As they often do the neighborhood kids came to knock on the door yesterday.
“We need air in our bike tires .” was the familiar chorus.
And as I often do I got off my ass to search for the well-used bicycle pump as it appears no one else on the street owns one. Unfortunately one had a slash and was in need of a new tube and so I couldn’t help to dispel the disappointment. I mentioned this to the wife later that it was unlikely her father would ever do anything to rectify this…. as he never does.
“Screw all these Fathers around here….let the kids ask them to fix things. I’m sick of this shit.” was my lament
My Mother died one year ago today and the wonderful crew I worked with at a local Big Box store all signed a sympathy card. I still have it…and likely always will. It is covered predominantly with the traditional “Sorry for your loss” as in all fairness, who knows what to say in times as that? But buried in the center of all those sincere condolences, in tiny letters, was scribed……..
“A Mothers job is never done….even from above.”
A friend, about to be a Mother herself for the second time, knew what I needed to hear, and what I needed to remember.
I drove home today in the pouring rain and passed the house with the abandoned bicycle on the front lawn and I could hear her. I could hear my Mum say …..
” Aaahhhh…. poor little thing ” just as I’ve heard it a thousand times or more with her incredible ability to instill sympathy. And so I entered the house to tell the wife I needed to go back out. She smiled knowing I was heading out to buy a tire tube.
The rain has stopped, and I can hear that little girl laughing right now as she races up and down the street with her friends. And it’s wonderful….and my Mother did that.
