As I was growing up my parent’s didn’t have a lot of time to spend quality family time with my brother John and I. We pretty much had to fend for ourselves entertainment wise. Living on a farm was a lot of work and when we were done doing our chores John and I would go fishing, it was our favorite thing to do. I was thankful that John and I had each other because if not I would have been bored out of my mind.1
We owned a dairy farm that had a little over ten cows. It also had chickens and two horses. I loved growing up on a farm with the exception of chores it was great. My brother and I woke up the same time every morning to finish chores before school. John was a year younger then I was so we were not in the same classes together. After the school day was finished we would run home to do chores and then fishe, dig for bugs or climb trees, things boys did.2
One summer John became very ill with some kind of fever momma said. I was twelve at the time and John was ten. He was really ill, he couldn’t even get out of bed, so I would read to him and tell him stories when I had the time. I really missed being outside with him, but when he got better we would have all the time to play. John continued to be sick for almost a month he then started on the road to recovery or so we thought.3
He was very weak from being in bed for so long that he found it difficult to stand or do anything for that matter. Momma decided after a week she wanted him to see the Doctor again. Doctor Smythe came to the house to check John out and then he left after having a discussion with my momma and dad. Momma had been crying and I was worried.4
“Momma” I asked “Is John going to be alright?” 5
“We are not sure dear; he has had a very bad case of scarlet fever that has weakened his heart.” She answered6
She put her arms around me and hugged me, then walked away. Dad was sitting in the study. You don’t want to bother him when he is in the study we learned that a long time ago. So I went outside and sat on the porch swing.7
That was a month ago and John did get better and was able to come out and play finally. We were both so happy we grabbed our fishing pools and headed of to the lake. It had been almost two months since John had even been outside. He started breathing funny, kind of panting like.8
“John are you ok?” I asked him.9
“Yes, Michael I am fine, just a little trouble breathing.” John said.10
“Do you want to go back home?” I asked him. 11
All of a sudden he collapsed to the ground. I ran over and he was gasping for air. I picked him up and ran him all the way back home. My momma gave him some kind of herbal remedy to help him breathe as they waiting for the Doctor to arrive. John didn’t make it, his heart was so weak it just gave out. I was crushed. I didn’t want to live anymore, my best friend, my brother was gone.12
The years passed and I did survive, but I was never the same. I would not let anyone close to me for fear of losing them. That was until Jackie came a long. There was something special about her; she just brought me back to life. We had talked about John and she was very understanding. We began dating and soon after we graduated I asked her to marry me. 13
“Yes, Michael” she said “I would be proud to be your wife.”14
We were married that summer and Angela came along the following year. She was my angel, my shining light. As a baby I spent as much time as possible with her, when work would permit. By the time she was four she followed me everywhere. Jackie would get nervous and tell me to leave her home at times, but I wouldn’t leave her there. Little did Jackie know that when Angela and I went to town we always got ice cream and would sit on the sidewalk outside the sundae shop. This was our special time together, our bonding time. No one else knew about it, but those few short moments meant the world to me.15
We do this twice a week, I want my time with my daughter to be very special and I will do anything to make that happen. I learned a hard lesson as a child, things precious to you can be snatched up at any time. So make the most of the time you have and cherish every precious moment of it. 16
Author notes
Favorite song : Anything Nickleback ( Photograph )
Picture Credit :http://rhapsouldize.deviantart.com/art/surprise-61933905
Comments
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Lovely and sensitive...
Farm life, which I also shared as a young boy, can be very demanding of time and effort and yes, fishing, even with little hope of success is a perfect entertainment to occupy the hands and the mind and companionship during that small relaxation is a benefit to be savored.
Also not unusual for parents to be so busy so as not to have time to spend with the children and it also follows that children grow up swearing not to be as their parents were...
Very well thought out and presented story, good luck in the contest...
regards...and thank you...
amicus...
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Firstly, good song choice
Okay then, here are your prompts, you can use one or both, its entirely up to you
...
First...http://rhapsouldize.deviantart.com/art/surprise-61933905
and...
this.....'I want to break free' by Queen
Enjoy!
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