Papa...

The old man sat motionless1

under the porch roof, moving only a finger2

to turn the pages of the book in his lap.3


Shifting only his glance,4

he watched the birds at the feeder5

across the yard and smiled.6


Each day, as spring ripened7

and weather permitted, 8

he moved the canvas chair a little closer.9


It was warm and bright10

as his daughter arrived11

in a cloud of dust.12


A little girl hurried from the car,13

ran up the walk14

and leapt into his arms.15


"Papa! Papa!16

I missed you!17

It's so good to see you again!"18


The old man smiled,19

"You get bigger every time I see you!20

But your nose never grows!"21


She giggled and snuggled;22

the old man put an arm23

around his grown daughter.24


"And you are more beautiful25

each time I see you!26

How are things?"27


"I am fine; we are fine.28

I have wrinkles I hide.29

How are you?"30


"How about a root-beer float31

and some Gingersnaps?"32

The old man asked.33


"Gingersnaps?34

What's a Gingersnap, Papa?"35

The little girl pulled back in his arms.36


Inside the cottage, with a tray for both;37

"Dip the cookie and let it soak38

until it is soft."39


He smiled as he brought chairs40

near the glass door. "Now, watch41

real, real close..."42


He stepped out on the covered porch43

and put on a wide brimmed hat44

that matched his Camo shirt and pants.45


He picked up a small tray with one hand46

and a yellowed canvas deck chair 47

with the other and walked across the lawn.48


He had been sitting only a moment or so49

when the first bird cautiously landed 50

on the edge of the tray on his lap.51


Then another landed opposite52

and several more fluttered down to rest53

on his knees and shoulders and one on his cap.54


"Mama! Mama! Papa is Magic!55

He can talk to the birds,56

like my pretend books!"57


The woman smiled58

and put her hands on the59

little girl's shoulders.60


"Remember last year,61

your name was growing62

in Papa's garden?"63


"Yes! Yes! Papa is64

really, really magic,65

isn't he?"66


"Your Papa has been67

surprising me since I68

was a little girl."69


"But I think this is the best ever!"