Another Angle

Another Angle

Written by: Siena Burke

In honor of Papa

I remember that day when the sunshine on the blanket of snow that spread across the mountain. The light breeze gave me goosebumps everywhere. My ski boot was tight and my ski waxed, I felt as though anything was possible. I stand in the gate that I’ve crossed many times before and each time was more brilliant then the other. The look in my eye was like a gleaming fire that would glow and burn brightens every day. The lady next to me started counting from five down, I plunged myself out of the gate my skis on edge and my turns tight. 

Finishing the race course was one of the greatest feelings in the world for as well as trying best. Later that day, the awards started. I had finished in first, the gleaming gold medal swung on my neck as I jumped off that old small podium. Driving home, I looked outside to see the glow and sparkle of the ptarmigan peninsula. 

That night a big shock happened. My father sat down in his burnt sienna at chair with the look on his face. Mom sat down next to me on the corner of the sofa. My medal from earlier still hang on my chest. My dad said, “Girls, me and your mom don’t like keeping secrets from you girls”. I had already got the feeling that this was not going to be a happy talk. My dad continued, “ Papa got really sick and has to go to the hospital. Papa and Gg both have covid. So we decided to stay home instead of going Hawaii, so we can help them if they need it.” Mom added, “ We took a lot of thought over this and thought that this was the best choice.” My eyes started watering, one tear leaked out. All these questions in my head were buzzing around. What happened to Papa? Why is this so bad? I wanted to go to Hawaii very bad, but Papa was way more important.

A month had gone by since Papa was in the hospital. My parents had told me that Papa had cancer and the covid had a big affect on it. I had hated covid since it had started in March 2020.

I lay in bed that night, thinking about Papa and when covid would be over so I could visit him. So that everything could be normal and nothing would change. Tears started streaming from my eyes again as I think of him. I wished and prayed that everything would happen to save Papa.

The morning of February 9th 2022 I thought more about Papa then I usually did. It’s was a school day and my school started earlier then usual. My mom was still asleep because she has gotten back late from Fairbanks from visiting Papa, because she could visit Papa because one person over 18 could be with Papa. Gg could as well because she was married to Papa.

That morning checking through my family’s junk drawer for something. I didn’t know what at the time, but something my Papa had given me a long time ago when I was younger. Finally I had found it! The gold metal as a name tag that my Papa used when he was a principal. It said his name on it and e had touched so that’s all I needed to have.

It was seven fifty am. The time we left for school, but mom was still asleep that usually never happened. Dad brought us to school that morning. Dad saw what I held in my hand, he asked to see it I gladly showed it. I was in a sad mood sad morning. 

Dad instead of driving to school he looped his way to a coffee shop. Getting both my sister and me some treats. My sister and me both thought we’d head to school right after, like this was just a once in a while treat. We had both thought wrong. We went home immediately after. We set our backpacks down in the entry way and sat at the island in the kitchen.

Mom finally woke up, we all looked at the stairs for her. Mom came down, her tear stained face confused me. My family migrated to the living room. Dad sat down in that burnt sienna armchair with the on his face. That looked driver me insane in that second as I sat on the couch with the rest of my family. The look meant something bad, I hated change, this was king to be something bad, most definitely, one hundred percent. Dad asked in a sad tone, “ Papa passed away early this morning”. My heart broke in half or it stopped beating. I felt everything get numb my whole world shut down. My sister said, “ What does that mean?” Mom answered, “ Papa died”. All that tears I had been holding back that month all the feeling that I felt right then were unleashed. Tears streamed down my face and my so could spread out for miles. I felt like my life had been stopped, I had nothing to do.

Later that day I paced around my room. Nothing seemed true, it was a huge lie or a awful nightmare. My feeling were broken my brain was dented and my heart totally destroyed. My sole was majorly damaged. My thoughts went back to that last time I had seen him. The three months ago seemed like yesterday. The day he arrived he had brought us a strawberry milkshake from McDonald’s. My thoughts lead to one of his last days, the only thing e would eat was a McDonald meal. The my brain was hurting all these thoughts rushing into my head, memory’s that destroyed my heart even more. I felt as if I was collapsing.

The next day was better, I missed school again.

Now my life is normal again. I have done more ski races and beaten my high scores. I have my friends and family to support me along my way of life. Every now and then I think of Papa and his encouragement for me to be myself. One of that last things any one ever said to him is that my dream is to become a skiing Olympian. I am going to try my best to fulfill that just for my Papa. Me and him were close and he still loves me just from another Angle.