Paul Story

What's he doing? I think to myself walking up the driveway toward the garage.

The old pickup backed up to an opening left in the garage by the garage doors. "Dad?" "Are you in there?" "Paul, is that you son?" "Yea dad, what are you doing in here?" "Oh, cleaning out the garage, your mother's idea. " She thought it would be nice if I cleaned out the garage today and run the proceeds to the donation center." "Oh I see, mom kills two birds with one stone, gets you out of the house and finally gets the garage cleaned out so she can park her car out of the weather." "Is Diane and the kids in the house with your mother." "No actually they wanted to go shopping, the grocery store, the mall, they'll be stopping by later. I didn't feel like going so I had her drop me off here." "Good I will get to see my grandchildren today, your mother will be excited to see them and Diane."

Looking at the back of the nearly full truck and the still packed garage, "boy dad, the stuff really accumulates over the years doesn't it." "Yea it sure does, I think it's a conspiracy son, the neighbors clean out there garages moving everything over here in the middle of the night, you know saves them from throwing it out." "I'm sure dad, a conspiracy against you." "Makes since to me son, think about it, they don't have to get a truck, load the stuff up and run it down to the donation center." "Dad, I think you have slipped a cog or two since you've retired." "Look around son, I don't remember buying half this stuff." Dad looking around the still packed garage. "Well dad, you've lived in this same house for over thirty some years now." "Yea but....." dad trails off looking around at the task at hand.

"Dad, I'm going to run into the house and say hi to mom, let her know I'm here and that Diane and the kids are going to stop by later." "Good idea son." "I'll be right back to help you finish loading the truck." "I appreciate it son, the help I mean."

Heading back to the house, this place must have been built when the term detached garage was popular. How much more detached can a garage be. It's at least a hundred feet to the house.

Imagine carrying groceries from the car parked in the garage to the house during a rain storm. Walking through the back door of the house I spot mom doing dishes at the kitchen sink. As I think back, growing up in this house, I think mom has spent half her life at the sink. "Mom, hi how are you doing." "Paul, you surprised me." As mom jumps a little. "I thought it was your father when I heard the back door slam." "No he's still battling with the garage." "It's nice to see you, how have you been, where's Diane and my wonderful grandchildren." "Oh, Diane had shopping to do and the kids wanted to go, a promised trip to the mall." "I didn't feel like being drug through the mall today so I had her drop me off here, get some quality time with dad." Mom looked at me with a side ways glance and we both laughed. "Diane and the kids are going to stop by later for a visit, give you time to spoil the grandchildren a little." Mom smiled, "that's my favorite pastime," she answers with a light laugh. "Should I plan on them for lunch dear, or maybe supper?" "I'm not sure what Diane has planned for today mom, let's wait till she gets here to see what's going to happen."

Mom walks toward me standing by the back door, pats my arm, "well I hope you, Diane and the kids can stay for supper, I don't get to see my family that much."
"Mom, we see you at least three times a month, we live just on the other side of town, it's not like we live in another state, we see you and dad a lot." "You are not trying to use us to run interference with you and dad, are you?" "Oh, no dear, I wouldn't do a thing like that, but you know," mom hesitates, "since your father retired he's constantly under foot, I'm having a hard time finding things for him to do." "Well, the garage Idea will definitely keep him busy for a while." I reassured her. "I hope so, I have even suggested that he do volunteer work, helping the elderly, on a part-time basis." I laughed a little, "what was he answer to that," I looked at mom and smiled. "His answer?" Mom looked scornfully at me, "he said he hated being around old people," mom looked at me with a raised eyebrow "can you imagine." My arms folded across my chest I drop my head and chuckle to myself, "yea, that would be worth the price of admission to see that." Standing there for a minute more, "mom I think I better get back out to the garage and help him before he hurts himself, you know how he is, young at heart old of body." "Good Idea dear, I can't afford a trip to the hospital for him."

Mom in charge of the home and everything it beholds and dad in command of the garage and it's conspiracy theory with the neighbors, dependent on each other, and independent of each other the basis of a long term relationship. Focused on the garage I hear a series of curios sounds, the rattle of odds and ends landing in the back of the truck, an occasional foul word expressed as some article of age and questionable use refuses to cooperate by not submitting to my father's will.

