Even at My Worst It Still was a Beautiful Day

Prompt: Center your story around something that doesn’t go according to plan.

Even at My Worst It was Still a Beautiful Day

There was persistent ringing in my ears. I just needed a few more minutes to rest my weary soul. I clumsily reached for my phone to silence the menacing buzz. I thought one of these days I need to change my ringtone. No sooner had I turned it off, I felt a tugging at my ear followed by loud incessant purring. My bleary eyes revealed my catatonic state to my annoyed observer. Toby, my lifelong feline friend, ball of fluff, and pest exterminator was not amused. He continued bellowing his dissatisfaction at not being fed. Alas, maybe I should be a better caretaker of my furry friend since an even grander opportunity was coming my way.

Reluctantly, I slid from under the covers of my warm comforter and plopped onto the chilly tiled floor. I laid my face directly on the floor. The coolness penetrated my thick skull. Too many late-night hours researching the dos and don’ts of responsible parenting. I finally summoned enough strength to rise from the floor. Still groggy from the night’s sleep, or rather the lack of, I pushed back the window drapes. The brilliance of the sunlight forced me to squint. It had the makings of a beautiful day! I opened the window inhaling the outside air only to choke and gasp from the pollen and dust swirling in my yard. It was still a beautiful day.

Toby’s crying would not abate. He contemptuously meowed for his breakfast. With care I opened his tinned feast of processed fish parts. I gagged at the intensity of the smell. He inhaled it immediately demanding a second tin. I complied and he was now content. With that behind me, I needed to get ready for my very important day. At last, the day had come to present myself as a responsible paternal guardian.

The night before I thoughtfully planned how this day would proceed recording the agenda into my phone calendar. I inwardly chuckled as I reminded myself “I got this.” It was time to review it before I really began the day. I looked over at the nightstand for my phone but it was not there. I checked all around me but I could not find it. Menacingly, I looked over at Toby who was now perched on top of his cat tower licking his paws. I sneered at him saying, “Ok, you have had your fun! What did you do with my phone?” He gazed at me with innocent cat eyes. It was almost as if he was mocking me saying “Look under the bed, you big buffoon.” Sure enough, my inner voice told me to check it out. Behold! There it lay under the midpoint of my bed. I plunged myself with careless abandon under my bed hitting my head. I released a sigh of relief as I simultaneously rubbed my head and grabbed my phone. When I finally reached it, I noticed the time. I gasped and yelped like a cat caught in a mouse trap. I followed with an agitated voice like that of the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. “I am so late, so very, very late!” My ordered thoughts and plans to address this most important day were cast aside in lieu of expediency and a bump on the head. My anxiety was revving up a temporary amnesia. I had forgotten about my documented agenda on my phone. It was still a beautiful day.

Nonetheless, more panic set in as I did not lay out my clothes the night before. Why had I not thought of this? My absent mindedness clouded the transcription of my details I put on my calendar last night. My nerves had played havoc with my memory. I rummaged through my closet finding whatever would fit. Should I wear a suit, or a sport coat? Would a tie be too formal? What about the color matching of shirt and pants? If only I had not been such a lard ass at getting out of bed. I dressed without a once over in the mirror. Oh, this is terrible! Any serious impression about my sensible character would be in serious doubt if triggered in part by my horrendous wardrobe choices, not to mention the growing bump on my forehead. What would the person most important to me think of me if I looked like I got into a fight and did not care about my appearance? I opted for my old tux. It was a very conservative choice but safe even though it was very tight.

I really longed to eat a sumptuous breakfast while sipping an invigorating expresso. That idea vanished when I temporarily lost my phone and my agenda. I had no time to prepare anything. I am not a person who thrives on convenience food so I had nothing I could pop into the microwave. And my phone time showed I had no time to stop for fast food. I had to eat something! My stomach was gurgling so loudly Toby would not come near me. At my wits end, I decided to do the unthinkable. I opened and consumed one of Toby’s fish delights. “Tastes like chicken from the ocean,” as I lied to myself. That seemed to settle my active, rumbling innards. It was still a beautiful day.

