Wait Longer

“Now who in blazes put that crap in your head?” The lip quivers, but no sound comes out. “Quit your bellyaching and get in the car!”

“...but, DaaahHhhd!”

“No ’but’s!” He towers over the young boy, shivering from the cold ever since the blanket was ripped off of his sleeping frame. “If that rear isn’t in the backseat and strapped in by the time I count to five, you’re not gonna like what happens next and it’s gonna make the car ride that much more uncomfortable... and we’re gonna be in there a while.”

Small eyes go wide. “How long?”

“It’s time to go! One...” Feet scurry and a buckle clicks.

xxx

“Danny!" Shake, shake, shake. "Danny, wake up!" Shake, shake. "We’re here.” A small stretch, little hands rub tired eyes.

“Where’s ‘here’?” No response, eyes begin their search, ending on a Castle in the Near Distance; two gigantic grins spreads over both of their faces. “NO WAY!” There is too much excitement for one kid, it is spilling over into Dad’s side of the car.

“Okay, okay, settle down, we gotta get everything squared away. I’m sorry I missed your Birthday - I love you.”

“I don’t care! This is the best missed Birthday ever!!” More hugs, “I love you, too!!”

xxx

“Dr. Hawken?” Hands shake firmly, one clammier than the other, one set of eyes wider.

“Is he alright?”

“Yes, he’s fine.” The cop can see the relief on his face and continues. “The City Welcoming Sign, on the other hand...”

“Yikes, that was him?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“So, we looking at a fine, or...?”

“That’s up to the Judge, but, to be honest, he’s probably not gonna be driving anymore, especially at his age.” Daniel’s face falls.

“He’s not gonna like this.”

“That’s not my problem, Doc.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The problem is you’re mean when you drink, and there IS such a thing as Public Intox.”

“Didn’t know you were a Lawyer, too! Why don’t you quit your bellyaching and-” Wide eyes narrow.

“Because if you’re gonna drink yourself to death, I’m not gonna watch you do it, and I’m not gonna drive you down to the store to find out who Mom hung out with the other night from that sleezeball store clerk, just so you can decide if the jaundice is going to come from Rum or Vodka!”

“Jesus, you’re a shitty kid. Tommy’s a Saint. She’s a slut.” A scoff.

“She’s single, it’s her right.”

“And I want you to talk to him!”

“Why don’t you talk to him?”

“I would, but it seems to cruel - you’re always gonna be his Danny Boy.” Beige nails tousle his hair for barely a second before he jerks away.

“I tried, I really did, he didn’t want my help.”

“No, he did; his Pride just got in the way, as it does oh-so often.” A sad smile, but fleeting. “Just give him another chance!”

“I don’t want to give him another chance.”

“Danny, I-”

“Daniel, Mom.”

xxx

“I don’t care, where’s your old man?”

“I don’t know!”

“Of course you don’t.”

“I’m serious, I haven’t seen him in months!”

“Jesus, you’re a shitty kid.”

“He’s a shitty dad, that’s what I’m trying to tell you - I kicked him out because he was nothing but trouble.”

“Was for us, too.” Turning around, he lights a cigarette and walks away. “Kill him.”

“Wh-” Two shots, too quick to react.

xxx

"You found me?”

“Don't look so shocked. Tommy said people were asking around about me.” The lip quivers, but no sound comes out.

“You’re going to rehab.”

“I know. I want another chance.”

xxx

“Nuh-uh! That’s 3 outta 5 - in a row!” Little teeth beaming through a satisfied grin. “I win!”

“If I knew how to use the dang remote controller...”

“Just ‘controller’.”

“Let Grampa’s hands have a rest.”

“But you can’t play with me!” He turns around and leaves the room.

“Travis! Get back in here!”

“It’s okay, Dad.” A sad smile, but fleeting.

“He’s a shitty kid!”

“No, he’s JUST a kid.” Two sets of eyes lock, two gigantic grins spread over their faces.

xxx

Lights on, blankets off. “Git up! Travis!!”

“NO! I’m COOAAAAALD!”

“GIT UP! Your Dad’s already in the car, let’s move!”

“What time is it?” Eyes begin their search.

“Doesn’t matter, grab a bag, we gotta pack!”

“Pack?” The notebooks and pencils are dumped unceremoniously on the floor, the backpack shoved at the young boy.

“Quit your bellyaching and put some clothes in here!” Just like his Dad, Travis misses his Grandfather sneaking in a set of swim trunks.

xxx

“Hurry up! Get in the car!”

“Just hold on, I have to grab something for Grampa.”

“Get back here! He might not be alive by the time we get there! Let’s move!!”

“Sit tight, I’ll be right back!”

“Ha-ha.” A wince. “You’re lucky.”

xxx

“He was a great man.”

“Thank you.” No tears on his face, just warm gratitude.

“Saved a lot of lives, when he was younger.”

“Yeah, he did.” Even warmer, a smile now. “I wish I could have done more.”

“It’s not your fault, you did everything you could." A comforting hand lands on his shoulder. "Sometimes, it’s just your time to go.”

It's never the answer you want to hear. “I know, but-”

“No ’but’s. We’re here for ya. Danny was a good kid.”

“Was an even better Father.”

Eyes begin their search. “Where is Travis?”

“He had to run back and get something for the casket.”

“Ah.” A sadder smile. “I’ll make sure to reach out to him when he gets in.”

“He’ll appreciate it, I’ll let him know you’re looking for him.”

xxx

"I don't care! This is the best missed Birthday ever!!" More hugs, "I love you, too!!"

"What do you wanna do first?" Brain a-buzzing, Danny suddenly stopped. 

"Have you ever been here before?"

"Nope!"

"Well, what do you wanna do? You had to wait longer."

Sean looked at Danny. "I wanna see you happy."