"Dad, here let me help," as I step into the garage, "now since you hurting yourself, I'll help you." "Have a nice visit with your mother, she fill you in on everything?" "Ah somewhat, you being a pain in the butt mostly, to much time on your hands since you retired." "Yea, that's your mother, never happy, according to her I have been under foot ever since the day I met her." "Come on dad, you don't mean that, mom means well, besides who else would take of you as good as she does?" "Here son, get on the other end of this dresser, help me get it on the truck." dad side steps my question for a moment. "Is there room for it dad?" "Yea, we'll lay it on top of the pile and tie it down, it'll be alright." "You're right son," dad regains his thoughts, "Your mom has been and is still good to me, she's has always taken good care of me and you to, don't forget.

I nod and smile in dad's direction, "yea dad you are right about that." "Son, that's quite a load, the tires are beginning to show the strain, we'll take this load and drop it off at the center before they close." "You do plan on coming with me, right son?" "I wouldn't miss it for the world, dad." "Well son since you volunteered, we'll stop for coffee after we unload, I'll even buy." "There's an offer I don't hear often, you're buying." "Okay son, I'm not that cheap." The doors creek loudly and the springs screech as dad and I mount the front seat of the old truck. The key in the ignition, the engine roars to life. Dad puts the truck in gear and we're off, rolling down the driveway the sound of the truck drowns out ever other sound and even some thoughts.

"Dad,,,,, DAD?" I yell over the roar of the engine. "Yea son?" "Have you ever thought about new springs and shocks for this thing....maybe an exhaust system?" "Why, you think we need it?"
"Well, I don't think the truck has not stopped bouncing since we pulled out of the driveway, you would think with the load on the back it would settle down." "Yea, you would think."
Between the roar of the engine and the rattle of the truck conversation was virtually out of the question, throw in dad's limited hearing ability, the conversation could go anywhere. "DAD," again two or three summons and finally I get his attention.

"DON'T YOU THINK IT'S TIME FOR A NEW TRUCK, GET RID OF THE OLD GIRL?" "What did you say about your mother, get rid of her?" "Why would I do that?" Still the roaring engine and the rattle persists I sit staring at dad, my mouth hanging open, get rid of mom, I didn't say that I think to myself. I nudge dad and distract his attention for a second, "I DIDN'T SAY GET RID OF MOM....... OH NEVER MIND," we'll finish this conversation later, once we land this thing at the donation center, I say to myself. Somehow we make it to the donation center to my thinking, neither dad nor I no worse for the experience. "Okay son," as dad backs the truck to the loading dock, "let's get her unloaded and then we can get to the coffee shop, on me, remember?" a smile on his face as he leaps form the truck.

I pull the handle on the door enclosing me in this rattling death trap, a slight shove and nothing, again a harder shove, still nothing. "DAD,,,, what's going on here the door won't open?" His attention diverted from the load he comes scuffling around the side of the truck, "sorry about that son, I forgot to tell you, the handle on the inside doesn't work, you have to roll the window down and then use the handle on the outside to open the door." "That's nice to know, now, dad." "What would have happened if we would have had an accident?" "Not to worry son, the door would probably be the first thing to come off the truck anyway."
"Thanks dad, that's reassuring to know."

On the dock, two workers appear from the center to help with our donations, "there's a thought dad," "what's that Paul," dad interrupts, "be a volunteer here, I'm sure they could use the help," as I smile at the two helpers. "Yea son, you got a good point, keep it to you're self." In a state of confusion by his response I return with concern, "Dad what's wrong? I didn't mean anything by it, just, you know." "Quit listening to your mother, I'll chose my own lifestyle, I'm still capable of making my own decisions." "I'm sorry dad I didn't mean anything by it, dad, just a suggestion, you know, nothing serious or some thing you should do." "Okay son, don't worry about me I'll be alright, by the way, don't take everything your mother says as gospel she has her day's to."

Thank you from the dock help the truck unloaded dad and I are off to a little break at the coffee shop. "Thanks son for the help, I appreciate it, sorry about snapping at you over the suggestion." "All is forgotten dad, now where is this coffee shop?" "All in good time my son, all in good time."

We bounced and rattled our way back to the down town area which is no more than three blocks from the donation center. On main street dad halted the truck in front of a little restaurant that I just vaguely recognized. "Remember this place son?" I squinted my eyes looking at the restaurant trying to remember. "No dad, nothing, I don't ever remember being here." "Me, you and your mother used to come here a lot when you were little, ever Friday night." "Oh." I acknowledged his answer, "Sorry dad it's just not coming to me," still in a fog.

With a little exertion I manage to get out of the truck and follow dad inside. A voice from the back welcoming dad, a wave and a smile follow. "Art, long time no see, how have you been?" "Dave" dad responds to the voice, "not bad, retired now you know, the good life." "For who?" Dave fires back rapidly. "You? What about Marge?" Dad leads the way to the counter with me in tow, "two coffee's Dave, on me." dad smiles at me with pride as we take our seats. "Your treating me to coffee dad wow, I'm astounded."

