Rainy With a Chance of Smiles

"It's sunny outside? What a joke!" you say aloud as gaze out the window. "They clearly said it was going to rain, and that would’ve let me off the hook. Now I’ve got to go speak one more time with dad. I had hoped to leave for California today and hook up with Zelda and the kids in a day or two, without ever seeing or talking to him again, and the rain would’ve been just the excuse I needed. Told him how bad my brakes were and that I would probably not come over if it was raining. Damn Sun let me down. Ahh well, guess I’d better go get it over with."  

You walk to your car like you're on your way to an execution. You then unlock the door, open it up, get in, and are soon on your way to your dad's home, who lives a couple hours away from you. Same home you'd been taken from after your mom passed away when you were only six years old. The Department of Children and Family Services came and got you a few months later and made you go and live with your Aunt Lovey after they discovered your father had been out drinking at the bars every night and bringing different women home all the time.

Roughly, a couple hours later and you pull up to your dad's house. Afterwards, you get out, shut and lock the door, then you begin the long walk up the pathway you remember so well where mom had always planted the loveliest flowers. That's one thing you miss most of all. The incredible variety of aromas that assaulted your senses whenever you walked that pathway. Made you think of mom. But the flowers are all dead now, withered away and choked by weeds.

You knock on the door a few times, then walk in. The house is pretty much a mess. It appears as though your dad did try to straighten up a little before you got there, but never finished. Then suddenly, your dad comes rushing from the back, with a shoebox in his hands. He sets it down and embraces you.

"Son," he says, as he pulls away after several seconds, but leaves his hand on your shoulder. "I just wanted to tell you now, how sorry I am that I never let you know before you left, how much I wanted to keep you here and take care of you. But, I just did not have the financial means to do it. I mean, let's face it, I was a lousy drunk and a lousy father to begin with, even more so after your mom passed away. My dad gave me a raw deal too, and I wanted so bad not to follow in his footsteps, but I did anyway. So again, I apologize. But I knew you'd be better off with your Aunty, and that's why I did not fight it. Did your Aunty do right by you son?"

You swallow hard when you see what kind of shape your dad is in; thinner than a rail, a little jerky in his movements, with his eyes darting back and forth. "Y-Yeah, dad, don't- don't you worry about it," you inform him. "She took good care of me and made sure I had everything I needed. But, are you alright pop? I mean, you look kind of, I don't know…kind of bad. Are you eating ok?"

"Sure my boy," your dad answers. "I got me some frozen dinners in the freezer. Some lunchmeat and cheese in the fridge, some peanut butter and a loaf of bread in the cabinet. I'm doing just fine son. I picked out a bunch of photos for you to take with you when you leave for California. I know you already got some that I gave your Aunt Lovey, but I don't think you've seen all these before."

Your dad picks up the box and hands it to you. You sit down and begin going through what's there. There are some photos you do remember; those which you saw not long after your mom had first taken them years and years ago. A few were shot on your birthdays, and others at Christmastime. Plus, one or two were snapped while you were swimming in a neighbor's pool. Just then, you turn, pull back the curtains for second and see that it has finally started raining.

As you continue going though the pictures, you come to one that doesn't seem to be familiar to you at first. In it, you and your dad are hugging each other tightly. He has his arms wrapped completely around you, and your face is pressed right up against his, cheek to cheek as your legs dangle free. But, as you look closer, it suddenly becomes clear to you that your dad is crying in the picture. You stare at it for a few minutes, and your heart suddenly starts to melt. Then, you briefly hand the photo to your father.

"Dad, I-I don't remember this one? When was it taken?" You ask him.

Your old man takes the picture, stares at it for several seconds, then hands it back to you.

"Son, that picture was taken the day they came and took you away from me. I requested them people to take it so's that I'd have me a little keepsake to remember you by." he answers. "That's why I’m weeping in it my boy."

You instantly burst out crying, as you reach over and hug your dad, who in turn pulls you closer as you both hug each other tightly once more.

"I remember it now. I'm-I'm so sorry dad that I never bothered with you all these years," you start telling him in-between sobs. "That-that I never called you to see how you were doing, or if you needed anything. But, after they took me away, I-I just assumed that you didn’t care about me anymore, and wanted to get rid of me.”

"That's alright son, I knew that was part of why you didn’t stay in touch. I also understood that you were busy with your own life. You had a son and wife to look after, and a job that you worked at all week. I already made up my mind that you were busy and would call me when you had the time. It's okay, I forgive you my boy," your dad says as he reaches up and ruffles your hair, then smooths your cheek after.

A short time later and you both start to discuss the past, and what each of you have been doing all these years you've been apart and not talked to each other. Then, just before you leave, you hug and kiss your dad one last time, then shake his hand afterwards.

Your dad stands at the door watching while you walk over, then he waves as you get in the car, back out and begin to pull off, honking the horn a couple times as you drive away. The Sun has just broken through the clouds as you clear the trees and get back on the main road again. As you look up, you see a big, bright, beautiful rainbow overhead, stretching from sky to sky, then you wipe a few tears away and smile, as you think of mom smiling.