I looked at my watch. Ken looked at his. It was still too early, so we continued to hole up at Mike’s Tavern off Route 9 – a dark den with a cigarette machine, a juke box, and a television over the bar. The television was on. The bartender was watching a Mets game and chain smoking. “You know why I like baseball? Ken asked. “Because I don’t have to watch it on TV.” He took at swig from his…
“I’ll be right back, ok Daddy?” she said, standing. She then walked slowly toward the door, never taking her eyes off of me. I managed a smile and raised my left hand. Satisfied that I’d be alright while she went into the kitchen, she disappeared from view. I can’t believe she’s seeing me like this. Three years ago I was fielding balls in goal as she’d strike them one after the other. To her, I was more than a father;…
It was a normal day at work when I decided to take a walk out into the shop where the guys were loading up a unit to ship to California. I started taking pictures with my iPhone. There was a hum of electricity in the air the way there always is for an activation launch. I climbed aboard a nearby ladder to get a higher perspective shot when the ladder began to fall. Crazy Train was blasting from the big…
The sun rises, and I’m still asleep. Soon after, my wife wakes with no use of a clock. I don’t hear the shower run. A while later, a child crawls into bed next to me and presses her cold feet on my bare leg. “Daddy?” She says looking the other direction. “Mmm?” I say with eyes closed. “I made a powerpoint.” “Hmmm!” I say, impressed. “It’s about dolphins.” “Cool.” I stretch. “Today is chess.” She says – which means they…
“What are you looking at?” the man screamed from across the parking lot. “Yeah? What the fuck are you looking at, asshole?” “Do you think he’s talking to me?” I asked my wife who, like me, was stepping into our car. The man with the long blonde hair and dark beard threw down his keys and started marching toward us. I looked over at my wife, then behind me, then back at Lynyrd Skynrd who was only a few feet away…
It was a rare night when I retired early. I kissed my wife and kids and went to bed. No sooner had I drifted off, my wife woke me up. “Joel! Joel get up!” she said in a forceful whisper, shaking me with both hands. It took at a few seconds for things to register, “What. What is –“ “Shhh,” she said interrupting me and gripping my arm. “Did you hear that?” Through the moonlight I could see that she…