Dave steps to the counter with our order in hand, "you buying Art, I'd thought that day would never come, Paul this guy never understood the concept of a tip," Dave smiles down at me sitting at the counter. "Yea, yea, yea," dad counters in his defense. With our order filled Dave moves on to other patrons. "Paul," dad turns toward me to get my attention, "is everything okay at home, kind of odd, you showing up this morning by yourself, I mean, you the consummate family man?" "Oh no dad, everything's fine, the occasional tiff, nothing more. "Anyway I just felt my time could be better spent visiting you and mom, I didn't know I'd be put to work." Dad smiles, "hey I bought the coffee." "Refill boys?" Dave appears before us. "Is it free?" dad asks as fast as Dave offers. A smirk appears on Dave's face, "of course, refills are always free," Dave counters. slightly sarcastic and then smiles. "Yea, hit us again, since it's free," Dave fills our cups then walks away shaking his head in a disbelieving manner.

"I was just concerned that may be you and Diane might be having problems, I don't mean to pry, sorry." "No problems, nothing to be sorry about I do appreciate the concern though."

"Well let's finish up, maybe we can get another load done today before the center closes." Immediately my thoughts turn to the truck, great, I think to myself another trip in that thing and I'll be rethinking my volunteering. "Dad I don't like to interfere in your life either, you being more seasoned, but maybe a new truck would be in order, think about it." "Now, that one's fine, since in buying something that will outlive me at this point." "Gee, that's kind of a negative thought isn't it dad." "No son, just realistic." In a reflective mood I finish my coffee, a slap on the shoulder and I'm brought back to the real world, "hop to it son we got to go," dad reminds me what's in store for us.

By the time I regain full consciousness I see dad walking toward the door. Replacing my cup I get up and dutifully follow my father, something I've been doing all my life, he leads I follow. On some subconscious level I guess that's the way evolution has it planned. I hear the truck fire up as I leave the restaurant, notice dad behind the wheel smiling at me on the sidewalk, a look of success on his face, right, the truck actually started. The roar of the truck resounding in my ears, my hands tucked deeply into my jacket pockets I walk wearily onward. With great determination I yank the door open and climb in, with the door slammed shut I hear dad yell "we're off" and laugh. I turn my head toward dad with a disapproving look and his only response was a broad smile and a twinkle in his eye, man against machine kind of thing, I guess, domination.

The bumpy trip home takes all the fight out of me, "Dad, I was just thinking," I yell over the roaring truck as we pull into the driveway, "I'm sure the center will be closed before we get the truck loaded," looking for any excuse to get out of another trip to town.
"Yea, son I was just thinking the same thing, think I'll just park the thing and wait for another day," he answers as we pull up to the garage. "Hey look, Diane and the kids are here," dad spots my car parked alongside the house. Thank God, my excuse buoyed further by Diane and the kids being here. The truck parked, dad and I disembark and head toward the house. The back door flies open and two screaming kids rush out, "Grandpa." they yell in unison.

"Hi guys, glad to see you again, how is my favorite grandchildren," as dad stoops to hug them? "Seems like I haven't seen you since forever, I missed you." "Art," mom diverts dads attention, Diane has invited us out for dinner tonight isn't that nice." An even broader smile appears on dad's face at the offer. "Yea that would be great, free help today, free food tonight and my grandchildren, it couldn't get any better than this." Mom despairingly shakes her head while smiling at Diane, "see what I put up with everyday."

Mom looks at dad, "I can't believe you said that." Dad looks up at mom from hugging the kids, "what?" "Oh, never mind." mom shaking her head in disbelief. "Art," mom commands dad's attention once more, "let's get ready, go into the house and get cleaned up, Dave and Diane were nice enough to invite us out for dinner, make yourself look respectable." Still playing with the grandchildren dad scowls and answers, "Yes dear, yes dear," looking at the kids dad says "see what I have to put with," they follow with laughter. Dad beats a hasty retreat to the house followed by a scolding wife and two rambunctious grandchildren leaving Diane and I in the yard. "Have a nice day dear?" Diane asks. Looking at the truck parked by the garage I let out a little laugh. "Yea, I guess you could say that. "Everything okay then" she persists?

"Yea, I just needed a day off from the responsibilities, kind of a free day, you know how it is, some time to myself." "I understand." she replies and loops her arm in mine as we walk toward the house. "Let's hurry those guy's along I'm hungry." I smile at Diane and she smiles back, "gook idea dear so am I."