Now I had to fly like a wingless bird. I grabbed my satchel, wallet, and my troublesome phone. I went out to the driveway to climb into my car. It was gone! I panicked even more. I went back inside to see if I still had my car keys.Yup, and affixed to them was a note reminding me to pick up my car from the shop next Saturday. Yikes! A hired car or taxi was not an option since I had no app or number for either one. I was running out of time to get downtown, which was slightly less than an hour away. I could only go by bus or commuter train. My interview was in one hour. Needless to say, I was cutting it close. The thought occurred to me to call and postpone the interview and judgement. But this was a one-time opportunity for me to be a true parent. Any delays or excuses from me would reflect poorly on the overall outcome. I loved that boy so much! I just had to push forth. Given the course of events for the day, I quickly discovered the commuter trains were running behind schedule because of an early morning derailment. Why of all days would this have to happen? I had no choice but to ride the number 13 bus into downtown. I am not a superstitious person, but number 13? Thankfully, the stop was near my house and time was ticking away. Each stop seemed to take longer and longer than the last one. My anxiety was growing by leaps and bounds. My memory lapses seemed to grow too. I kept reminding myself why I wanted to be more than a foster parent to Charlie.

Then the most unlikely event happened. At the last stop before the courthouse a hooded and masked passenger boarded brandishing an automatic pistol. He would not let anyone leave the bus. He demanded everyones’ wallets, jewelry, purses and particularly my satchel containing my notarized documents for the court. I agonized and internalized “this cannot be happening on the most important day in my life!” My rage was simmering over like a steam kettle. I loved Charlie and nothing would separate my love for him! The brazen thief disembarked with all of the stolen items. Enraged and ready to burst, I scrambled off the bus racing after the thief, armed or not. My adrenaline rush surged through my body to the point where I hurled myself at the thief causing all his loot to scatter in the street. My satchel and his gun lay a few feet from the perpetrator. A few policemen at the courthouse saw the violent skirmish and hustled over to intervene. After canvasing a few of the passengers, they arrested and mirandized the thief. One of the officers asked where I was headed. I pleaded with him to excuse me because my interview in court was beginning at that very moment.

A quick sprint to the building and up the outer stairs and I would arrive in a few minutes. Painstakingly, I climbed up the stairs into the courthouse. Oh how I ached, but I finally arrived outside courtroom seven, but all disheveled. I looked horrible and then some. My tux had split open and my pants were torn at my knees.I was filthy dirty and bleeding at my kneecaps. The doors into the courthouse were heavy. It was still a beautiful day.

I entered the courtroom. Charlie was sitting up front with a welfare agent. And he gave me a quizzical and confused look. The judge did a quick once over of my appearance. and shook his head side to side. He said incredulously, “You are late, very late. But I heard it from a reliable authority, that one of the arresting officers radioed the courthouse saying that you were the man of the hour. You put yourself at great risk. You single handedly engaged an armed man and you jeopardized your life. Why?” he asked me. With a quivering voice I replied, “the thief stole my satchel.” The judge questioned me, “Why is your satchel so important to you that you would risk your life to get it back?” I said, “because it contains my future. It has the signed notarized adoption papers for my son. I felt if they were lost, I would not be given custody to care for him; ever. I had so little to care for and so much to lose; my Charlie.”

The misty-eyed judge said, “This proceeding is over. The court grants you full adoption and care over your new son, Charlie!” And he added, “You know that one who considers his life more precious than his own is honorable, heroic, and certainly deserving of fatherhood. Your actions today are indicative of a man who would love his son under any condition.” And the honorable judge, overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit, quoted scripture,

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (1)

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (2)

Charlie and I embraced each other like there would be no tomorrow. Even at my worst it really was still a beautiful day!

-END-

1 (John 15: 1-13, New International Version, NIV)

2 (Romans 5: 7-9, NIV)

Acknowledgement: Reedys.com prompts

Author: Pete Gautchier