both head off into the sunset
An Old Mans Tale
He sits down and orders a meal. As the waitress leaves his table he opens the paper and reads. He is in a small diner. He sits in the non-smoking side where fake plants hang from the ceiling. There are two paintings on opposite walls. One is a painting of some fruit and the other a painting of countryside. Beside him is a door that leads to the bathrooms.
He has a gray receding hairline that matches his moustache. Years or worry cross his forehead. Across from him sits a couple in front of him a mother and daughter and across the room a family. He watches the little girl. He overhears it is her fifth birthday today. She is tall for her age and her pigtails are braided halfway down her blue and pink jumper suit.
He is no longer in the restaurant. He is at a mall. A girl is tugging on his arm. Come on papa, she pleads I want to see the new pet store!
A loud thump brings him back. His meal is ready. He eats a few bites but he is no longer hungry. He orders it to go and leaves. In the car he turns on Brookshire. Realizing where he turned he curses under his breath and looks up to see the house.
He is no longer in the car. He is outside and it is winter. An uncompleted snowman sits in the yard.
Papa look! Frosty is almost done! she yells. Her checks are red from the cold air and shivers run down her back. She is really cold but she wants to finish the snowman.
His checks are wet. He is back in the car. He wipes his eyes and turns the car around. Later at home he is watching the news. The newscaster was at a big fair covering the inside story. The old man is no longer in the rocking chair. He is in a line waiting for snacks. The little girl runs up.
Papa papa! Daddy gave me a new necklace lookie! She pulls the cord out a little too hard and it snaps. Realizing she broke it she breaks into sobs.
Dont worry little one Ill fix it. He says gently. He takes out a small pair of pliers from his pants and pinches the broken pieces back into place and hands it back.
Oh papa thank you! Thank you! she cries out. She hugs the old man and runs off to her seat.
Back in his chair the news is off. The old man decides not to stay up anymore. He heads off to bed hoping that tomorrow might somehow be better. Waking with the sun, the old man walks into the bathroom. The image in the mirror isnt him. Not this old. Not this thin and sickly looking old man. He storms out. Unable to stand it anymore he leaves the house. Skipping breakfast again.
He stops at a local flower shop and pays for a single rose. He gets back in his car and drives for what seems like hours. Soon he whispers, soon. He reaches the field. Graves scatter the land. He looks for only a moment but finds what he is searching for. A small angel marking the spot.
Lindsey
2000-2006
Taken tragically she will never be forgotten
The old man sits and waits. He closes his eyes and it is not long before he hears the voice.
Papa? Papa! Youve brought me my favorite flower! the little girl cries.
The old man smiles as he takes her hand and they both head off into the sunset
