San Diego (Feb 24, 2013). Dumb old dad did a lot of waiting
in line. Lines for papers and lines for shots, lines for uniforms and
lines for boots. Dumb old dad was so busy waiting in line that he
completely forgot where he was.
"I can't wait
to get home tonight and see Ciaran and mommy!" thought dad. Then dad
realized that he would see Ciaran amd mommy, but it wouldn't be until the end
of baseball season and it was only spring training. "Bollards!"
cried dad. And he was blue.
The day ended, and
the bugle sounded on the base. Dumb old dad went to his room, unpacked
his gear and went for a run. "Runs always have a way of making me
feel better, and I would really love to feel better right now," dad said.
Dad put on his running
shoes and dad ran, but did not feel better.
Dad then realized:
"Sandwiches! They always make me feel better!!!! I will eat a
sandwich."
Dad made a
delicious peanut butter sandwich and ate it in 2 bites. But dad did not
feel better.
Dad thought that
maybe he would just feel lousy until October and sighed.
He had to pick up
some groceries for the week. He changed into some jeans and put on his
backpack. He walked out the door of his room, down the sidewalk and out of the
base to the trolley stop.
CLANG!
CLANG! CLANG!
The arms of the
trolley crossing tilted down and dad thought: "I better hurry. I
don't want to be late for the train." Dad started running to the
trolley.
CLANG!
CLANG! CLANG!
“Alright!” a voice behind dad shouted. Dad was startled and turned around, but there
was no one there.
Dad got on the trolley
just before doors shut. It was empty because it was a Sunday. But dad
heard the voice again.
"Now you're
cooking with diesel!" said the voice. Dad looked around, but there
was no one there. Dad heard some
rustling in his backpack. He unzipped
the biggest pocket, but there was only a sweater in it. He unzipped the second-biggest pocket, but
there were only purple yo-yos in it. He
unzipped the third-biggest pocket and discovered his top hat and monocle were
in that one. Dad unzipped the
fourth-biggest pocket and pulled out something small, red, and smiling.
“Salty!” dad shouted.
“Aye, aye, sir. Salty, pride of the seven
seas, sent by Ciaran. Sorry for scaring
you earlier. I smelled the sea air and
heard some train noises and thought I might have a chance to be really useful,
but then I saw the size of these here tracks and realized I’m gauged too small
to chuff along the rails…”
Salty smiled, but dad could tell he was trying
really hard to smile. “It’s okay, Salty,” said dad. “You can ride with me on the trolley.”
“Aye-aye, sir!” said Salty. Salty looked
down at the floor of the trolley, then looked back up at dad and smiled a real
smile. “But I just realized that I will
be really useful: I’ll keep you company on your trip and remind you of Ciaran
and mommy so you won’t be too blue.”
“You are really useful,” said dad. And dad wasn’t so blue.
