Old man.

This short story is based on a moment in time.
This particular moment was early one morning in Canada,
at a Tom Collins coffee shop
at the edge of a resort area.
Terry was sleeping as he had driven most of the night.
I of course had slept most of the night.

As I did a bible study, drank some delicious coffee and ate a pastry,
I noticed some movement outside of the window.
The following is what I saw and thought about and became....a story around me.


It's a chilly morning, but I've had my coffee.
Strong and hot and black.
And because I've been working steadily
I've taken off my jacket.
Now I just have on my jeans, Tshirt, orange vest, work gloves and visor.
Summer is just about to begin,
which means the work should be getting more steady.
I'm ready for steady.
Today me and the kid are working on building up the curb around the new road
going off to the resort.
The landscaper wants to add some flowers and bushes, so I am filling in the area,
picking out the larger stones and smoothing it out a bit.
I don't know where the kid is.
He never seems to want to be part of the work these days.
Some girl problems I'm sure.
I'm just not interested at all in all that talk of girls, boozing and car racing.
I'm going on my 72nd birthday in two months.
It has been a good life for the most part.
I'm glad I can still come out here everyday and do some physical work.
Gets my mind off of things at home.
The wife has been sick with cancer for the past two years.
All the doctor visits, treatments and healing at home have been hard on both of us.
I've had to take on more of the cooking and cleaning than I have ever done.
But I don't mind.  That also settles my mind a bit.
I can turn down the hearing aids and just think my thoughts.
Momma has gotten a bit more into complaining since she has been sick.
I just can't seem to do much that meets with her approval,
but I do what I can and just try to keep my head down and outta her way.

Holy Shit!
That kid nearly gave me a heart attack!
Dumb kid!
Guess he didn't see me working here.
His mind was distracted like mine just was.
He has gotten on the small back hoe and is moving some dirt around from the pile.
But Crap~!  He almost ran me over.

I have to shovel some of that dirt around a bit more,
now that he has added the huge pile to where I was working.
The contractor is particular, and I have to concentrate on getting this dirt
to the curb and not over into the street.
Now that I'm listening for him, I hear the kid coming with another load.
Shoot!
Why doesn't he pay attention to what he's doing or where I am?
He's just making more of a mess and I'm having to move more to where it properly goes.
Again, he just tears up here and dumps the pile where it doesn't go.
I'll stand in front near where I want him to drop the dirt this time.
Maybe he doesn't know.

Here he comes from the pile.
Right at me.
Good.
Now maybe I'll get some work.....
Whoa buddy!
You almost ran me over!
If I hadn't have moved you would have!
What are you thinking?

Oh, what are you doing now?
What am I supposed to do, if you use the back hoe to smooth the dirt toward the curb?
Clean up the mess in the street that you made?
Pops, huh?
I'm too slow, that it?
Well fine, you can do it all yourself.
I need a break anyway.
I'll just be over here when you are ready to do it right.

Three more loads and it's done.
It does look ok around the edges.
Well, the kid can gather all the shovels and tools then,
I'm ready to pack it in and call it a day.
Wonder how much longer they'll keep me around?
Picking out rocks and sweeping the streets I guess,
now that the backhoe seems to do the job of three of me.
Not that I wouldn't have done a prettier job at it.
The landscaper is gonna be pissed when he has to ready the soil.
It would have been perfect if I had been allowed to finish.
Things are faster, not as personal, and not as good as far as I can see.

Getting too old I guess.
I have had a hitch in my back, first thing for a few mornings.
Sometimes it's a struggle to get these ol' legs going right away.
But I eventually roll around.
Cracking and sputtering like I do.

Better get on home.
The wife'll be surprised I'm home so early.
Better stop and get some bird seed, and BB's for the gun.
Those damn black birds  have been devouring everything.

It's nice to stroll around the Walmart with no time limit.
Looking at the camping gear, tools and such.
I don't need anything for the shop though, and camping is now for the grandbabies.
That reminds me.
Kimmy and her girls are going camping this weekend.
I better pick up some propane for them.
It's gonna be a bit nippy and the lantern will give off a bit of heat for them.
Wish I could go, but I'll settle for fishing one day with them at the lake.
That little Susan sure enjoys watching the minnows around the pier.
She's just as happy to see the bluegill nip on her line in the shallows by the shore
as she is catching a big fish from the boat.
How I love that little one!
Becky however is only interested in getting a tan and the boys.
That one is going to be a heartbreaker for sure.
She already has mine.

Momma's asleep in her chair.
Musta been a rough morning for her.
I know she didn't sleep much last night.
I'll be real quiet and try to not wake her.

"Oh, hi Honey.
No, we finished up early today.
How you feeling?
Yea, you need your rest. 
I'm gonna go outside and shoot some of those black birds away.
Of course I can shoot them!
My aim has never been better!
You rest now.
I'll make lunch after a while."

I can still hear her bitching at me as I go out the back door.
I'll show her.
Who does she think she is?
Is she never happy anymore?
I can shoot some damn birds if I want to.
For that matter I think I'll stay out here a bit after lunch.
Glad I re-wove that lawn chair I got from the dump.
It sure took me a time to find the mesh.
No one fixes anything any more, they just throw it out and buy new.
Ya, it may not look perfect, but it does the job for me sitting out here.
She doesn't sit out here anymore anyway,
so what difference does it make if some of the web sags a bit here and there?
It is just as comfortable as a new one.

Two black birds already out feasting on the suet.
Just breath and aim.
Ha!
Don't tell me I can't hit a bird anymore!
I still got it woman!
Did you see that shot?
First one and he's on the ground.
I'll have to shoot him one more time in the head just to make sure.

Oh.
Poor little thing.
That second shot put it out of it's misery.
Why did I think I had to kill them to get rid of them?
I didn't think it would be that hard seeing the pathetic little thing.
Funny pit my stomach after that.
I'll put the gun up.
What good am I any more?
Can't work fast enough,
too soft to kill birds,
can't even  make a satisfactory grilled cheese sandwich.
Guess I'll read the paper and maybe take a nap.

MMMMM.
Little arms squeezing my neck.
The girls are here.

"Help you string your fishing pole, huh?
Well, I guess I have time to do that for ya.
Yes, I'll be coming out early Saturday morning with my tackle box.
You want me to bring you some coffee outta my thermos do ya?
OK.  I'll stop and get some cream and sugar for yours.
Yes.  I plan on staying all day.
We are going to catch a mess of fish for dinner and I'll show you how to skin em.
We'll have a big ol fish fry!
Run over and give Grandma a squeeze
then we can go out to the garage and fix up the poles."

Maybe I do have some value after all.
Susan still thinks I can do anything.
I'll try my hardest not to let that little thing know any different.