The Rockin' Chair Read Online Free PDF Page B

alcohol and other sanitary smells were worse than sitting in a dung-infested chicken coop. He waited and waited. Hours dragged on until old Doc Duff came out, his white smock stained crimson red. Panting, the geezer announced, “Congratulations, John. You have a boy.” John’s eyes welled up.
    John cringed, as he vividly recalled the rest of the medicine man’s news. “But it wasn’t an easy delivery. In fact, if you didn’t have such a strong wife, she wouldn’t be with us right now … that I can assure you.” The doctor went on to explain how the baby had wreaked such havoc on Alice’s insides that there was no choice but to perform a full hysterectomy. “Your boy came into the world kickin’ and screamin’, makin’ sure he’d be the last to exit his mother’s womb,” Doc Duff said, adding, “Born with the devil in him, I tell ya!”
    But when John saw his son Hank for the first time, he saw nothing but an angel. There was no greater gift than for a man to have a son carry on his name. John instantly fell in love. No matter how much kicking, screaming or havoc this boy was sure to cause, Hank was his son and John was going to love him—without conditions. In the McCarthy family, love was a given, while respect and everything else had to be earned.
    One night, Alice took the baby from John’s lap to tuck him into bed. “I’ll be in soon,” John told her before removing a jackknife from his pocket. It was almost an hour before he had carved the name HANK deep into the chair’s seat. Satisfied with his workmanship, he sneaked off to the boy’s room to kiss Hank’s cheek. “I love you, son,” he whispered.
    Without fail—each night, and so as not to be heard—he vowed his love to his son. But like his father before him, words felt like weakness and John didn’t want Hank to grow up soft.
    As John wiped a forgotten teardrop from his eyes, a gentle hand rested upon his shoulder, bringing him back to a time that was less kind. Gazing up, he caught Elle’s smile peeking out from behind the storm door.
    â€œSupper’s on, Pa, and I won’t take no for an answer. You’ve been sitting in this chair for hours. I think you could both use a break.” She smiled.
    â€œI’ll be right along,” he promised with a smile. The wind slammed the door shut behind her. John yawned and looked down at Three Speed. The dog hadn’t lasted the entire trip down memory lane; his eyelids were twitching to the mercy of his own dreams.
    With a deep breath, John decided right then, Anyone who pities the elderly is a damned fool! After only one afternoon of daydreaming, it was obvious to him that if anything it should be the opposite. The elderly should be envied, he decided. John and Alice didn’t have the opportunities or possibilities that younger folks had for the future, but they had something much more precious. They had realities of the past, which nothing or no one could ever take away. Even Alice … though she can’t recall a minute of it, that ol’ girl’s loves are still loved, her dreams realized, deeds done, sufferings endured and meanings of life fulfilled, John thought. Disease or no disease, her life’s like money in the bank.
    From where John sat, the future was foggier than ever but the past was as clear as the memories that proved it. There was no question about who he and Alice were and how their lives had turned out. Wearing a proud smile, he stood. Every muscle and bone in his tired body snapped, crackled or popped—waking Three Speed from his dreams.
    John stretched out and walked toward the rail with the mutt shadowing him. They stood together, watching a watercolor sky grow faint of light, the great orange ball disappearing and sending off colors of pink, purple and red.
    It really is a beautiful place that Pa chose as home , John thought .